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Domaine Aline
A family estate in Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux: old vine Merlot on clay-limestone soils, hand-harvested on an ancestral press...
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Domaine Aline: a family estate at the heart of Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux
Some estates tell their story through the names they carry: Irène, Daniel, Pascale, Joël, Pierre, Aline. A lineage, a clay-limestone soil in Saint-Genès-de-Castillon, and the quiet conviction that a great wine is never manufactured, it is passed down, cultivated, listened to.
A family-owned wine estate in Saint-Genès-de-Castillon, Gironde, Domaine Aline produces three Côtes de Castillon cuvées on a clay-limestone terroir typical of the Libournais, with vines up to 70 years old, fully hand-harvested grapes and artisanal winemaking overseen by oenologist Nicolas Guichard. Wines crafted in a few thousand bottles only, for those who seek the authentic.
Four generations, one single soil
It all starts with Irène Beauvais, Pierre's great-grandmother, whose memory still shapes every decision taken on the estate. Her son Daniel, Pierre's grandfather, replanted the vineyard and managed it in interplanting, laying the foundations of what would become Domaine Aline's identity: old vines, a respected land, a precise and patient craft.
Today, Pascale and Joël oversee the vineyard and cellar work with uncompromising dedication. Pierre, winemaker and entrepreneur, drives relationships with wine merchants, private customers and new markets. The estate also relies on a close-knit team: Nicolas Guichard, a respected Libournais oenologist known for his precision, Dorra Martorello who shares the daily life of the vines online, and loyal friends who join every harvest and reception at the estate.
A wine made by people, for people
"Côtes de Castillon wine is a human wine: every bottle reflects a team driven by a shared passion for great Bordeaux.", Pierre, winemaker-entrepreneur
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Saint-Genès-de-Castillon: a premier clay-limestone terroir in the Libournais
Domaine Aline is located in Saint-Genès-de-Castillon, a wine-growing village in the Gironde département, east of Bordeaux, close to Libourne and the wine merchants of Saint-Émilion and Castillon-la-Bataille. The vineyard spreads across rolling hillside slopes between 30 and 100 metres above sea level, a historic corner of the Libournais and its grand Bordeaux wines.
The hillside soil, characteristic of the Côtes de Castillon appellation, decisively shapes the identity of the estate's wines:
Clay - a natural water reservoir that protects the vines through dry Gironde summers, regulating ripening without hydric stress.
Limestone - controlled drainage and deep root development, delivering the freshness, mineral tension and ageing capacity that define great Bordeaux wines.
This Castillon terroir produces wines with gradual, even ripening, expressive aromatics and a natural balance between fruit and structure. The oceanic climate, moderated by Atlantic influence, adds good air circulation across the hillsides, limiting frost risk and ensuring well-distributed rainfall, ideal conditions for thoughtful, sustainable viticulture in Bordeaux.
Sustainable viticulture in Gironde: farming by instinct, guided by nature
Domaine Aline is farmed according to the principles of careful, reasoned viticulture, closely aligned with organic methods in practice, without holding official certification. The approach relies on peasant know-how, close observation and common sense: working with nature rather than against it.
Over time, this philosophy has proved its worth in the vineyard: more biodiversity, healthier living soils, stronger vines. It also reflects the human values of the team, freedom, autonomy, complementarity, values that Pierre, Pascale and Joël embody every day between the rows.
Old vines in interplanting
The vineyard was replanted and managed in interplanting by Daniel, Pierre's grandfather. Vines aged between 50 and 70 years are a rare asset in Côtes de Castillon, tended to improve their vitality while honouring their history.
Hand-harvesting in small crates
After tasting the berries, pulp and seeds, harvest takes place, usually late September through early October, entirely by hand, using small crates and traditional baskets to handle each grape with the utmost care.
Double sorting - vineyard and cellar
A rigorous selection takes place twice: first in the vineyard rows, then at the cellar, keeping only sound, undamaged grapes with no signs of oxidation. No concession on quality.
Pressing on an ancestral manual press
Juice extraction is carried out on a traditional hand-operated press, a deliberate choice that allows each grape to be worked gently, preserving the aromatic finesse and natural integrity of the fruit.
The three cuvées of Domaine Aline: three readings of one terroir
Merlot is the common thread running through the estate, expressed differently according to each plot and ageing choice. Every cuvée is produced in small quantities under the watchful eye of oenologist Nicolas Guichard, whose role is to bring out the best of Castillon's terroir without betraying it.
Domaine Aline
Red wine · AOC Côtes de Castillon · Old vine Merlot · Oak barrel ageing 12–16 months
The estate's signature cuvée. One hectare of pure old vine Merlot on the limestone slopes of Castillon, hand-harvested and aged 12 to 16 months in carefully selected previously used barrels, according to the vintage. Full-bodied, structured, luminous. Produced in a few thousand bottles only, artisanal ageing wine in the strictest sense.
