Overview

Chateau Pibran's beginnings 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 own 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.

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. 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.

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.