Château Puygueraud
Château Puygueraud, near the little village of Francs to the east of St Emilion, clearly has ancient origins; its thick stone walls and round towers ooze centuries of history. It started out as a fortified rural farm, the first stones laid here during the 15th century. During the many hundreds of years which have since passed it has seen periods of great prosperity, as well as decline and dilapidation. Happily, under the direction of its current owner Nicolas Thienpont (pictured), perhaps best known for his direction of Château Pavie-Macquin and Château Larcis Ducasse, and until recently Château Beauséjour and Château Berliquet as well, it seems to be enjoying a more prosperous era.
Sadly, very little (if any) information pertaining to the estate from its origins through to the early 20th century exists. Many older documents concerning the wines of Bordeaux simply did not bother with these more peripheral vineyards, even though many were trading under the name of St Emilion for much of this time. Even when the authors of the Bordeaux bible, Cocks et Féret, began calling on the estates of the Saint-Cibard plateau in what would eventually become the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, there was no mention of Château Puygueraud, only the nearby Château Puyfromage, and a handful of smaller growers. As well as Château Lauriol, which has more relevance than is at first apparent.
