Castets is a rare red grape variety, native to the Bordeaux region, which has had a turbulent history. In the 19th century, it was already well established in the cantons of Saint-Macaire and Cadillac, sometimes also called Nicouleau. Its exact origin is open to debate: was it discovered in the woods of Saint-Macaire or brought back from the Pyrenees? Regardless, it was popularised by Mr Castets from 1875 onwards, giving it the name we know today. Genetic analyses by INRA have revealed that Castets is the result of a natural cross between Camaraou and Gros Cabernet, two historic Bordeaux grape varieties. It is also found in Rioja under the name Maturana Tinta.

This grape variety survived the phylloxera crisis, with some winegrowers notably grafting it onto resistant rootstocks. At the end of the 19th century, Castets aroused significant enthusiasm due to its supposed resistance (initially exaggerated) to downy mildew, its good resistance to coulure, and its late budburst which protected it from spring frosts. It withstands drought and humidity well, a valuable asset in the Bordeaux terroir. However, once ripe, its fragility and propensity for grey rot often prompted it to be harvested before full maturity, yielding wines with little colour and low alcohol. The winegrowers who plant it today still praise its qualities, notably its relatively early ripening (just after Merlot) and its beautiful aromatics. For another viticultural discovery, the Syrah grape variety (in Bordeaux) also deserves our attention. You can also discover the Pardotte grape variety, or explore the Fer Servadou grape variety. If you are passionate about the history of ancient grape varieties, the Mérille grape variety is also worth rediscovering.

Ampelographic profile

Characteristic	Description
Budburst	Late, escaping spring frosts.
Flowering	Unspecified, but late budburst.
Veraison	Unspecified.
Ripening	Early, just after Merlot (2nd epoch).
Vigour	Vigorous.
Growth habit	Unspecified.
Downy mildew sensitivity	Average resistance.
Powdery mildew sensitivity	Sensitive.
Botrytis sensitivity	Very sensitive to grey rot at maturity.
Black rot sensitivity	Unspecified.
Aromatic profile	Very beautiful aromatics.
Winemaking potential	Pure wines with finesse, can lack acidity in Graves. Blends well with Malbec and Cabernet-Sauvignon.

Today, Castets is once again authorised in the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations, marking its return to its native lands. Château Cazebonne is committed to restoring the prestige of this historic grape variety. This rehabilitation work is made possible thanks to the support of wine lovers who have adopted our wines and back our approach to rediscovering the original flavours of Bordeaux. To explore the archives and the details of this history, do not hesitate to download our book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages". To test your knowledge, take part in our oenological quizzes, and of course, to discover our cuvées made from these rediscovered grape varieties, we invite you to visit our online shop.