Château Piney

Identity

Château Piney is situated in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in the Gironde. It is owned by the Laveau and Bénédetti family, representing the fifth generation at the helm of the estate.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Piney dates back to 1856, when it was first sold to Joseph Blanc. In 1894, the Dumigron family acquired the property. By 1929, the estate covered 10 hectares, including 3 hectares of vines. In 1931, the Saint-Émilion cooperative winery was founded, and in 1957, the vinification of Château Piney was entirely entrusted to it.

In 1987, the Château Piney company was formed. In 2010, the children of Jean and Odette Catusseau took over the operations. The integration of the fifth generation into Société du Piney took place in 2014, and in 2015, Etienne and Blandine became co-managers.

The estate has undertaken a transition towards more environmentally friendly viticulture. Following sustainable farming practices between 2010 and 2016, the estate began its conversion to organic viticulture in 2017. The 2020 harvest marked the château's first fully certified organic vintage. The estate is also actively engaged in the DEPHY and Fermes 30 000 networks and holds Haute Valeur Environnementale and Agriconfiance certifications.

Appellations

Château Piney produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

Flagship wines

The estate produces a cuvée under the name Château Piney. Harvesting is carried out by hand. The 2020 vintage is the first to be certified organic. Château Piney wines are crafted to cellar for up to 10 years.

Practical information

Château Piney is located at 633 Route du Castellot, 33330 Saint-Émilion. The estate is open from Monday to Saturday, 09:30 to 18:30. Visits to the château and vineyard, as well as tastings, are available. The property also features a gîte.

For any enquiries, the estate can be contacted on 05 57 24 70 71.

Find out more

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Piney spans 9.78 hectares, with an average vine age of 40 years. The terroir is characterised by clay-limestone soils, ancient sands, and sandy-clay soils.

The grape varieties planted are 59% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec.

Vinification and ageing

Vinification at Château Piney begins with gravity-fed vatting in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by pre-fermentation maceration. The extraction of colour and tannic structure is carried out gently and progressively using pump-overs. The total vatting time ranges from 20 to 30 days.

Ageing is conducted in oak barrels for a period of 12 to 18 months. The barrel selection comprises 70% previously used barrels (one wine or more) and 30% new oak barrels.