TIME
From a high promontory
on the summit of a plateau above the Dordogne River and the slopes of Saint-Emilion, Château de Pressac has kept watch over the valley for more than six centuries.
Lending its name to a grape variety, the château has become an enduring figure in the history of France.
Here, grapevine and time are intrinsically linked…
MCDLIII
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1453
Cited by historians,
Château de Pressac Pressac was the site of the surrender
of the Battle of Castillon which marked the end
of the Hundred Years’ War.
The Château de Pressac
was founded in the Middle Ages.
Various architectural elements
bear witness to this, including the monumental gate housed in the estate’s outer wall.
The château was fortified on several occasions.
1737-1747
Vassal de Montviel planted the estate with Auxerrois,
a noble grape variety originating in Quercy.
Adopted by the surrounding vineyards,
this grape became known as “Noir de Pressac”.
Sieur Malbek later developed the variety in the Médoc,
where it gradually became referred to as Malbec.
In the Renaissance period,
Pressac’s imposing square
featured some 27 towers,
vestiges of which still remain today.
1775
When the château was sold by Sieur d’Anglade,
the site was described as a vineyard
“preceded by moats… vat rooms,
cellars and a forecourt, all surrounded by castle walls.”
1860
Maximin Josselin purchased the property
and completed major renovation work.
Built in the Neo-Gothic style,
the current château is a clear example
of the architectural fervour developed
in the Bordeaux region at the time.
20th century
Becoming the new owners in 1997,
Jean-François and Dominique Quenin
would go on to complete major development work
on the vineyard. Vines were reintroduced to the steep slopes,
formerly worked with oxen, in narrow terraces.
The cellar was redesigned and renovated in 1999.
21st century
In 2012, Château de Pressac was promoted to
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé status,
in recognition of the excellence of the terroir,
the vineyard and its wines,
as well as the estate’s management
and its ambitious vision for the site.
With neither haste nor relent,
TIME
continues its sure and steady work.
Vineyard, château and cellar have become one
a single and multi-faceted entity
in constant evolution.