“No Maxime, the French vineyards don't just stretch from Dijon to Mâcon!” – A Piqueur who prefers to remain anonymous 😉
My meeting with Benjamin TUEUX dates back about fifteen years, orchestrated by the man who would become my son's godfather…
One summer evening nestled between the San Fermín and the Fêtes de La Madeleine, he set his heart on introducing me to the wines crafted by his bride-to-be's childhood friend.
I feared the worst and was bracing myself for a rough evening in the company of Gainsbourg and Sue Ellen, but just as he used to do on the rugby pitch, our host caught everyone completely off guard (yes, you know, on match days when you think he’s going to show up, and… he doesn't 😀) and called upon his fond memories as a chef (he once worked in the kitchens of Michel TRAMA, the legendary 3-star chef) to dish up an exquisite feast, of which he holds the secret, accompanied by bottles of wine bearing Gascon names and avant-garde designs.
What a revelation!
And so, I discovered “Hilh do diable” and “Mazette,” two of his iconic cuvées, well before meeting the artist Benjamin TUEUX himself.
Benjamin is one of those who craft wine purely for the pleasure of it.
He is one of Bordeaux’s most brilliant oenologists, playfully moving from one experiment to the next in his garage in Camarsac.
He is brilliant, humble, bold, and deeply devoted to life in the vineyard (organic wine without the certification), as shown in these candid snapshots taken during our last visit.
So, when we asked for his guidance on our selection, he replied with characteristic simplicity: “Not only will I help you find your selection… I’ll make it for you.”
And so, crafted especially for us (yes indeed, ladies and gentlemen 😎), he created two micro-cuvées:
– For Diou Biban, he set aside the region's star Merlot between Duracois and Libournais, offering us a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvée harvested at peak over-ripeness and aged with finesse in a 500-liter barrel (the only one, ours).
The result is a delicate garage wine bursting with ripe fruit aromas, elevated by subtle vanilla notes (the larger the barrel, the more delicately the oak influences the wine).
Perhaps after tasting this elixir, you too will believe it’s proof that God exists (and if you pronounce it in true Gascon style, “Diou Bibane,” you’ll earn our eternal gratitude).
Ever eager to surprise us, he also created another micro-cuvée, Al Capacino, sourced from a tiny parcel of low-yield Syrah handpicked from the foothills of the Montagne Noire in the star appellation of Minervois: La Livinière.
He harvests on-site by hand and brings back 300 liters to vinify at his home in Bordeaux (which is why it carries the “Vin de France” designation) in a seasoned barrel so as not to overpower the natural flavors.
The result is a masterful wine, both powerful and silky, with aromas of garrigue, tapenade, and cocoa.
An incredible experience uniting depth and freshness… in short, hurry if you wish to own one of the 300 bottles of this cuvée!
Trust our palate and treat yourself to these 2 cuvées exclusively reserved for Les Piqueurs' guests.
To conclude with an image worthy of the man himself, here is a photo (untouched 😉) of our wine mid-pump-over 😍.
See you very soon… 👋
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