"Intense cherry fruit, blackcurrant and lots of spicy oak. Characterful and complex with a moreish balance of attractive chalky tannins and acidity. Malbec 85%, Merlot 15%"
Cahors has been an established winemaking area for centuries, and a Latin manuscript from 1456 shows that the Burc family were landowners in Cahors at that time. Today, this 50-hectare estate near Puy-L'Évèque is run by 6th generation vigneronnes, sisters Anne and Emmanuelle Burc. They produce individual and characterful wines from their various vineyard parcels which encompass all of the classic terroirs of the region, both on the renowned terraces of the Lot and upon the limestone plateau above. The estate grows malbec and merlot grapes, and their old vines, which are over 100 years old, are carefully managed according to the principles of lutte raisonneé.
Château Pineraie has made sustainable farming a priority and are keen to protect the future of its vineyards today. The Burc family have been practicing organic farming since 2017, and received their certification for this in 2025. The family is an active exponent of reasoned farming and the protection of biodiversity. Not only this, but for the past two years, the estate has maintained a conservation crop, which is a cultivation technique to improve the agronomic potential of the soil. In their most recent endeavours of practicing agroecology, the Burc sisters have installed beehives on the estate! Organic farming has truly become a priority at Château Pineraie, because a healthy environment is the key to a sustainable future.
The estate comprises of 37 hectares which contains the various soil types that make up the Cahors. On the terraces of the Lot, the vineyard is made of subsoil composed of old alluvium and limestone plateau with clay and marl. Composed of 85% of Auxerrois and 15% of Merlot, the vine stocks of the Pineraie are on the 2nd and 3rd terraces and on the limestone plateau. A dozen hectares are located on the commune of Lacapelle Cabannac. The lower parts of the vineyard are clay while the higher parts are clay, limestone and hard flint. Quality control is a major factor to production, with low yielding limits applied to each patch to help produce ripe, healthy grapes whilst maintaining a good balance with the land. Pesticides are only applied according to a weekly statistical parasite count and weather forecast. The vines, including some very old Malbec, are planted in clay-limestone soil which helps to keep yields naturally low (productivity is approximately 4.500 litres per hectare). Chateau Pineraie is made of 85% Côt (Malbec) and 15% Merlot with the grapes being hand sorted according to very strict specifications. Fermentation is controlled to 30 degrees with maceration on the skins from 2 - 3 weeks, including frequent pumping over and aeration. The wine is then aged for one year in oak barrels, 20% of which are new barrels. It's only lightly filtered before bottling to preserve fruit quality and character.
