On the right bank of the Dordogne, away from the spotlight of the Grands Crus classés of Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, Domaine de L'Aurage embodies a rare form of discreet ambition. Nestled in Saint-Genès-de-Castillon, in the heart of the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, this vineyard taken over in 2007 by Caroline & Louis Mitjavile - aka Loulou Mitjavile - continues the history of a family whose name resonates strongly in Bordeaux.
The son of François Mitjavile, a visionary winemaker at the helm of Château Tertre Roteboeuf, Roc de Cambes and Domaine de Cambes, Louis has created a singular interpretation of this under-appreciated terroir. Formerly known as Château Cadet, the wine estate acquired in 2007 has found a new lease of life deeply rooted in the Mitjavile family DNA: an instantly recognizable style, exacting standards at all times, and a profound attachment to the land.
A philosophy that goes against the norm
What sets Caroline & Louis Mitjavile apart is a kind of gentle radicalism: cultivating difference with patience, precision, and never giving in to trends. Far from ready-made recipes, their approach is based on an ongoing dialogue with the plant and the vintage. On the 20-hectare estate, the vines, most of which are around 40 years old, are rooted in the clay-limestone slopes typical of Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, a natural extension of the finest terroirs of Saint-Émilion.
The choice of grape varieties is both classic and unusual: around 90% Merlot, the emblematic grape variety of the right bank, and almost 10% Cabernet Franc, for freshness and drive. This combination is fully expressed in our integrated viticulture, which does not claim a label but is always guided by a scrupulous respect for the living world.
The vineyard is managed using a reasoned approach, based on observation and adaptation rather than rigid protocols. No systematic treatments, no labelling at any price: just precise, patient work that respects the living world. Yields are deliberately moderate, to favor concentration and balance. The grapes are always harvested by hand at optimum ripeness, ensuring depth and harmony in the wines.
In the cellar, "Loulou Mitjavile" applies the family precepts of slow, low-intervention winemaking, using oak barrels, most of which are new, to house the juices as soon as fermentation begins. The grapes are not systematically destemmed, which adds structure and complexity. Extraction is gentle, controlled by temperature and gravity rather than mechanical intervention. No fining or filtration is carried out before bottling.
Long ageing (around 18 to 24 months) in Radoux barrels, with attention paid to each batch. New wood is always carefully integrated, providing a showcase for an already expressive body. It's this no-nonsense, no-nonsense approach that gives birth to wines with an instantly recognizable style: deep, velvety reds built on the freshness of ripe fruit, the refined patina of tannins and bewitching aromatic complexity.
Cuvées with a distinctive style
Long overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation is now enjoying a marked revival. Driven by a generation of committed winemakers and top-quality terroirs, it has established itself as one of the liveliest winegrowing regions on the Right Bank. The Domaine de L'Aurage cuvées are a perfect example of this ambitious approach.
L'Aurage, the cuvée emblematic of the wine estate, embodies this uncompromising vision. Deep and silky, it develops a bouquet of great richness, with the extra soul that is the hallmark of great bottles. With L'Aurage, the Mitjavile family is helping to redefine the contours of a contemporary Bordeaux, rooted in the soil but freed from stylistic shackles. It's an in-depth, patient and sincere work, in the service of a Château that claims its rightful place among the greats.
Alongside it, Le Versant offers a more immediate approach, without sacrificing any of the Mitjavile DNA. It's a generous, pure wine, matured with the same care as its predecessor, and designed for more immediate pleasure.
A story of transmission and high standards
With Domaine de L'Aurage, Caroline & Louis Mitjavile continue the family heritage while asserting their own vision. The former Château Cadet is reborn with a new name to better reflect the identity of the place. Louis Mitjavile and his wife have meticulously crafted soulful, sincere wines that rival the greatest names on the Right Bank. A rare and precious address, and now a must for any enlightened connoisseur of the fabulous terroirs of Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux.
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