Château le Payral is an organic estate in Razac de Saussignac in the Bergerac region of South West France. Wines are produced under the Bergerac AOC and the Saussignac AOC.

Owner: Isabelle and Thierry Daulhiac.

Background: Thierry Daulhiac (who is the brother in law of Gérard Cuisset of Château les Miaudoux) took over here in 1992. Married to Isabelle.

Vineyards: 2005 14ha. The two oldest parcels include 1ha used for Saussignac (5,000 vines/ha, taille à cots), and another 1ha plot (2,500 vines/ha, higher up, guyot simple, planted with SB and Muscadelle). Also Sauvignon Gris (0.60ha, came into production in 1996).

Organic certification: 2003 Went organic (‘bio sans papiers’. | 2008 First vintage with full organic certification.

White wines

Bergerac Blanc Sec AOC: 2007 Stainless steel. Primary fruit, lees-ageing influences (Millésime Bio 2009). | 2007 100% Sauvignon Blanc with no added sulfites. Cidery (Millésime Bio 2009). | 2016 Very nice natural style, saline and refreshing (Millésime Bio 2017).

Red wines

Bergerac Rouge AOC: 2015 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot. Nice fruit, savoury, leafy but not green at (Millésime Bio 2017).

Bergerac Rouge AOC, Héritage: 2001 4,000 bottles from 1.25ha.

Bergerac Rouge AOC, Terres Rouges: On silex = bold fruit (Millésime Bio 2017). | 2004 100% Merlot. Not too chunky, but a bit dry so trying too hard (Millésime Bio 2017). | 2014 100% Merlot.

Sweet wines

Saussignac AOC: 2015 No oak. A bit fluffy (Millésime Bio 2017).

Saussignac AOC, Cuvée Marie Jeanne: 1994 Better than the 1995 Thierry told me (visit 1998). | 1995 50% Semillon, 25% Sauvignon Blanc (flétri), 50% Muscadelle, one third new wood, 18 months élevage, good use of wood, modern in style, well made (Visit 1998). | 1996 50% Sauvignon Gris, 20% Semillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Muscadelle; refreshing, the Sauvignon Gris adding weight, tropical but balanced, integrated noble rot made (Visit 1998). | 1997 Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon (no Sauvignon Gris in this as yield too high). | 2003 Sauvignon Gris passerilé. 12% alcohol, 100g residual sugar. Decent integration, nice and sweet but not too sweet (Millésime Bio 2009). | 2011 Elegant year. Lovely concentration, fraîcheur ( Millésime Bio 2017).

Contact

Château le Payral

Le Bourg, F-24240 Razac de Saussignac (Dordogne), France

Tel+33 (0)5.53.22.38.07