Chateau Pierre de Lune St. Emilion Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Pierre de Lune St. Emilion with wine tasting notes, wine, and food pairing tips, best vintages, a history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Pierre de Lune in Saint Emilion is possibly the smallest of the popular, Grand Cru Classe vineyards in the appellation. This tiny 1 hectare, vineyard belongs to the long-time, previous Regisseur of Clos Fourtet, Tony Ballu.

Chateau Pierre de Lune Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The Right Bank vineyard of Chateau Pierre de Lune is planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pierre de Lune has a terroir of sand and gravel soils. The vines are planted at a density of 6,600 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is a very, respectable 32 years of age.

Since 2007, the Saint Emilion vineyard of Pierre de Lune has been farmed using 100% biodynamic farming techniques. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks with a 26-day cuvaison which is punctuated by daily pigeages.

Malolactic fermentation takes place in 50% new, French oak barrels. The wine of Chateau Pierre de Lune is aged in 50% new, French oak for 15 months.

The Best Vintages of Chateau Pierre de Lune are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

Tony Ballu, the owner of Chateau Pierre de Lune is dedicated to producing the finest Bordeaux wine possible at Pierre de Lune. To prove this, he declassified the majority of the Bordeaux wine he tried to produce with the 2008 vintage. Tony Ballu decided to do this because he was not happy with the quality he was able to produce in the vintage.

That is a major commitment when your vineyard is only one hectare. Chateau Pierre de Lune can be difficult to find, as only 200 cases of this supple, stylish, Bordeaux wine are produced every year. The owners also operate a small, charm-filled, bed and breakfast on their Saint Emilion property, giving guests a chance to experience life in a vineyard.

When to Drink Chateau Pierre de Lune, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Pierre de Lune is better with at least 4-6 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Chateau Pierre de Lune is best enjoyed in the first 5-18 years of life.

Young vintages can be decanted for about 1 hour, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Serving Chateau Pierre de Lune with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau Pierre de Lune is best when served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Pierre de Lune is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Pierre de Lune is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Château Pierre de lune Wine Tasting Notes

17 Vintages 43,623 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2021
90
Round, ripe and polished, the wine is loaded with espresso, chocolate, black cherry and plums. Soft, forward and ready-to-go on release. Drink from 2023-2034. 89-91

Round, ripe and polished, the wine is loaded with espresso, chocolate, black cherry and plums. Soft, forward and ready-to-go on release. Drink from 2023-2034. 89-91

1,593 Views   Tasted
2020
91
Incense and toasty oak, along with juicy ripe plums, licorice and flowers are what you initially notice. Medium-bodied, round, polished, soft and fleshy, with spicy overtones to the red fruits and oak on the palate and in the supple-textured finish are what you find here. 90-92 Pts

Incense and toasty oak, along with juicy ripe plums, licorice and flowers are what you initially notice. Medium-bodied, round, polished, soft and fleshy, with spicy overtones to the red fruits and oak on the palate and in the supple-textured finish are what you find here. 90-92 Pts

1,725 Views   Tasted
2019
91
With a nice depth of color, the wine is round, lush forward, soft and polished with toasted oak, espresso, dark cocoa and ripe, sweet, black plums on the nose and palate. Give this a few years in the cellar to better integrate. Drink from 2023-2038.

With a nice depth of color, the wine is round, lush forward, soft and polished with toasted oak, espresso, dark cocoa and ripe, sweet, black plums on the nose and palate. Give this a few years in the cellar to better integrate. Drink from 2023-2038.

