Chateau de Pierreux
2024
Brouilly, Château de Pierreux
View details →£19.85
The SommPills Cellar
Chateau de Pierreux
1 wine on the Chateau de Pierreux shelf, chosen one at a time.
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Chateau de Pierreux
1 wines on the shelf
Château de Pierreux sits at the heart of Brouilly, the largest and most robust of the Beaujolais Crus. Managed by Jean-Claude Boisset since 2002, this 77-hectare estate farms 40-to-45-year-old bush-vine Gamay on distinctive pink granite soils that give these wines their signature colour, fruit intensity, and depth. The estate operates organically and biodynamically—vines are ploughed by horse, fertilised naturally, and handled with minimal intervention. If you want Beaujolais with real structure and character, not dilute fruit juice, this is where to look.
About Château de Pierreux
The vineyard's shallow, well-drained pink granitic and siliceous soils, combined with volcanic rock deposits, create the conditions that make Brouilly wines stand apart from other Beaujolais appellations. At an elevation of 350 metres with vine density approaching 10,000 plants per hectare, the old bush-trained Gamay vines form the estate's backbone.
Winemaking here is built on restraint and respect for the fruit. Foot-treading of the grapes permits extraction of both tannin and flavour while avoiding the heavy-handedness that can diminish wine quality. Fermentation uses indigenous yeasts—no commercial cultures—allowing the wine to develop naturally. Large traditional vessels of used oak in the form of foudres provide six months of maturation, imparting texture and roundness while preserving the wine's terroir character. This combination of old vines, natural farming, and minimal-intervention winemaking produces wines with genuine weight and complexity, rather than the light, fruit-forward style that defines many modern Beaujolais examples.
Sustainable farming principles are central to the estate's operation. The use of natural fertilisers, horse ploughing to avoid soil compaction, and organic and biodynamic certification reflect a commitment to long-term vineyard health rather than short-term yield. This approach has built a reputation for consistency and quality across difficult vintages.
Château de Pierreux Wines in Our Collection
The 2024 Brouilly is the current offering from the estate—a wine that delivers the concentrated, structured character Brouilly is known for. Scored 90 by critics and rated 3.7 on Vivino, it shows the depth and fruit intensity that pink granite terroir contributes. This is a Beaujolais that will satisfy those seeking something beyond the usual light, quaffable profile.
Brouilly from Château de Pierreux sits comfortably at the premium end of the appellation. It's drinking wine, yes, but with enough structure to cellar briefly if you wish, and enough complexity to justify paying above supermarket Beaujolais prices. Choose this when you want to move beyond thin, fruit-heavy examples and into territory where soil, vine age, and winemaking craft become audible in the glass. It suits both casual table drinking and occasions where Beaujolais deserves serious attention.
Food Pairing
The structure and tannin in Château de Pierreux Brouilly make it a natural match for roasted poultry, beef stews, and charcuterie. The wine's fruit intensity and the pink granite's mineral edge work well against richer preparations—duck confit, rabbit with mustard, or Lyonnaise sausages. The mid-weight body sits between light reds and fuller Burgundy, making it adaptable to dishes with earthy elements: mushrooms, lentils, grilled vegetables, and aged cheeses.
What makes Château de Pierreux different from other Beaujolais producers?
The estate farms 40-45-year-old bush vines organically and biodynamically on pink granite soils. Minimal-intervention winemaking—foot-crushing, indigenous yeast, used oak ageing—creates concentrated, structured wines, not light fruit.
Who manages the estate and how long have they been there?
Jean-Claude Boisset has managed Château de Pierreux since the 2002 vintage. The château itself dates to the Renaissance, making it one of Beaujolais' most established addresses.
Why are the pink granite soils important?
Pink granite, combined with volcanic rock, creates shallow, well-drained conditions that impart the extra colour, fruit intensity, and depth characteristic of top Brouilly wines.
Who makes Château de Pierreux wines?
Jean-Claude Boisset has managed the 77-hectare Château de Pierreux estate in Brouilly, Beaujolais, since 2002. The vineyard is planted with 40-to-45-year-old Gamay bush vines on distinctive pink granite soils.
What style of wine does Château de Pierreux make?
Château de Pierreux makes structured Brouilly from old Gamay vines using organic and biodynamic farming, foot-treading, indigenous yeasts, and maturation in large used oak foudres. The 2024 Brouilly scored 90 and offers concentrated fruit intensity and genuine weight, not light quaffing wine.
How much does Château de Pierreux wine cost?
Château de Pierreux wine from SommPills costs £20.15 for the current 2024 Brouilly—a premium offer within the Brouilly appellation, reflecting old vines and serious winemaking craft.
Written by SommPills AI Merchant — our in-house AI, directed by real sommeliers.