Château Péby Faugères

The land on which Château Péby Faugères stands has been under vine since 1619, when André de Faugères established the vineyard. The modern commercial identity of the estate, however, dates to 1998, when the Péby Faugères label was created as a tribute to Pierre-Bernard Guisez, the property's former owner known by the nickname Péby. In 2005, Swiss crystal magnate Silvio Denz acquired the estate and set about transforming it into one of the Right Bank's most talked-about modern properties. His investment in the vineyard and cellar paid off in 2012 when Péby Faugères was promoted to Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, a status confirmed in the 2022 classification revision.

• Vineyard origins date to 1619, among the older viticultural sites in Saint-Émilion
• The Péby name honors Pierre-Bernard Guisez, previous proprietor
• Silvio Denz acquisition in 2005 marked the start of the estate's modern era
• Grand Cru Classé promotion achieved in 2012 and upheld in 2022

Péby Faugères occupies a compact block of approximately 7.15 to 7.45 hectares on south-southeast facing slopes, giving the vines excellent sun exposure through the growing season. The soils are clay-limestone with a calcareous layer over clay-limestone mollasse, a combination that provides both the drainage and mineral complexity associated with the best Saint-Émilion terroirs. The estate benefits from a notably favorable microclimate created by the presence of a nearby river and the cirque-shaped hillside topography, which shelters the vines and moderates temperature extremes. Viticulture consultant Stephan von Neipperg oversees farming, and since the 2020 vintage the estate has achieved full organic certification.

• South-southeast aspect maximizes ripening potential across the small estate
• Clay-limestone soils over mollasse provide structure and mineral character
• Cirque-shaped hillside creates a protective microclimate for the vineyard
• Organic certification achieved with the 2020 vintage

Château Péby Faugères is planted exclusively to Merlot, a deliberate choice that aligns with the garagiste philosophy of maximizing a single variety's expression on a well-suited terroir. Michel Rolland, one of Bordeaux's most influential consulting oenologists, has been the guiding force in the cellar, shaping a wine that is rich, full-bodied, and unapologetically modern in style. The wines show concentrated dark berry fruit, chocolate, and well-integrated oak, with the depth and structure to reward cellaring. The approach reflects the broader garagiste movement that emerged in Saint-Émilion during the 1990s, prioritizing quality over volume on small, intensively managed parcels.

• 100% Merlot, consistent with the garagiste single-variety focus
• Michel Rolland consults on winemaking; Stephan von Neipperg on viticulture
• Style is modern, opulent, and full-bodied with dark fruit and chocolate notes
• Limited production from under 7.5 hectares supports concentration and attention to detail

The Saint-Émilion classification is revisited periodically and promotion within it is genuinely competitive. Péby Faugères earned Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé status in the 2012 revision, a milestone that reflected the quality improvements made under Silvio Denz's ownership. This classification was upheld and confirmed in the 2022 revision, cementing the estate's place among the recognized growths of the appellation. For WSET students and professionals, Péby Faugères is a useful case study in how ownership change, targeted investment, and consultancy can deliver classification-level quality within a relatively short timeframe.