1,271 Views   Tasted
Deeply colored, with dark red fruits, espresso beans, smoke, spice and licorice on the nose. The palate is round, lush, fresh and juicy. The oak is a bit prominent at the moment, as are the tannins. But with 5 years in the cellar, everything should come together nicely. 90-92 Pts

Deeply colored, with dark red fruits, espresso beans, smoke, spice and licorice on the nose. The palate is round, lush, fresh and juicy. The oak is a bit prominent at the moment, as are the tannins. But with 5 years in the cellar, everything should come together nicely. 90-92 Pts

2,954 Views   Tasted
2018
92
Powerful, rich, lush with an oaky lean to a sweet and fleshy, licorice and cocoa round, plush finish. The wine is a blend of 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. 91-93 Pts

Powerful, rich, lush with an oaky lean to a sweet and fleshy, licorice and cocoa round, plush finish. The wine is a blend of 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. 91-93 Pts

1,602 Views   Tasted
2017
90
With an oaky presence the wine is round, supple, ripe and polished, making it easy to drink on release, so you can enjoy its lush fruity charms early.

With an oaky presence the wine is round, supple, ripe and polished, making it easy to drink on release, so you can enjoy its lush fruity charms early.

1,465 Views   Tasted
2016
92
Blackened fruits, espresso, dark chocolate with cherry liqueur are molten and flowing. Fat, juicy and sweet, this is forward, opulent and dense. Using 100% Merlot, the wine was produced from very low yields of 11 hectoliters per hectare.

Blackened fruits, espresso, dark chocolate with cherry liqueur are molten and flowing. Fat, juicy and sweet, this is forward, opulent and dense. Using 100% Merlot, the wine was produced from very low yields of 11 hectoliters per hectare.

1,682 Views   Tasted
2015
91
Medium-bodied with a focus on its fresh, soft, ripe plums, flowery essence and supple textures.

Medium-bodied with a focus on its fresh, soft, ripe plums, flowery essence and supple textures.

1,313 Views   Tasted
2014
90
From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, this medium-bodied, fresh wine centers on a lush, cherry and cocoa core. This should be drinkable on release. 89-91 Pts

From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, this medium-bodied, fresh wine centers on a lush, cherry and cocoa core. This should be drinkable on release. 89-91 Pts

1,482 Views   Tasted
2013
88
90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc produced a forward, soft, approachable and round wine brimming with smoke, fennel and red plums. 87-89 Pts

90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc produced a forward, soft, approachable and round wine brimming with smoke, fennel and red plums. 87-89 Pts

1,211 Views   Tasted
2012
90
Minerality, smoke, earth and fresh berries with round textures and a jammy, cocoa- and berry-filled finish are found in the wine. 89-91 Pts

Minerality, smoke, earth and fresh berries with round textures and a jammy, cocoa- and berry-filled finish are found in the wine. 89-91 Pts

1,352 Views   Tasted
2011
90
One of the smaller St. Emilion vineyards at just 1.05 hectares, the wine was produced from a blend of 90% Merlot%, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and reached 13.5% ABV.. Flowers, black raspberry and spice make up this medium-bodied, soft-textured wine with a soft, sweet, red cherry-filled finish. 89-90 Pts

One of the smaller St. Emilion vineyards at just 1.05 hectares, the wine was produced from a blend of 90% Merlot%, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and reached 13.5% ABV.. Flowers, black raspberry and spice make up this medium-bodied, soft-textured wine with a soft, sweet, red cherry-filled finish. 89-90 Pts

1,385 Views   Tasted
2010
92
Pierre de Lune is owned Tony Ballu, the wine maker for Clos Fourtet. This small, 1 hectare, biodynamically farmed vineyard is planted on sand and gravel soils. From a mix of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14% ABV, which is lower than what they achieved in 2009. With scents of jammy black raspberries, stone and licorice, this round textured wine ends with a licorice and sweet, black cherry finish. 91-93 Pts

Pierre de Lune is owned Tony Ballu, the wine maker for Clos Fourtet. This small, 1 hectare, biodynamically farmed vineyard is planted on sand and gravel soils. From a mix of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14% ABV, which is lower than what they achieved in 2009. With scents of jammy black raspberries, stone and licorice, this round textured wine ends with a licorice and sweet, black cherry finish. 91-93 Pts

