Château Peybonhomme-les-Tours is one of Bordeaux's natural wine pioneers. In the village of Cars near Blaye, the Hubert family was among the very first in the region to embrace biodynamics, and the estate has been farming that way for over two decades.
Backstory
The Huberts have owned Peybonhomme-les-Tours since 1895. One stormy night in December 1999 pushed Jean-Luc and Catherine Hubert to convert their vineyards to organics and then biodynamics. Today siblings Rachel and Guillaume Hubert run the estate; Rachel studied pharmacy and joined in 2012, while Guillaume returned after studies in ecology.
The Region
The property lies on Bordeaux's northern right bank in Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, crowned by a seventeenth-century castellated tower with panoramic views over the surrounding vineyards.
Vineyards and Farming
The roughly 50-hectare estate has been certified biodynamic since 2000, making it one of the earliest adopters in Bordeaux. Biodynamic thinking guides every choice in vineyard and cellar alike, with the aim of producing genuine, terroir-driven wines while protecting the surrounding environment.
Winemaking
Fermentations use yeast native to the estate, with temperature control in concrete vats. There are no inputs apart from limited sulphur, around 40 mg/l, and the wines are not fined. Bottling is timed to a fruit day on the biodynamic calendar.
The Wines
The range runs from classic Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux and Côtes de Bourg reds to a playful set of natural cuvées. Throughout, the wines are elegant and clearly marked by their limestone-rich terroir.
