The pirates, winemakers ready to revolutionise the taste of Bordeaux

By Frank Niedercorn

Jean-Baptiste Duquesne, one of the founders of a collective of fifteen Bordeaux winemakers dubbed the "pirates", took up winegrowing by acquiring Château Cazebonne. This group aims to shake up vineyard traditions by exploring alternative approaches, notably by replanting forgotten indigenous grape varieties. Duquesne champions the right to make wine differently in Bordeaux, following the example of other wine regions.

The article presents a movement of Bordeaux winemakers, nicknamed the "pirates", who seek to innovate and challenge the vineyard's established standards. Among them, Jean-Baptiste Duquesne, who acquired Château Cazebonne in southern Gironde, is cited as an example of this philosophy. Following a career in the wine trade, he entered viticulture with the objective to "vinify differently" and explore new avenues, particularly by replanting ancient and forgotten grape varieties, whereas Bordeaux is mostly limited to eight varieties. He compares his approach to that already adopted in other regions such as the Val de Loire. This "pirates" movement, which began a few weeks prior to the article's publication, aims to introduce "offbeat" offerings and "shake up" Bordeaux traditions. Other pioneers, such as Loïc Pasquet with Liber Pater or David Barrault of Château Tire Pé, are also mentioned for their innovative approach, particularly using ancestral grape varieties for wines marketed under the Vin de France designation, highlighting a niche market for curious wine lovers.