2,334 Views   Tasted
2009
93
2009 Pierre de Lune. The property is owned Tony Ballu, winemaker for Clos Fourtet. The small (1 hectare) biodynamically farmed vineyard is planted on sand and gravel. From 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc, the wine offers black and blue fruit aromas coupled with licorice and espresso notes. Full bodied with round textures, this rich wine ends with supple, jammy dark berry flavors. 92-94 Pts

2009 Pierre de Lune. The property is owned Tony Ballu, winemaker for Clos Fourtet. The small (1 hectare) biodynamically farmed vineyard is planted on sand and gravel. From 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc, the wine offers black and blue fruit aromas coupled with licorice and espresso notes. Full bodied with round textures, this rich wine ends with supple, jammy dark berry flavors. 92-94 Pts

2,910 Views   Tasted
2008
91
Not a wine you see often, which is too bad, but I really like it. Round, supple, ripe and filled with lush black cherries, licorice and chocolate, with truffle accents, this is drinking quite well today.

Not a wine you see often, which is too bad, but I really like it. Round, supple, ripe and filled with lush black cherries, licorice and chocolate, with truffle accents, this is drinking quite well today.

1,404 Views   Tasted
2006
92
Ready to go, but in no danger of running out of steam, the medium-bodied wine is lush, round, fruity, and packed with smoke, espresso, dark cocoa, deep, red pit fruit, licorice and opulent tannins.

Ready to go, but in no danger of running out of steam, the medium-bodied wine is lush, round, fruity, and packed with smoke, espresso, dark cocoa, deep, red pit fruit, licorice and opulent tannins.

1,939 Views   Tasted
2005
93
Nice wine, soft, silky, polished with the right amount of licorice, cherry and truffle too. This is close to fully ready, so if you are waiting, wait no longer.

Nice wine, soft, silky, polished with the right amount of licorice, cherry and truffle too. This is close to fully ready, so if you are waiting, wait no longer.

3,626 Views   Tasted
What a pleasure to taste. Silky, almost luxurious in nature on the palate. The fresh sweet, dark fruits were in full force on nose as well, accompanied by licorice, dark chocolate and smoke. The endnote on the finish continued the theme. Popped and poured, this was just great from the moment the wine hit the glass, through to the last drop.

What a pleasure to taste. Silky, almost luxurious in nature on the palate. The fresh sweet, dark fruits were in full force on nose as well, accompanied by licorice, dark chocolate and smoke. The endnote on the finish continued the theme. Popped and poured, this was just great from the moment the wine hit the glass, through to the last drop.

2,620 Views   Tasted
Mature, with an earthy, truffle, cocoa, black cherry, licorice and smoke filled nose, this round, open wine is ready to drink.

Mature, with an earthy, truffle, cocoa, black cherry, licorice and smoke filled nose, this round, open wine is ready to drink.

2,807 Views   Tasted
Ready to drink, this charming, elegant, medium bodied wine is all about the truffle and fresh cherry notes, with plush textures. As good as this is, it's not a wine for aging. I'm going to drink my remaining bottles over the next 5 years.

Ready to drink, this charming, elegant, medium bodied wine is all about the truffle and fresh cherry notes, with plush textures. As good as this is, it's not a wine for aging. I'm going to drink my remaining bottles over the next 5 years.

2,768 Views   Tasted
This is described as eating perfectly ripe, sweet, polished blackberries with drops of licorice and chocolate off your table. There is not a hard edge to be found in this sexy, elegant, stylish wine. With a very small production, this will become very hard to find.

This is described as eating perfectly ripe, sweet, polished blackberries with drops of licorice and chocolate off your table. There is not a hard edge to be found in this sexy, elegant, stylish wine. With a very small production, this will become very hard to find.

2,783 Views   Tasted
2004
86
Light in color and fruit, with simple red fruits, spice and earth, this needs to be drunk up sooner than later.

Light in color and fruit, with simple red fruits, spice and earth, this needs to be drunk up sooner than later.

1,397 Views   Tasted