Collection Plaimont Pacherenc du Vic Bilh, 2014, 500mls

About Producteurs Plaimont: The Producteurs Plaimont vineyards stretch from the foothills of the Pyrenees to the hills and valleys of Gascony covering a uniquely rich terroir .

A thousand winegrowers defend the ideals of a cooperative and are committed to managing their vineyards with respect for both the environment and their own time-honoured traditions.

With a combination of local grape varieties, knowledge and rigorous hard work, the members of Plaimont have succeeded in producing extremely high quality wines.

Region/Terroir: Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC. 40kms from Pau, facing the Pyrenees is the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh appellation. The parcels of grapes which have gone into this cuvee fully benefit from the morning sunshine from their east-facing slopes.

The area’s specific microclimate allows for a long period of maturation and a late harvest. The grapes concentrate sugar and the aromas typical of clay-gravel soils until November.

Grapes: Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu

Winemaking techniques: The grapes are hand harvested over several passes from November to early December. 

A long, gentle cycle in the pneumatic press extracts the finest must, before the press juice is discarded. Following a light settling, alcoholic fermentation takes place in oak barrels (40% new, 30% second-fill, 30% third-fill) over a period of many weeks. The wine is matured on the lees in the vinification barrel; regular lees stirring ensures that the lees remain in suspension. An eight to ten month period is required for the Manseng grape varieties to open up aromatically and for the rich syrupiness to blend thoroughly into the body of the wine.

Tasting notes: The golden colour and sparkling tints of this wine give us a clue as to its rich, complex nose of preserved fruit (lemon peel), peach jam and white pepper. A rich yet suave palate develops around an acidic framework – the tell-tale sign of the best Pacherenc doux.

Cellar notes: Cellars well for 10-12 years - if you can resist!

Food matching: An aromatic expression and a natural liveliness make this cuvee the perfect accompaniment to pâté, foie gras and blue cheeses such as Roquefort.  A subtle, simple pairing can also be made with slightly sharp desserts such as lemon tart.