Château le PUY

What are the ancestral practices of Château Le Puy en Francs Côtes de Bordeaux?

Château Le Puy is a true exception in the Bordeaux winegrowing landscape. Located high up in the Dordogne, in the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, this family-run Winery has been managed by the Amoreau family for over 400 years, and its history is intimately linked to viticultural practices that respect nature. Since 1610, Château Le Puy has been cultivating its vines using organic and biodynamic methods, long before these terms became standard in agriculture. These ancestral practices, handed down from generation to generation, are based on the natural balance of the soil, the vines and their environment.

Our approach at Winery is to avoid any use of synthetic chemicals, herbicides or insecticides. The soil and vines are worked by hand, with particular attention paid to natural cycles. For example, the vines are protected against disease using natural plant-based treatments and biodynamic preparations, thus reinforcing the vitality of the soil and vines. This philosophy goes hand in hand with a profound respect for biodiversity, where each element of the ecosystem plays an essential role in the production of an authentic wine.

This respect for terroir does not mean that Winery remains stuck in the past. Château Le Puy also knows how to use modern technical innovations when they are relevant, but always with a view to preserving the natural quality of the grapes. For example, temperature control in the vats is ensured by self-regulating probes, enabling precise temperature control during fermentation, while respecting the natural rhythm of the wine. In this way, modern and traditional techniques coexist harmoniously, offering a wine that reflects both ancestral know-how and the mastery of today's technologies.

How do grape varieties and terroirs influence the wines of Château Le Puy?

Château Le Puy, perched on the heights of the Dordogne near Saint-Émilion, is distinguished by the diversity and richness of its terroirs. The vineyard is mainly planted with Merlot, which accounts for 87% ofGrape varieties, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon at 11%, and Carménère and Sémillon for the white wines. The vines, with an average age of 50 years, are densely planted at 5,500 vines per hectare, and yields are deliberately low, at around 36 hectolitres per hectare, guaranteeing beautifully concentrated grapes. Thanks to these clay-limestone and silico-limestone terroirs, the wines of Château Le Puy stand out for their depth, incomparable fruitiness, and ability to age, offering a true expression of their unique terroir.

What are the specifics of vinification and ageing at Château Le Puy?

At Château Le Puy, vinification and ageing follow principles that respect both wine and nature. Fermentations begin naturally, without the addition of yeast, and chaptalization has never been used. The wines are tasted every week to monitor their evolution. The wine is aged for two years in 3 to 5 year-old barrels and foudres, asepticized with steam. The cuvées are then bottled without filtration or fining, respecting the lunar cycle, particularly the old moon. This meticulous, natural approach enables Winery to produce wines with great ageing potential, notably with three flagship cuvées: two reds and one white. Thanks to an oenotheque created in 1917, Château Le Puy can now offer historic vintages, some dating back to the founding of Winery.