Aaah the Southwest! It's a region we love, so rich, so varied with lots of nuggets to discover or rediscover.
Encompassing the entire western quarter of the country, the vineyard covers 12 départements. From the south of Bordeaux to the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. Extensive landscapes of hillsides, terraces and mountains, with oceanic and Mediterranean influences. More than 60 grape varieties, some of them indigenous, are fiercely defended by the masters of ampelography, including Duras, Malbec, Fer Servadou, Négrette, Mauzac, Chenin, Courbu, Tannat and Colombard. All of which gives this region a very strong identity, with 60 Appellations to choose from! Here's a short list to help you find your way around.Winery Plageoles - Gaillac
Passionate about ampelography (science and history of the vine), Bernard Plageoles is now proud to be at the head of more than 20 hectares. His Gaillac vineyard is planted only with grape varieties forgotten or lost by decades of profit-oriented agriculture. Until a real conservatory of these varieties such as Braucol, Prunelard, Mauzac Vert, Ondenc has been set up.
So much for tasting, three vintages available at the moment: The Syrah 2016 and its frank attack, its aromas of ripe red fruits (blueberry). Spices too and nice tannins! Also, the Mauzac Vert 2015 marked by notes of apples and quinces with a nice roundness in the mouth. To finish, a bubble: the Mauzac Nature... still!!! A precise bubble that wakes up the palate, it slaps and surprises!
And here is the link >>. Winery Plageoles
Camin Larredya - Jurançon
Since 1900, the Grussaute family has been working the Béarn lands south of Pau, in the Pyrenean foothills. Initially, the vines were grown for market gardening, with small and large manseng vines being planted there and used to supply the neighbouring cooperative cellar until the 1970s... Twenty years later, after studying viticulture and oenology, Jean-Marc Grussaute took over the running of the family Winery and began by withdrawing from the cooperative to embark on a new programme of planting and restructuring the winery. His meticulous work on these plots of land planted at an altitude of up to 325 metres and protected from the violent westerly winds by a hilly environment allows him to "show off the terroir and sign the vintages".
Let's talk a little, let's talk a lot, let's jump on the Costat Darrèr 2015, magnificent of balance. No heaviness, therefore, on this "tender". Another success, La Part Davan 2016, dry this time: structural power with a nicely present minerality; a rich and energetic fruitiness: peaches, citrus and white flowers. Let's go alonzo >> Jean-Marc Grussaute
Winery Mouthes Le Bihian - Côtes de Duras
The Côtes de Duras is an old appellation dating from 1937 which is, all in all, quite discreet. However, it benefits from very qualitative terroirs. Located on the south-eastern part of Bergerac on about 2000 ha. Catherine and Jean Mary Le Bihan took a gamble, that of settling there in 1997 and finding plots of land. From their first vinification in 2000, they chose the most natural method possible, favouring the quality of the grapes. Since then, the Winery Mouthes Le Bihan has become, in just a few years, the spearhead, the locomotive of an appellation too long forgotten.
Now, let's talk about drinks: for pleasure, there is La Pie Colette in red, always a little treat this vintage! The nose starts with fresh red fruits and frank sweet spices. To crunch! You can also have fun with the white with its soft floral nose and hints of stone fruit. For something a little more serious, there is Les Apprentis 2012: autumnal aromas, a structured mouth that does not hide a certain suppleness, an elegant and fresh touch.
Zou >> Mouthes le BIhan
Pod Maisonneuve - Cahors
With a wealth of experience at the Cocumont cooperative cellar, in the heart of the South West of France, Mathieu Cosse set up his own business with Catherine Maisonneuve, straight out of the famous Château Léoville Las Cases, and together they produced their first vintage in 1999 .... Attention nuggets: the Combal 2014 puts everyone in agreement with its nose on complex evolved touches, point of brown tobacco, prunes, spices of the pretty pepper kind which accompany until the finish to coat our gums. Yummy. You can also enjoy the Fage 2014, Les Laquets 2014 or the Marguerite 2013.
Follow the guide >> Cosse Maissonneuve
Winery Bordatto - Irouléguy
Since 2001, Pascale and Bixintxo Aphaule have been running Winery Bordatto (pronounced Bordatio - translation: the little farm in Basque). Today it is 4.5 ha in total, of which 3.5 ha are apple trees and 1 ha is vineyards. And yes, here in Jaxu we make Basque cider and Irouléguy! The good life. Eat apples: Basa Jaun 2016, dried fruit on the nose evolving, hints of pears. The palate is superb, balanced, full of finesse, dry, thirst quenching. Eat grapes: Luruméa 2016, pure tannat fruit (cherry, raspberry), a frank attack, a generous and balanced whole. By the way, Lurumea means "the little one of the earth" in Basque (to shine in society).This way >> Winery Bordatto
