Chateau Preuillac, Medoc, Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Preuillac Medoc, with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, and information on vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Preuillac History, Overview

The history of Chateau Preuillac begins in the early 1800s. The vineyard was fully established by 1869 when it was owned by the Laloubie family before it was sold to Edmund Adde. It was under the ownership of the Adde family that the vineyard was revitalized. However, the modern era of Chateau Preuillac is actually quite recent. While the estate has been producing wine for more than 200 years, the chateau was only built in about 1975 by the Bouet family, who were the owners of the estate at the time.

When the Bouet family purchased Chateau Preuillac in 1969, it was in quite a dilapidated shape. Not only did they build a new chateau, they also renovated the vineyards and wine-making facilities before selling the property in 1998.

The vineyard was sold to a partnership headed by the Mau family, (who also own a large negociant company as well as Chateau Brown in Pessac Leognan) and the Dirkzwager family. The Dirkzwager family is well known for their Dutch distilleries.

Even though the estate was renovated only 20 years earlier, Chateau Preuillac was again updated in the vineyards and winemaking facilities after the new owners took control of the Left Bank estate.

In late 2014, it was announced that Chateau Preuillac was sold to an investment group, headed by the Chinese investor Gen-Xiong Li, who agreed to retain the previous owner, Jonathan Mau as a consultant for at least one year.

Chateau Preuillac Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

Chateau Preuillac occupies 42 hectares of land with 26 hectares under vine. The vineyard is planted to 53% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remaining 2% is planted to Cabernet Franc. The vineyards of Chateau Preuillac are located in the cooler climate area of the northern Medoc, above the St. Estephe appellation, not too far from Chateau Potensac.

The terroir of Chateau Preuillac is a mix of gravel, sand, clay, and limestone soils. On average the vines are 35 years of age.

The wine of Chateau Preuillac is whole berry fermented in large, 180 hectoliter wood vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of wood vat and 15% French, oak barrels. The wine is aged on its lees in 33% new, French oak barrels for an average of 12 months prior to bottling. The average annual production of Chateau Preuillac is 8,000 cases per year. There is a second wine, Le Preuil.

The best vintages of Chateau Preuillac are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

They also produce a limited production, high-end Cuvee of Chateau Preuillac, Emotion de Chateau Preuillac, which is produced from a specific, vineyard parcel selection. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in 100% new, French oak barrels and is aged in 100% new, French oak barrels.

Emotion de Chateau Preuillac is only made in the best vintages. So far the wine has only been produced in 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2010. The production is quite small. In fact, the production averages between a scant 100 to at most, 200 cases of wine. Stephane Derenoncourt is the consultant.

When to Drink Chateau Preuillac, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Preuillac can decanted for an average of 1 hour, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Preuillac is usually better with at least 2-4 years of bottle age.

Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Preuillac offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-9 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau Preuillac with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Preuillac is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Preuillac is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Preuillac is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

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