Chateau Petit Village Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

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

Chateau Petit Village History, Overview

Chateau Petit Village has a long history in the Pomerol appellation that dates back to at least 1785. The wines of Petit Village first began gaining acclaim in 1831, when the estate was owned by the Dufresne family. At one point in time, the estate was owned by the De Seguin family who also owned Clos Fourtet in St. Emilion.

In 1919, Petit Village once again changed hands when it was sold to the Ginestet family. At the time the Ginestet family were well-known Bordeaux negociants with other holdings in the Medoc. In fact, just 2 years earlier, they bought Chateau Cos d’Estournel. Following the frost of 1956, the vineyards of Petit Village were replanted.

Perhaps, due to their experience in the Left Bank, having owned Chateau Margaux, they planted an excessive amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Pomerol vineyards.

The amount of Cabernet Sauvignon was over 50%, which was the highest amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the entire Right Bank! That replanting with that massive amount of Cabernet Sauvignon was a huge mistake for the wines of Chateau Petit Village.

The vineyard and the wines did not begin to truly recover until late in the first decade in the 20th century.

When Bruno Prats began to take control of Chateau Petit Village in 1971, one of his earliest decisions was to rip out the Cabernet Sauvignon and replace it with Merlot. His next move was to renovate the cellars in 1977. This led to an increase in the quality of the wine at Chateau Petit Village.

The involvement of Bruno Prats ceased when he sold Chateau Petit Village to the large AXA Insurance group in 1989. At that point in time, Jean Michel Cazes of Chateau Lynch Bages, who had a relationship with AXA, due to his work with them at Pichon Baron took over the property.

At the time, AXA, also owned Pichon Baron in Pauillac, as well as Chateau Suduiraut in Sauternes, and numerous other wineries in a myriad of countries including Portugal and Hungary.

While under the AXA brand, improvements at Chateau Petit Village took place including new vats and a new barrel cellar. These renovations created what is still possibly the most architecturally modern-looking estate in the Pomerol appellation. They also brought in Stephane Derenoncourt to consult in 2005.

Marielle Cazaux, the previous technical director of Petit Village left in 2015 to join Chateau La Conseillante. She was replaced by Diana Garcia Berrouet, who is the sister-in-law of Olivier Berrouet of Petrus.

In June 2020, Chateau Petit Village was sold to the Moulin family, the owners of the neighboring Pomerol estate, Chateau Beauregard. Augustin Belloy, a member of the family is in charge of the estate today.

Chateau Petit Village Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 10.5-hectare vineyard of Petit Village is planted with 75% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Petit Village continues to maintain one of the highest portions of Cabernet Sauvignon plantings in the Pomerol appellation. However, this still shows a change in the vineyard with a tilt to more Merlot.

The vineyard of Chateau Petit Village is a single triangular-shaped parcel of vines. The terroir is composed of deep gravel with sand, chalk, and clay soil. That soil sits on top of an important bed of red iron, which helps give the wine character.

They have good neighbors as Vieux Chateau Certan and Certan de May are just a bit north, La Conseillante is due south and Beauregard is located to its eastern flank. On average, the vines are 35 years of age. However, they have old vines.

The oldest parcel of vines at Petit Village is a single plot of Merlot planted in 1947. On average the vines are planted to a density of 5,600 vines per hectare. Today, over have the vineyard is farmed using only organic methods. The estate was certified as organic in 2023.

To produce the wine of Chateau Petit Village, vinification takes place in 18 thermoregulated concrete vats for an average of 21 days. The vats range in size from 35 hectoliters up to 80 hectoliters. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels.

Chateau Petit Village is aged in 70% new, French oak barrels for about 15 months. However, a small portion of the wine is aged in neutral vessels, as the estate also uses clay amphora and glass wine globes.

The best vintages of Chateau Petit Village are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010 and 2009. I have not had much luck with older vintages, but I admit, I seldom see them. My feeling is that the best wines from Petit Village are being made today. In fact, 2020 is the best vintage ever produced at the property!

The Character and Style of Petit Village

Chateau Petit Village has been a medium/full-bodied Pomerol, without the same level of ripeness, elegance, and concentration the better wines from the region often display.

With Stephane Derenoncourt replacing Michel Rolland in 2005, things are starting to turn around for this popular, Right Bank, Bordeaux wine. However, 2015 Petit Village was a step up from the other, previously produced vintages. It is really a classy wine and clearly, that vintage was a harbinger of things to come from this well-known, but under-performing estate as 2020 is the best vintage of Petit Village ever produced.

Chateau Petit Village produces close to 2,500 cases of wine per year at its peak. There is a second wine, Le Jardin de Petit Village. However, it should be noted that starting with the 2021 vintage, the production was cut almost in half, as a major replanting of the vineyard is taking place.

When to Drink Chateau Petit Village, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Petit Village is much better with at least 7-10 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for 1-2 hours or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Petit Village offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 9-20 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Petit Village with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Petit Village is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Petit Village is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Petit Village is also good when matched with Asian dishes, and hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
 
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