Château Pedesclaux

2018, HOTTEST YEAR SINCE 1900

The year 2018 has been marked by the mildness of its temperatures and multiple rainy episodes in both winter and spring. These conditions have made it possible to recharge the soils' water reserves but have also generated mildew pressure unlike anything seen before. Thanks to the proximity to the estuary and the impeccable vigilance of our team, the vines of Cha?teau Pe?desclaux have been spared from this disease. The positioning of our land favors good air circulation and reduces the cryptogamic pressure. This is all the more remarkable because, following work initiated in 2012, 50% of our vineyard is now managed according to the principles of organic farming and biodynamics to measure the influence of these practices on the quality and style of our wines.

A rapid and homogeneous flowering

The sweetness of spring allowed a generous bloom, without too much coulure and without millerandage. The dramatic change in weather during July prevented early vegetative growth,
due to extremely qualitative water constraints. Sunshine was 20% above normal over the period from July to September, and 50% lower rains gave our vines the ideal conditions to produce large grapes; tiny berries, rich in aromas and flavors with a dense and suave texture. The hydric conditions, very similar to the years 2000 and 2016, is associated with an essential thermal amplitude between sunny days and cool nights. This favored a rare freshness and 1/2aromatic complexity and tannins combining power and delicateness.

Optimal harvests from September 25 to October 12

The ideal climatic conditions allowed us to serenely harvest each plot, getting the best from each vine. During vinification, each grape proved to be of great aromatic power. The Cabernets Sauvignons are powerfully coated with a beautiful tannic texture. The Cabernets francs are fresh and subtle. The Merlots are a fleshy and explosive fruit, borne from a freshness bestowed by our clay-limestone subsoils. Finally, the Petits Verdots expresses subtle spicy aromas and violets.

Château Pédesclaux was created in 1810 by Pierre Urbain Pédesclaux, a famous Bordeaux wine broker. Buying up land made available after the Revolution, Pédesclaux grew the reputation of the estate so rapidly that by 1855 it was classified as a Fifth Grand Cru Classé. Today the estate is owned by the Lorenzetti family, but is managed by Jean-Michel and Pierre Jugla, whose family owned the Château between 1950 and 2009, helping to restore it to its former glory.

2009. Having owned Château Lilian Ladouys (Saint-Estèphe) since 2008, Françoise and Jacky Lorenzetti acquire Pédesclaux. Within a few years they expand the vineyard’s area from 35 to 48 hectares through the successive acquisitions of Château Haut-Milon (neighbour to Mouton and Lafite) and of vines from Château Béhèré.

2013. Jacky Lorenzetti joins forces with Emmanuel Cruse by purchasing half the shares in Château d’Issan, a Margaux classified growth. Emmanuel Cruse also becomes the managing director of Pédesclaux.

The vines of Pédesclaux sit upon a geological masterpiece whose origins date back 40 million years. It is this unique terroir, the Médoc par excellence, which was recognised by the 1855 classification.

The Médoc’s exceptional geology was truly revealed to all during the 17th and 18th centuries. Europe and the world discovered that this terroir had a gift for producing wines of incomparable finesse. The great chateaus began to emerge, and with them the first attempts at classification.

The 1855 classification is the most famous. Commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce for the Exposition Universelle in Paris, it differentiates between 61 red wine crus, 18 of which are in the Pauillac commune alone. It was drawn up by traders on the basis of the sales prices recorded in their archives. 160 years later, the 1855 classification still inspires dreams, as do the terroirs recognised at the time.

Two centuries after its birth, Pédesclaux is experiencing an unprecedented revival. Jacky and Françoise Lorenzetti set out on this adventure with the same passion that drives everything they undertake.

Overhaul and expansion of the vineyard, construction of cellars designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte: they certainly make ambitious choices. When Jacky Lorenzetti sold Foncia in 2008 he wanted to take up new challenges close to his heart, in particular in the fields of rugby and wine. This dual passion is shared by his wife Françoise and his in-laws, originally from Sainte-Foy-La-Grande