2019 Plaimont Les Cépages Préservés Saint Mont AOC Blanc

DEC95 A jewel of a wine (Gros Manseng with Petit Courbu and Arrufiac), so particular and distinctive, showing no ambition other than singing its origin. Aromas of apple and notes of vibrant peach, mirabelle plum, dried herbs and a suave enhancement of lees. Elegant and quite delicious with a finesse and fine spine of acidity.
Estate Notes: Bright golden. Ripe apricot, white peach, lemongrass, lime leaf, and wild herbs. Great viscosity with ripe, white fruit, and simultaneous fresh, tangy acidity. Long and perfectly balanced. Grapes: 60% Gros Manseng, 30% Petit Courbu, 10% Arrufiac. Aged in stainless steel for 6-8 months and in bottle for 12 months before release.

From the gorgeous (but lesser known) Saint Mont AOC in Gascogne, this mouth- watering trio of rare grapes grows in a small sub-alpine pocket some 50 miles from the Pyrénées Mountains and just over the border from Basque country. With lush, medium-full body, driven by flavors of ripe apricot, peach, and wild herbs, the palate is simultaneously fresh and zippy, with a long, satisfying finish. 25-year-old vines and 6 months on the lees contribute to the wine’s depth of flavor and overall complexity.

With the majestic Pyrénées towering in the distance, the Plaimont Cooperative of SW France sits tucked some 50 miles from both snow-capped mountain and Atlantic sea. Over the past few decades, they have single-handedly revived a host of historic grape varieties – from Manseng Noir to Arrufiac – putting their region back on the enological map and making them one of France’s most exciting “new” producers.