The Amoreau family have been making wine since 1610, between Libourne and Bergerac. Château Le Puy is undoubtedly one of Bordeaux's most innovative estates; the vines are grown biodynamically, new wood has always been banned, and the producers use very little sulphur during production. Their cuvées are quite the opposite of standardised, with a pleasant rustic profile and an easy-drinking side that might be surprising for a Bordeaux. Such qualities have been roundly lauded since the 2003 vintage was called the best wine in the world by the famous Japanese manga comic ‘Les Gouttes de Dieu'. Here, originality is a family tradition, and they are even pushing for the creation of their own “Le Puy” appellation. One to watch!
Since 2017, the estate has voluntarily left the Côtes de Francs AOC to enjoy greater freedom, and all of its wines are now produced under the Vin de France designation. For the Amoreau family, originality is somewhat of a tradition. The château even experimented with ageing a wine in the hold of a sailing schooner during a months-long Atlantic crossing, reviving the legend of galleons resting on the seabed with bottles of wine in their hulls.

The Retour des Iles cuvée is made up of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet sauvignon, and 1% Carménère, and vatted at length before setting sail…quite literally! This cuvée is matured for 10 months on a boat called the Très Hombres, which crosses the Atlantic from Douarnenez (Brittany), along the Spanish and Portuguese coast, across to Cape Verde, then passing by Brazil, the Caribbean, the Azores, then the United Kingdom, and back to Douarnenez. The cuvée is available a year later. Making this journey means the wine evolves in an especially unique way with progressive changes in temperature; the porous nature of the casks confers interesting aromas thanks to the products that travel alongside them, like cacao, spices, and coffee.
In the glass it has a dense, garnet red hue. Its nose is bursting with ripe, red fruit. On the palate, this is a balanced, ample, and round wine with supple tannins and a wave of freshness. Overall, it is a harmonious cuvée that can be aged extensively.