Headquartered in the village of Prayssac and dating to 1870, this legendary estate is now overseen by the fifth generation of the Cassot family. Named for the original 3.5-hectare vineyard parcel acquired by the family (“La Coustarelle”), this château’s holdings have ballooned to 53 hectares—with an average vine age of 30 years.

This bottling is the real deal: 90% Malbec and 10% Tannat from seriously old vines, completely de-stemmed and fermented on ambient yeasts in stainless steel vats. The wine is aged for 12 months in those same stainless steel tanks and is then transferred to oak barrels, a fifth of which are new each year, where it spends 12 additional months. 

This heady 2019 shines purple-black in the glass, with a riot of sweet and savory sensations: crushed blackberries, Morello cherries, licorice, roasted meat, damp violets, coffee grounds, baking spice, smoke, and turned earth. It is full-bodied and in need of a splash-decant to smooth out some of its tannins. Pair it with a grilled ribeye, pot roast, or something else that’s suitably meaty.