Château de Pitray
シャトー・ド・ピトレー
600+ years of family ownership; Nina Mitjavile consulting; Saint-Émilion-equivalent terroir at outstanding value.
Château de Pitray is one of Bordeaux's most storied family estates, owned by the Simard de Pitray family for over 600 years — the longest continuous family ownership in the region. Situated on the clay-limestone Gardegan plateau just 8 kilometres east of Saint-Émilion, the 36-hectare vineyard enjoys soils virtually identical to those of its famous neighbour. The majestic neo-Gothic château, built in 1868 during the Second Empire, overlooks vineyards planted with Merlot (73%), Cabernet Franc (23%), and a small proportion of Malbec (4%), with an average vine age of 29 years. Since 2020, consultant winemaker Nina Mitjavile — daughter of Tertre Rôteboeuf's legendary Jean-Louis Mitjavile — has guided a quality revolution at the estate, dramatically cutting yields and reducing new oak usage to let the terroir speak. The resulting wines combine the richness and structure of Saint-Émilion's best with the exceptional value long associated with Castillon. No herbicides are used in the vineyards, and the estate pursues fully sustainable viticulture to preserve the health of its historic land.
www.chateau-pitray.com ↗Cuvées
No cuvées registered yet.
Who Is This For?
Perfect for Bordeaux enthusiasts seeking the quality of Saint-Émilion's Right Bank without the premium price tag — and for those who appreciate wines with genuine historical depth behind the label.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old is Château de Pitray, and who owns it?
- The estate has been in the Simard de Pitray family for over 600 years — the oldest continuous family ownership in Bordeaux. Today it is run by Jean de Boigne, the 25th generation of the family.
- What makes the terroir of Château de Pitray special?
- The vineyards sit on the same clay-limestone Gardegan plateau as Saint-Émilion, located only 8 kilometres to the west. This shared soil structure gives Pitray's wines depth, minerality, and ageing potential comparable to far more expensive Right Bank estates.
- Who is the winemaker at Château de Pitray?
- Since 2020, Nina Mitjavile has served as consulting winemaker. She grew up at her family's acclaimed estate Tertre Rôteboeuf and brings deep expertise in right-bank Bordeaux viticulture and vinification.
- What grape varieties are used, and what is the wine style?
- The vineyards are planted with 73% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec. The wines are supple and fruit-forward with ripe dark berries, refined tannins, and earthy, spiced complexity — approachable young but capable of ageing well.
- Are Château de Pitray's wines sustainably produced?
- Yes. No herbicides are used in the vineyards, and the estate practices sustainable viticulture focused on soil health and biodiversity. Under Nina Mitjavile's guidance, yields have been drastically reduced and new oak minimised to achieve purer terroir expression.