Château Puybarbe is located in the heart of the Côtes de Bourg appellation, on the right bank of the Gironde just across the water from Margaux. The name comes from the hill called Puy Barbe, the very highest point of the appellation. The height is one of the estates keys to success, allied to the gravel soils that dominate here allowing perfect conditions for the Merlot to thrive (65% of plantings) and ever more juicy Cabernet Suavignon too (35%). The estate now runs to 35 hectares of vineyards. The Orlandi family have been owners since 1952, and we have just heard that they have passed it on to new owners, a Finnish couple, Riku et Anna Väänänen. So far, so good under the new regime and we hope they continue to maximise the potential of this superb plot of prime Côtes de Bourg.