Château Castigno
I kept hearing about Château Castigno – how an investor had bought up most of the village of Assignan in the appellation of St Chinian and turned it into a hotel, with rooms scattered round the village – and built a cellar in the shape of a bottle. Then I heard that Clément Mengus whose wines I had enjoyed at Domaine de Cazaban in Cabardès was running the estate. So the moment was ripe for a visit. Clément explained that he had arrived at Castigno in time for the 2021 vintage, but that the Belgium industrialist, Marc Verstraet, had bought vineyards and property in Assignan, in 2007. Marc had previously worked in metal packaging, namely metal barrels that could be cleaned and recycled. For him wine represented a complete change of lifestyle. We met Clément the cellar. It is indeed in the shape of a bottle and the entrance is under the neck. Clément talked about his work. ...
