An enormous, more or less abandoned, old cellar (or Chai) on the banks of the Dordogne has finally been brought fully back to life thanks to a British wine Merchant.
Tony Laithwaite, better known for his British direct mail company, has always had a sentimental feeling towards the Côtes de Castillon since he worked here, in this very cellar, as a young man starting out his career in the wine industry.
He is so attached to the Côtes de Bordeaux-Castillon appellation, often overshadowed by its prestigious neighbour Saint Emilion, that he purchased Château la Clariere in Sainte Colombe in 1980.

Laithwaites have created a range of wines under the name of ‘Le Grand Chai’ selected from 11 different appellations across Bordeaux and aged here in the beautifully restored waterfront cellars in Castillon. This is just the beginning of wines to be blended and aged here from Bordeaux and from further afield.

Want to know more? The cellar is open for visits and tastingscall them on +33 5 57 40 13 31

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