Chateau De Pitray Castillon Cotes De Bordeaux 2011

The majestic estate of Chateau de Pitray has been in the de Boigne family for 600 years. Situated on the Gardegan plateau in the west of the Dordogne Valley, the property falls under the Cotes de Castillon appellation, but it lies just 8km from the better-known village of Saint-Emilion. Pitray is thought by many to be the finest property in the appellation.

The Chateau itself has been rebuilt twice, most recently in 1868 when it was built in a wonderful Victorian Gothic style. The building is hidden amongst century-old oak and cedar trees at the end of a sweeping drive, with the vineyards planted around the outskirts of the estate to preserve the Chateaus’ serenity. However, far from being an elite residence sequestered away, the Chateau is hired out for elaborate cocktail parties and weddings, and some of its rooms are used for a memorable bed-and-breakfast experience.

Since 2003 the estate has been run by current generation Jean de Boigne. He had dreamed of making Pitray the first completely organic estate in the íˆotes de Castillon, but the property had to abandon organic viticulture in 2012, though environmentally friendly methods are still employed. The 37 hectares of vineyards are split into 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc, both of which enjoy the clay-limestone soils, and vines have an average age of 29 years.

The estate manager is the irrepressibly enthusiastic Christina Frachon, a graduate in agronomic engineering whose passion is only matched by her attention to detail in every stage of production, from pruning to cellar maintenance.

The cellar produces almost a quarter of a million bottles annually. Each parcel of vines and there are manyξvinified separately according to its respective character and needs. The merlot undergoes maceration for longer than the cabernet franc, but both are kept at cool temperatures for the duration, retaining the grapes natural character and aromas.