Learn everything about Chateau Pibran, Pauillac with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Chateau Pibran History, Overview
The birth of Chateau Pibran dates back to the start of the 20th century. The estate was bought in 1941 by Paul Pibran Billa. Paul Pibran Billa renamed the property, using his middle name of Pibran. From that day forward the estate was known as Chateau Pibran.
While the vineyard is young by Bordeaux standards, the modern era begins when the estate was sold to the AXA group.
Chateau Pibran was purchased by the AXA group in 1987 from the Billa family. At the time of the purchase, Jean Michel Cazes of Chateau Lynch Bages was placed in charge of managing the estate for AXA.
The AXA group invested a lot of money in Pibran starting in 1988. In fact, the estate was completely renovated. Most of the vineyards were replanted and a new drainage system was installed. The chateau was also renovated and new cellars were constructed.
Christian Seely took over managing Chateau Pibran in 2000. Chateau Pibran is in good company with the AXA group who owns numerous Bordeaux estates in the Left Bank, Pomerol, and Sauternes as well as other wineries in Portugal and Hungary.
They count among their holdings Chateau Pichon Baron in Pauillac, Chateau Suduiraut in Sauternes and Chateau Petit Village in Pomerol.
Since Chateau Pibran was obtained by the AXA group, serious amounts of money have been invested in the vineyards, wine-making facilities, and chateau in an effort to revitalize Chateau Pibran.
In 2001, the AXA group enlarged the estate with the purchase of additional vines in Pauillac when they obtained the neighboring estate, Chateau La Tour Pibran from the Gounel family.
Chateau Pibran Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 17-hectare vineyard of Chateau Pibran is planted to 54% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. The Petit Verdot was removed and replaced by the Cabernet Franc. With that much Merlot planted in their vineyards, Chateau Pibran has perhaps the largest percentage of Merlot in Pauillac.
Chateau Pibran has some very good neighbors in the Pauillac appellation including Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Pontet Canet, and further east, not far from Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste.
The terroir is gravelly soils. On average, the vines are 30 years of age. The Medoc vineyard of Chateau Pibran is planted to a vine density of 9,000 vines per hectare. At its peak, the elevation rises to 20 meters.
The wine of Chateau Pibran is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. The wine is aged in 50% new, French oak barrels for between 12 to 15 months, depending on the vintage.
The wine of Chateau Pibran is produced by the same technical team that makes Chateau Pichon Baron. In fact, the wine of Chateau Pibran is vinified at Chateau Pichon Baron and then moved in barrel, for the aging which takes place in the cellars of Chateau Pibran.
There is a second wine, La Tour Pibran, which took its name from a part of the original vineyard they later purchased to enlarge the estate. Close to 6,500 cases of Chateau Pibran are produced on average in each vintage.
The best vintages of Chateau Pibran are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005. Beginning with the 2016 vintage, the wines of Chateau Pibran are markedly better.
When to Drink Chateau Pibran, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Pibran can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1-2 hours, 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 Pibran is usually better with at least 6-8 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Pibran offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 10-18 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Pibran with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Chateau Pibran is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Pibran is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Pibran is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
Château Pibran Wine Tasting Notes
21 Vintages 97,167 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
|
2023
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Savory-edged, bright red fruits, tobacco, cigar box, and currants form the core of this wine. The classic palate is fresh, chewy, reserved, and peppery, with a spicy, red currant endnote. The wine is made by blending 54% Cabernet Sauvignon with 46% Merlot. This is the highest percentage of Cabernet ever used in the blend at Pibran. 13.1% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink from 2028-2040. 89-91 Pts. 1,530 Views Tasted May 4, 2024 |
|
2022
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Flowers, currants, and tobacco are what you initially find at the core here. On the palate, the wine is sweet, chewy, fresh and fruity. Normally, Pibran is a strict, rustic styled wine. But with the 2022, the fruit delivers more sweetness, lift, length and softness than I have ever seen here. This is a steal of deal for savvy, Pauillac wine buyers. The wine is made from blending From a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.14.8% ABV, 3.58 pH. Drink from 2028-2042. 90-91 Pts. 2,890 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
|
2021
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
The nose pops with spicy, red currants, tobacco leaf, flowers, blackberries and lead pencil. The wine is medium-bodied, crisp, fresh, bright and with a nice sweetness to the red fruits. There is lift, and energy to the bright red fruits that linger in the finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 743 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2024From a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot, the wine offers a floral and leafy herbed character due to the large percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. The wine is medium-bodied, crisp, fresh, bright and vibrant, with a strong vibrant, peppery bite to the berries on the palate. There is lift, and crunchy red fruits in the finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 89-91 1,666 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
|
2020
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Medium-bodied, vibrant, and packed with currants, blackberries, chocolate and cedar. The wine is fresh, crisp and spicy, with a dose of sea salt that comes in at the end of the chewy finish. Drink from 2025-2040. 1,322 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Medium-bodied, fresh, bright and already delivering a soft, crisp core of sweet cherries, currants, cedar, herbs and pepper on the nose and palate. Give this energetic, spicy, classic Pauillac just a few years of age, and all its sweetness, spice and tobacco will be in full bloom. 90-92 Pts 2,090 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
|
2019
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
