Lorenzettis’ Grands Crus for India

The story of Bordeaux would be incomplete without including Château Pédesclaux, a historic estate in the Pauillac appellation, classified as a Cinquième Grands Cru Classé (Fifth Growth) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, a testament to its longestablished quality and reputation. Founded in 1810 it was later acquired in 2009 by Jacky Lorenzetti, a French businessman with a passion for Bordeaux wines. Another name to be taken in the same breath is Château Lafon-Rochet, located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux. It holds the prestigious status of a Quatrième Grands Cru Classé (Fourth Growth) from the 1855 Classification. FÉLIX Pariente Lorenzetti, President of Château Pédesclaux and Château Lafon-Rochet, tells BISHAN Kumar about the traits that make these estates unique.

Félix fondly recalls that his grandfather Jacques always had a bottle of Bordeaux on the table at lunch and dinner. After Félix’s uncle Jacky sold Foncia, a real-estate agency, in 2006, he and his wife Françoise decided to invest in their other passions like wine and rugby. Incidentally, Françoise comes from Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, where her family were winegrowers.

In 2008, Jacky and Françoise were introduced to Château Lilian Ladouys and immediately fell in love with the estate. They acquired Château Pédesclaux in 2009, half of Château d’Issan in 2013, and Château LafonRochet in 2021. Today, these four wineries allow them to offer a wide range of wines: a Grands Cru Classé in three prestigious appellations, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe and Margaux, as well as a Cru Bourgeois.

Terroir & Style

Château Pédesclaux in Pauillac sits on deep gravel soils with some clay and limestone, giving it a classic Cabernet Sauvignon–friendly terroir. The proximity to the Gironde ensures good drainage and moderated temperatures, and recent vineyard work has improved precision. Pédesclaux produces a modern, lifted style of Pauillac: pure, linear and aromatic rather than overtly muscular. Its signature character is defined by clean cassis fruit, graphite and floral notes, with fine, polished tannins and an emphasis on freshness and transparency rather than sheer power.

Château Lafon-Rochet in SaintEstèphe is rooted in a mix of gravel over clay and marl, a combination that contributes to the appellation’s renowned structure and depth. The clay provides natural water retention and adds weight and firmness to the wines, while a slightly cooler mesoclimate supports steady ripening. The style is typically SaintEstèphe in its robust framework, earthy undertones and dark-fruit depth, though recent investment has introduced more purity and finesse. Its house character shows black plum and cassis alongside tobacco, irontinged minerality and a savoury, serious profile that marries power with growing refinement.

Château d’Issan in Margaux benefits from highly draining gravel soils with excellent heat retention, producing wines with fragrance and elegance. Some parcels lie close to the river, enhancing aromatic lift. Cabernet Sauvignon performs exceptionally here, with Merlot adding charm and suppleness. The style is among the most aromatic and silky in Margaux; perfumed, refined and textural, with notes of violet, rose petal, cassis and cedar on a velvety palate and a distinctly long, perfumed finish.

A Pursuit of Quality

There is a common thread linking all these properties; an uncompromising pursuit of quality. “Since the beginning, our family has worked towards one clear goal; to craft the best wines possible for our clients,” says Félix, who joined the estates around five months ago.

Since 2008, Jacky and Françoise, together with their daughter Manon, have worked closely with the teams to bring the estates to where they are today; they remain fully involved and work with Félix towards shared goals. A significant part of his responsibilities concern the commercial direction of the wineries, while day-to-day viticultural and winemaking operations are overseen by the general managers.

Estates of Distinction

Château Pédesclaux has about 45 hectares under vine and produces roughly 100,000 bottles of Grand Vin, with a similar volume for the second wine, Fleur de Pédesclaux. It also produces a third label. Château Lafon-Rochet covers 120 hectares and produces three wines: Château Lafon-Rochet (Grand Vin), Les Pèlerins de Lafon-Rochet (second wine) and Château Lilian Ladouys. Wines from these Châteaux are majorly sold in foreign markets, mainly in the US, Europe and Asia, beside a sizeable consumption in France itself.

Félix manages these estates with the help of Vincent Bache Gabrielsen - General Manager of Château Lafon-Rochet and Christophe Congé, General Manager of Château Pédesclaux.

“Expanding into newer markets requires a strong on-theground presence, so we have been travelling widely to introduce our wines and strengthen brand visibility,” Félix says. Félix manages these estates with the help of Vincent Bache Gabrielsen - General Manager of Château Lafon-Rochet and Christophe Congé, General Manager of Château Pédesclaux.

India Calling

India has long been on their radar, and Félix stresses the importance of collaborating with local distribution partners and hosting international visitors at the estates in Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. “India is one of the most promising growth markets in the near future. Import taxes currently make it difficult to export our wines and for consumers to access them at fair prices. However, during our recent visit, organised by the French Embassy in New Delhi and the Conseil des Grands Crus Classés 1855, we sensed real enthusiasm from the trade and consumers,” he says. Some had already visited the estates and knew the wines well.

Given the premium positioning of Pédesclaux and Lafon-Rochet, Félix considers established collectors, luxury hotels and restaurants, and emerging affluent younger drinkers all to be important and complementary segments. “Thanks to the positioning of our different wineries, Lilian Ladouys, Lafon-Rochet, Pédesclaux and d’Issan, we can reach consumers with different purchasing power. Younger drinkers represent tomorrow’s customers, and we must engage and inspire them,” he adds.

Fortunately, Bordeaux wines, especially those from Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac, pair well with Indian cuisine. “Yes, our tastings have proved that Indian cuisine matches well with our wines,” Félix adds. He believes that one does not need extensive education to appreciate quality and tasting a great wine is enough often.

Félix is banking on support from the Union des Grands Crus and others to raise Bordeaux’s profile in India, and hopes the tax structure to evolve in the coming years. “As this happens, we plan to visit India more frequently to facilitate deeper market penetration.”

He also believes Bordeaux’s image must continue to modernise. “Our wineries are no longer dusty or intimidating. We are open, welcoming and increasingly attractive to younger generations, while respecting our heritage,” affirms Félix.