Château Pédesclaux

Château Pédesclaux was founded in 1810 by Pierre Urbain Pédesclaux, a Bordeaux wine broker who gave the estate its name. Included as one of 18 Fifth Growths in the landmark 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the estate passed through several hands over the following decades. Count de Gastebois acquired it in 1891, and Lucien Jugla became tenant in 1930, purchasing the property outright in 1950. The Jugla family maintained ownership for nearly six decades, a period during which the estate's reputation gradually declined relative to its classified peers. That changed decisively in 2009 when entrepreneur Jacky Lorenzetti took ownership and launched a comprehensive transformation.

• Founded 1810 by wine broker Pierre Urbain Pédesclaux
• Classified as Fifth Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification
• Jugla family ownership from 1950 to 2009
• Lorenzetti acquisition in 2009 marked the start of a full revival

The estate covers approximately 50 hectares, with around 44 hectares within the Pauillac appellation and 2 hectares classified as Haut-Médoc. Significant land acquisitions under Lorenzetti expanded the holding, including 15 hectares from Château Haut Milon and 5 hectares from Château Béhéré. The vineyards are planted across 19 distinct soil types, predominantly gravel over clay subsoil, which is characteristic of the Médoc's finest terroir. South and west-facing parcels, including some on slopes near the château, optimize ripening in this maritime climate. This mosaic of soils gives the winemaking team considerable complexity to work with when blending.

• Approximately 50 hectares total, 44 hectares in Pauillac AOC
• 19 different soil types, primarily gravel over clay subsoil
• South and west-facing parcels maximize ripening
• Expanded through acquisitions from Châteaux Haut Milon and Béhéré

The completion of a new gravity-fed winery in 2014, designed by renowned architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, represented the physical centerpiece of the Lorenzetti-era transformation. The 2014 vintage was the first produced entirely in these state-of-the-art facilities. Gravity-flow processing minimizes mechanical intervention during fermentation and transfer, preserving the precision and purity that define the modern Pédesclaux style. The conversion to organic farming, completed fully by 2019, reflects the estate's commitment to expressing its diverse terroir without chemical interference. Emmanuel Cruse, co-owner of Château d'Issan, serves as general director, bringing additional classified growth expertise to the operation.

• Gravity-fed winery by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, completed 2014
• First vintage in new facilities: 2014
• 100% organic certification achieved in 2019
• Emmanuel Cruse (co-owner of Château d'Issan) serves as general director

Château Pédesclaux produces wines that sit firmly in the classic Pauillac tradition: medium to full-bodied, structured, and built for age. Cabernet Sauvignon anchors each blend at 47 to 68% depending on vintage conditions, supported by Merlot (20 to 48%), Cabernet Franc (2 to 7%), and Petit Verdot (2 to 4%). This flexibility in blending, enabled by the diversity of soil types across the estate, allows the team to emphasize elegance and precision rather than sheer weight. Expect blackcurrant, graphite, cedar, and a mineral thread that connects Pédesclaux to the broader typicity of great Pauillac. The second wine carries the estate's ambition into a more accessible price tier.