Petit Péjac is a grape variety of which Bordeaux's winemaking history retains rare but precious traces. Although it was long confused with Abouriou, as noted by Guy Lavignac in his reference work, it possesses its own distinct identity that Château Cazebonne is dedicated to rediscovering and championing. Its origins in western Lot-et-Garonne suggest a rustic hardiness, contrasting with the sophistication this grape variety can reveal when cultivated with care.

Historically, Petit Péjac is not completely unknown. Its mention by Cazeaux-Cazalet in Viala and Vermorel's ampelography dating from 1910 provides tangible proof of its existence and past recognition. It thus fits into the lineage of Bordeaux's lost grape varieties that we are striving to revive.

Ampelographic profile

Characteristic	Description
Budburst	Early to medium.
Flowering	Early.
Véraison	Medium.
Ripening	Late, generally in the late third epoch.
Vigour	High.
Growth habit	Upright, requiring careful trellising.
Susceptibility to downy mildew	Moderately susceptible.
Susceptibility to powdery mildew	Low susceptibility.
Susceptibility to botrytis	Low due to loose to medium bunches.
Susceptibility to black rot	Moderately susceptible.
Aromatic profile	Notes of red fruit, floral and sometimes spicy.
Winemaking potential	Produces deeply coloured wines with good tannic structure and interesting ageing potential. It can bring freshness and complexity to a blend, or express itself with character as a single varietal, like some single-varietal wines in Bordeaux.

A grape variety at the heart of the adaptation strategy

Despite past confusion, Petit Péjac is of definite interest for the vineyard of tomorrow. Its late ripening and good disease resistance make it a relevant candidate for current climate challenges. Its rediscovery is part of Château Cazebonne's approach to replanting forgotten grape varieties and diversifying the Bordeaux vine mix. This meticulous work in Bordeaux ampelography aims to foster an understanding of the nuances and potential of these varieties, such as the Jurançon noir grape variety with which it was long confused, the Penouille grape variety, the Pardotte grape variety, or even the Gascon grape variety. This overall approach can be compared to the one concerning the Txakoli grape variety, rehabilitated in other regions.

At Château Cazebonne, we are proud to revive Petit Péjac and other forgotten grape varieties, thus replanting in Bordeaux varieties that had almost disappeared. This work of memory and perseverance is made possible by the invaluable support of the many wine enthusiasts who share our passion for rediscovering Bordeaux's winemaking heritage, and whom we invite to explore our oenological quizzes to test their knowledge or to download our book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages". To explore the culmination of this approach and taste our cuvées made from these rediscovered grape varieties, we invite you to visit the Cazebonne shop.