Château Peyfaures

Identity

Château Peyfaures is a winegrowing estate located in Génissac, in the Gironde department. It has been owned by the Moraes family since 2017. Previously, it was managed by seven generations of the Godeau family. Laurent Godeau is noted as consulting winemaker.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Peyfaures dates back to its foundation in 1830. The estate was managed via a cooperative winery until 2002, when the Godeau family took back independent management as a private cellar, marking a decisive shift towards estate-bottled production. Transmission within the Godeau family took place from mother to daughter across seven generations. In 2017, the property was acquired by the Moraes family.

The estate's philosophy focuses on respect for the fruit and the adoption of sustainable and organic practices. This is reflected in natural fermentations and a judicious use of oak. The winemaking approach combines traditional techniques, gentle destemming, and spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts. The wines are also crafted in accordance with vegan principles.

Appellations

Château Peyfaures mainly produces wines under the Bordeaux Supérieur Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée.

Winemaking and ageing

Winemaking methods at Château Peyfaures include natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts. These practices are also certified vegan. Ageing takes place in oak barrels. For the main cuvées, this ageing can last 15 months in French oak barrels, one-third of which are new. The Petit Peyfaures cuvée is aged in stainless steel vats, with one-third of the blend aged in seasoned French oak barrels for 12 months.

Practical information

Château Peyfaures welcomes visitors for tours and tastings. Cellar-door sales are also available on site.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Peyfaures vineyard spans nearly 18 hectares, with a surface area of 15 hectares recorded in 2003. It is situated in the Entre-deux-Mers, on the left bank of the Dordogne, facing Saint-Émilion. The plots lie on clay-limestone soils with a ferruginous limestone subsoil. A sustainable organic viticulture approach is applied, free of chemical inputs and using natural preparations. Biodiversity is fostered by lush grass cover between the vine rows. The harvest is carried out by hand, parcel by parcel, at optimal ripeness.

Flagship cuvées

Château Peyfaures offers several still red wine cuvées.

The Dame de cœur cuvée is a red wine, predominantly crafted from Merlot. A single-varietal pure Merlot version of this cuvée is also produced. For vintages such as 2006, production stood at around 8,700 bottles, and 10,000 bottles for the 2010 vintage. It is characterised by barrel ageing—including new oak for certain vintages—for periods of up to twenty-two months.

Château Peyfaures is another cuvée, also under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. For the 2014 vintage, it is a blend of 95% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 vintage presents a blend of 80% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines are aged 100% in French oak barrels, one-third of which are new, for 15 months.

The Petit Peyfaures cuvée, for the 2016 vintage, is a Bordeaux Supérieur composed of 80% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The L'Alpha and Élevé en fût de chêne cuvées are also produced, the latter benefiting from eighteen months of ageing.