An estate with history: from 1766 to the Bernard family
Château Peyrabon is one of the Haut-Médoc estates whose roots can be traced back to the 18th century. By the 19th century, the estate's reputation was so well-established that the owner at the time, Arnaud Roux, went to court to fight for inclusion in the 1855 classification – a process that was decided against him in 1869. The episode shows the status Peyrabon held in the Médoc even back then, despite not having the title of Grand Cru Classé.
The modern era of the estate began in 1998, when Patrick Bernard took over the Château. The Bordeaux négociant, founder of the trading house Millésima and a relative of Olivier Bernard (Domaine de Chevalier), has invested continuously in the vineyard and cellar ever since. Since this takeover, the operation has developed noticeably in both its size and its reputation.
Gravel soil, two appellations and the signature of Xavier Michelet
The estate is located in Saint-Sauveur-en-Médoc on a gravel hill, a few kilometers from Pauillac – a location that gives the wines structure and minerality. Of the total of around 52 hectares of vineyards, the largest part is in the Haut-Médoc appellation, plus around seven hectares in Pauillac, which were expanded by further plots in 2005 and are reserved exclusively for the second wine, Château La Fleur Peyrabon. This division into two appellations is unusual among Médoc estates and allows two independent wine styles to be pursued in parallel.
In the cellar, oenologist Xavier Michelet is responsible for vinification together with Patrick Bernard. The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and the grape varieties are fermented separately to bring out the character of each plot before the final blend is created.
Gravel-influenced style with depth – what to expect in your glass
The cuvées from Château Peyrabon are made up of the classic Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone with around half to just under two-thirds of the share, supplemented by Merlot for fullness, Cabernet Franc for aromatic finesse and a small proportion of Petit Verdot, which contributes tannin structure. The result is wines with dark fruit, spicy notes and a freshness that springs from the gravel terroir near the Pauillac border.
The second wine, Château La Fleur Peyrabon, grown on the Pauillac plots, appears denser and more tannin-driven – a reflection of its origin in one of the most renowned municipalities on the Left Bank. Anyone who tastes the wines of Château Peyrabon gets an insight into two facets of the same terroir: the accessible, fruit-driven side of the Haut-Médoc and the more concentrated line from Pauillac.
