Château Puygueraud

Identity

Château Puygueraud is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Cibard. It has been owned by the Thienpont family since 1946, with Nicolas Thienpont serving as co-owner and winemaker. He is assisted by his son, Cyrille Thienpont, also a winemaker, and Grégory Bertet, cellar master. Julien Lavenu acts as consultant oenologist alongside Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultant.

History and philosophy

The Thienpont family acquired Château Puygueraud in 1946. The vineyard was replanted in the late 1970s, and Nicolas Thienpont took over the management of the estate in 1983. The estate is committed to environmentally friendly viticulture, evidenced by its organic farming certification (AB / Euro-leaf) and Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification.

Appellations

Château Puygueraud produces wines under the Francs-Côtes-de-Bordeaux appellation.

Practical information

Château Puygueraud is located at Lieu-dit Puygueraud, 33570 Saint-Cibard. For enquiries, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 57 56 07 47 or by email at secretariat@puygueraud.com. The cellar is open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm. The estate offers tastings and direct wine sales on site. Mail-order sales are also available.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Puygueraud vineyard covers a total area of 47 hectares, divided into 67 plots. The soils are clay-limestone, resting on subsoils of asteriated limestone, marl, and clay. The average age of the vines is 35 years. A 2-hectare section of the property is also dedicated to organic kiwi cultivation.

The grape varieties planted for the red wines are 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. For the white wines, the plantings consist of Sauvignon blanc and Sauvignon gris, comprising 54% Sauvignon blanc and 46% Sauvignon gris. Harvesting is carried out both by hand and mechanically.

Signature cuvées

The estate produces several cuvées. Château Puygueraud is the main red cuvée, crafted from a blend predominantly of Merlot, along with Cabernet Franc and Malbec. These red wines are often described as elegant and complex, displaying aromas of cherry, spices, and an occasional touch of smoke, supported by a fine structure. The cuvée is aged in oak barrels.

The George cuvée is a red wine produced only in vintages where the quality of the Malbec grapes is exceptional. It is composed of at least 80% Malbec and Cabernet Franc, with Merlot completing the blend. Another red cuvée is crafted under the name Côté Soir.

For the white wines, Château Puygueraud Blanc is made from Sauvignon blanc and Sauvignon gris, sourced from hand-selected grapes and first pressings. The Lauriol Blanc cuvée, based on Sauvignon, is also offered. A white cuvée named Côté Matin is produced as well.

The estate also produces a red wine named Château Lauriol, predominantly made from Merlot and aged in vats.

Vinification and ageing

The red wines are generally aged in oak barrels for periods that vary according to the vintage, such as 12 to 15 months in certain years. White wines such as Château Puygueraud Blanc are aged for 9 months in oak barrels in some vintages. The Château Lauriol cuvée is aged in vats.