The red fruits come with a savory, earthy, spicy edge which is quite nice. The red currant core of fruit here is ripe, a bit rustic and loaded with nuances of olives, tobacco leaf, cocoa, cigar box and currants. In other words, classic Pauillac. This is one of the best vintages of Pibran ever produced. And if you are seeking a classic Pauillac that won't break the bank, look no further. Drink from 2025-2045. 1,907 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Dark ruby in color, the wine is medium/full-bodied with a blast of cocoa, cassis, tobacco leaf and blackberry on the nose and mouth. Round and resting on the corner of finesse and rusticity in the endnote, with a blend of green olive, pepper, herbs and black currants in the finish. Made from a blend of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, reaching 14% ABV, you should give this 5 years or so in the cellar and enjoy it over the following years or more. 90-92 Pts 2,665 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
|
2018
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
A solid candidate for the best vintage of Pibran ever produced, the ripeness of the vintage really shines here. This is all about the medium-bodied, round, soft, juicy, red cherries and cassis on the palate that is already so easy to enjoy, even at this young stage. Though, a bit of patience will add even more to this well-priced, charm-filled Pauillac. 2,552 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Flowers, spice and red fruits form the nose. The wine is medium bodied, forward, fresh and juicy with a hint of cocoa along with the fresh fruits. With less rusticity and more elegance than usual, this is a charming, well-priced Pauillac. 89-91 Pts 2,340 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
|
2017
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
With chocolate and floral inflection topping the dark, red fruits, this wine is medium bodied and forward with scattering of dusty tannins in the finish. Made from a blend of 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, you can drink this young. The higher than usual percentage of Merlot is due to the effects of the frost. 3,330 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
|
2016
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Fresh, bright, crisp, juicy sweet and tart red fruits, with a nice whiff of tobacco leaf, cigar box, wet earth and leafy nuances. Classic in style, with a crunchy red berry finish, allow this 5 years in the cellar and enjoy over the next decade. 1,974 Views Tasted Sep 26, 2019From a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is crisp, fresh and lively, combining sweet cassis, licorice and spice. Medium bodied, the finish has a piquant, bright, fruity note. 3,115 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
|
2015
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
From an even split of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon comes a medium-bodied wine with a red fruit core and the essence of smoke, black cherry and mocha on the nose. Give it a year or two to develop more complexity before you pop a cork on this well-priced Pauillac. 87 - 89 Pts 2,916 Views Tasted Apr 18, 2016 |
|
2014
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
This is the best Pibran I have ever tasted. It is a perfect restaurant wine. Espresso, cocoa and black cherry on the nose, with a medium body, the wine is juicy, open and soft on the finish. 88-90 Pts 3,105 Views Tasted Apr 14, 2015 |
|
2013
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Medium bodied, forward, with an uncomplicated focus on cassis and cranberries, the wine ends with an austere, dusty, tobacco tinged finish. Made from a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot, this will be best in its youth, or with another year or two of aging. 2,203 Views Tasted May 25, 2016From a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot, the wine is medium bodied, focusing on cassis, spice and its forward, light style. 85-88 Pts 2,534 Views Tasted Apr 20, 2014 |
|
2012
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Notes of boysenberry, earth, fennel and leaf introduce the blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. This fresh, cherry-driven wine will be aged in 50% new French oak barrels and should offer pleasure early. 87-89 Pts 4,215 Views Tasted Apr 23, 2013 |
|
2011
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Medium bodied, crisp, bright red fruits, tobacco and spice notes lead to a sharp, crunchy, red berry finish. 3,867 Views Tasted May 21, 2014Cassis and red berry aromas, medium-bodied and light in style, the wine ends with cassis in the finish. 87-89 Pts 4,268 Views Tasted Apr 10, 2012 |
|
2010
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Tobacco, oak and cherry aromas open to a Pibran with a touch of elegance in the tannins, which is an improvement in this estate, which is more often on the rustic side of the style range, finishing with a nice blast of black cherry and cassis. 4,277 Views Tasted May 8, 2013Peppery cassis aromas, medium bodied and a fresh, black cherry and kirsch finish. 85-88 Pts 4,529 Views Tasted Jul 30, 2011 |
|
2009
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Straight forward, classically styled with an earthy, tobacco and crisp cassis filled, medium-bodied character, this is already hitting its stride. 2,833 Views Tasted Sep 20, 2019From a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, this forward, open Pauillac serves up a nose of espresso bean, blackberry, cocoa and plum on the nose. The fruit is fresh, the wine has a nice roundness to texture, ending with sweet, black cherries. This is a great value from a region that continues to be more expensive with each vintage. 3,816 Views Tasted Nov 25, 2013 |
|
2007
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
At full maturity, the wine is medium bodied, earthy and fresh, there is a strong, earth and forest overtone to the red fruit, and just a hint of rusticity in the bright, red fruit finish. There is no reason to hold this for future drinking. 4,002 Views Tasted Sep 2, 2017 |
|
2006
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Ready to drink, medium bodied, and showing off its tobacco, cedar wood and cassis character, there is a gruffness in the tannins. 4,781 Views Tasted May 25, 2016 |
|
2005
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Cassis, red berries, earth, coffee and tobacco in the nose, the wine is better on the nose than on the palate. This is on the traditional, rustic, four square side of the style range.. 5,372 Views Tasted Feb 13, 2013 |
|
2004
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Distinctive herbal and cherry pipe tobacco nose, the wine is mature, slightly tart and spicy in its fresh cassis and cranberry finish. 5,024 Views Tasted Jan 4, 2015 |
|
2003
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
The color of dark, strawberry tea, herb, forest and dark red berry fruits are at the forefront of the wine. Dusty, starting to tire and lacking in freshness, this is past its prime and needs to be drunk up sooner than later. 5,205 Views Tasted Dec 18, 2013 |
|
1996
Château Pibran (Pauillac)
Pale ruby with bricking in color, scents of cedar chest, cherries and leaves lead to a medium bodied wine that ends with light red and black fruits and tart cranberry. This wine is already in decline. 6,096 Views Tasted Jul 20, 2011 |
