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www.buyersandcellars.ca Cellar Profile
Region
Côtes de Gascogne is a wine-growing district in Gascony producing principally white wine. It is mainly located in the ‘Département of the Gers’ in the former Midi-Pyrénées region (now part of the Occitanie region) and it belongs to the wine region South West France. The designation Côtes de Gascogne is used for a Vin de Pays (“country wine”) produced in the Armagnac area. There are some 22 vins de pays in the wider southwest zone that stretches from the Pyrenees, which define its southern border, up to the Massif Central in the northeast. But the most important by far in terms of volume, profile and exports are the vins de pays des Côtes de Gascogne. This vineyard, only formally established in 1982, is in the same defined region where white grape varieties like Ugni Blanc and Colombard were planted principally to make Armagnac. It remains predominantly a white wine stronghold, with reds and rosé accounting for only 10% of production. Today, nearly two thirds of the 13,000 hectares of vineyards in Gers are devoted to Côtes de Gascogne wines rather than Armagnac.
Vineyard
The vines are planted on the highest hills of Ayzieu, within the estate, on the borders of Gascony. The terroir, very typical of Bas Armagnac, consists of sand, silt and clay. These specific elements give the wines minerality, freshness and power. The special climate, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees range, gives the vineyard exceptional ripening potential.
Varieties
Colombard & Ugni Blanc are two of the traditional brandy-producing grapes grown in France’s Armagnac and Cognac appellations. They are also used in the production of IGP Côtes de Gascogne. Ugni Blanc (aka Trebbiano) originates from Italy, however, in 2010 there were approximately 90,000 hectares of vines in France, over double the Italian total. Much of the French vineyard area is concentrated in the Cognac region and surrounding parts of southwest France. Here, it is used to produce vast quantities of light, crisp, relatively neutral-tasting white wine, the majority of which is distilled into brandy. Colombard is known to contribute peach, nectarine and citrus perfume to its wines.
Winemaking
Short soak on skins before pressing. Aging in stainless steel on fine lees.
Tasting Notes
Le Petit Gascoûn White displays pale yellow with green hints. Floral with particularly fetching stone fruit aromas, mingled with ripe tropical fruit on the nose. The palate is crisp and dry with peach and lychee, finishing balanced and fresh with lasting tropical fruits.