The Estate
Château Puygueraud is closely linked to the Thienpont family, a prominent lineage from the Libournais region, renowned for its involvement in several prestigious estates. The property was purchased in 1946 by George Thienpont, who also owned the famous Vieux Château Certan in Pomerol. At that time, the vines were in poor condition, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that replanting began, restoring the vineyard’s full potential. In the 1980s, George’s son, Nicolas Thienpont — a highly respected figure in Bordeaux — took over the estate. His meticulous, terroir-driven approach, combining tradition with modern winemaking techniques, elevated Puygueraud to one of the leading names in the Francs–Côtes de Bordeaux appellation.
The vineyard covers about forty hectares on the clay-limestone hillsides of Francs, east of Saint-Émilion. These sun-drenched slopes, naturally well-drained and swept by cool winds, allow the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. The soils, made up of deep clay and marl resting on a limestone bed rich in fossils, give the wines their characteristic structure and minerality. The red varieties are primarily Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc and a touch of Malbec, while the white wine is a harmonious blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris.
Under Nicolas Thienpont’s direction, Château Puygueraud embodies a perfect balance of power and elegance. The red wines stand out for their depth, silky tannins, and aromatic profile of black fruits, spices, and violets. The white wine, more confidential in production, charms with its liveliness and notes of exotic fruits and citrus. Vinifications are precise and minimally interventionist, aiming to faithfully express the identity of the terroir. Each vintage of Puygueraud confirms the estate’s ability to rival the finest wines of the Libournais, while maintaining exceptional value for money.
The Wine
Vinification: fermentation with whole berries in concrete and stainless steel tanks
Aging: 12–16 months in wooden tanks and 225 L barrels renewed by a third
Tasting
It all began in 2016, with the acquisition of 2 hectares on a promising pla- teau. But the real transformation goes back much further: twenty years in the making, with each plot densified and each plant carefully selected. It’s a patient, passionate process that is now reaching its climax. 2019 marks a turning point: it’s the year when the idea of cuvées emerges. It was against this backdrop that Côté Soir was born, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Its signature? An airy freshness, an energy that reflects its clay-limestone soil. Côté Soir is shaped not so much by power as by delicacy; it whispers more than it thun- ders, with a captivating minerality and a length full of finesse.