Adren'Aline
Red wine · AOC Côtes de Castillon · 50-year-old Merlot · Stainless steel · 2,933 bottles
One hectare and twelve ares of 50-year-old Merlot, aged in stainless steel to preserve its freshness and spontaneity. Exclusive run of 2,933 bottles per vintage: the estate's modern, vibrant cuvée, direct and expressive, speaking Castillon's terroir without compromise. Contains sulphites.
A d'Aline
Rosé · AOC Côtes de Castillon · 50-year-old Merlot · Small production
A limited-run rosé, crafted with patience: fifty-year-old vines, hand-harvesting, grapes kept cool, careful vat work and slow extraction to preserve the aromatics. Gentle and luminous in style, where the freshness of the clay-limestone terroir blends with light, pleasant fruity notes. A rare expression of Côtes de Castillon.
Careful delivery across France and Europe · Limited runs · Côtes de Castillon terroir
What sets Domaine Aline apart in Côtes de Castillon
A 70-year-old vineyard. Old vines are rare in the appellation. These ancient plants produce low yields but deliver outstanding concentration and aromatic complexity, an advantage few Côtes de Castillon estates can claim.
An ancestral manual press. Where most estates have gone fully mechanical, Domaine Aline retains hand pressing — guaranteeing gentle extraction and immaculate juice quality.
Rare, limited-run wines. Fewer than 3,000 bottles of Adren'Aline per vintage; limited production for Domaine Aline and A d'Aline. These are artisanal wines, not mass-market products.
Nicolas Guichard's expertise. A Libournais oenologist, he guides each vintage with an approach that valorises the terroir without forcing it. His technical eye ensures consistency and precision across every release.
A living, open estate. Harvest is a collective, festive event shared between family and friends. This domain does not simply sell wine, it shares a way of life, rooted in the Libournais.
Frequently asked questions about Domaine Aline and Côtes de Castillon wines
Where is Domaine Aline located and what is its appellation ?
Domaine Aline is a family wine estate in Saint-Genès-de-Castillon, a village in the Gironde département east of Bordeaux, between Libourne and Castillon-la-Bataille. Its wines are produced under the AOC Côtes de Castillon appellation, recognised for its structured, fruit-forward Merlots grown on clay-limestone slopes in the Libournais. The vineyard covers rolling hillside land between 30 and 100 metres above sea level.
What wines does Domaine Aline produce ?
The estate produces three Côtes de Castillon cuvées, all from Merlot on clay-limestone: Domaine Aline (cellar-aged red, oak barrel ageing 12–16 months), Adren'Aline (fresh red, stainless steel, 2,933 bottles) and A d'Aline (rosé, gentle and luminous style). Each is produced in limited runs and overseen by oenologist Nicolas Guichard of the Libournais.
Is Domaine Aline organic or certified sustainable ?
Domaine Aline is not officially organic-certified, but is farmed according to very careful, reasoned viticulture principles closely aligned with organic practices. No unnecessary synthetic chemical inputs, respect for natural cycles, work in harmony with the terroir. It is a demanding, genuine approach that the family upholds without needing to label it — sustainable winemaking as a way of life rather than a marketing badge.
What is Côtes de Castillon and how does it differ from Saint-Émilion ?
AOC Côtes de Castillon is a Bordeaux appellation in the Libournais, immediately east of Saint-Émilion. It shares the same clay-limestone hillside soils ideal for Merlot, and produces red (and rosé) wines praised for their aromatic finesse, fruit-structure balance and good ageing potential. Often described as Bordeaux's best-kept secret, Côtes de Castillon offers Saint-Émilion-level quality at considerably more accessible price points.
What food pairings work best with Domaine Aline wines ?
The Domaine Aline red, with its barrel ageing and old vine depth, pairs beautifully with duck breast, roast lamb, rib-eye steak or aged cheeses (mature Comté, Ossau-Iraty). Adren'Aline, fresher and more vibrant, suits grilled meats, slow-cooked dishes or quality charcuterie. A d'Aline rosé is perfect as an aperitif, with grilled fish, summer salads or an outdoor barbecue with friends.
Why order Domaine Aline wines through Avenue des Vins ?
Domaine Aline cuvées are produced in small batches and distributed through short, direct channels. Avenue des Vins offers them with careful delivery across France and Europe, wine-safe packaging and an expert selection that guarantees traceability and authenticity for every bottle. Ordering online means accessing these rare Castillon wines through a trusted, curated distribution platform.
Can you visit Domaine Aline or take part in the harvest ?
Domaine Aline is a human-scale family property that welcomes friends and trusted partners during harvest, usually from late September through early October. Estate reception events are organised in collaboration with Dorra Martorello, the estate's community manager who shares the daily life of the vines. For visit enquiries or harvest participation, contact Pierre directly through the estate's website.
Independent producers · Protected shipping
Domaine Aline · Saint-Genès-de-Castillon · Gironde · AOC Côtes de Castillon · Old vine Merlot
Family estate · 4 generations · Sustainable viticulture · Côtes de Castillon wines · Bordeaux wines · Libournais Merlot