Plaimont is widely considered to be one of France’s top cooperatives. Based in the foothills of the Pyrénées, Plaimont has had a massive impact on Gascony’s viticultural landscape since its foundation in the 70s. Gascony was once one of France's most prized wine producing regions yet, despie this rich heritage, it is hugely underrated today.
Plaimont's vineyards stretch out over a uniquely rich terroir from the foothills of the Pyrénées to the rolling hills of Gascony.
Plaimont's Values
Throughout its history, Plaimont has distinguished itself according to these values:
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Its commitment to the preservation and defense of indigenous grape varieties
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Its innovative work in ampélographic research – the creation of “cuvées emblematiques” produced in the main Pyrénéan Piemont appellations
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The enhancement of the region’s cultural heritage and wine tourism
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Innovation as an answer to environmental issues
Plaimont's vineyards stretch out over a uniquely rich terroir from the foothills of the Pyrénées to the rolling hills of Gascony.
Ampelographic Research
Between 1950 and 2000, various ampelographers and technicians scoured the region Plaimont covers to compile an inventory of grape varieties and “very old plots”. They identified a remarkable heritage, unique in France, which led to the creation of the Ampelographic Conservatory of Saint-Mont in 2002. A “living library”, home to a collection of 37 grape varieties (17 white, 19 red and one rosé) native to the Pyrénéan foothills. Twelve varieties are completely original and previously unknown.
The identified varieties were planted on an experimental vineyard (2002-2004) and carefully monitored (2004-2008), before some underwent micro-fermentation (2008-2015). Although the main priority remains conservation, some varieties have already shown interesting characteristics. These include the Manseng Noir of which only one vine was found and which is currently grown on several hectares.
Plaimont continues its research today with Ampelographic meetings (the Rencontres Ampélographiques) held regularly, bringing the field’s top specialists to the Gers region.
The Ampelographic Conservatory of Saint Mont has several aims:
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To continue the preservation of local heritage
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To improve knowledge of the grape varieties found
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To preserve the representative character of wines
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To help adapt to climate change
Appellations
Saint Mont
Saint Mont covers 1100ha over an area along the Adour River in Gers stretching around 100km from both the Atlantic Coast and the Peaks of the Pyrenean Mountains to the South. The appellation was granted in 1981 but the region has been producing wines since the middle ages.
Saint Mont is Plaimont's key appellation for ampelographic research. It is home to the first vineyard listed as a Historical Monument in 2012 and the first private conservatory in France.
Saint Mont has a transitional maritime cliamte which varies considerably from West to East across the region. Whilst the temperatures are quite steady throughout the vineyards, rainful is higher in the West neaer the coast. Fortunately a warm Foehn wine that originates in the Pyrenean mountains brings a drying influence to the vineyards reducing the chance of mildew. Saindy soils in the Western part offer good drainage. In the Eastern part of the region, there is a more continental influence with less rainfal. Clay and limstone soils retain ample hydration in the growing season and the Foehn winds bring a ripening influence to the grapes.
Grape Varieties
Local and ancestral varieties
Tannat
Pinenc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Gros Manseng
Arrufiac
Petit Courbu
Wine Style
Red wines tend to be full and elegant, with dark fruit notes. Whilst white wines are fresh and well-balanced. Aromas of citrus and yellow fruit with an attractive minerality. Its roses are lively, light with aromas of fresh red fruit.
Cotes de Gascogne
Pacherenc Du Vic-Bilh
A wine-growing area for many years given over to producing Armagnac brandy, The area enjoyed a winemaking revival in the late 1970s, when André Dubosc rediscovered a local grape variety called “French Colombard” at a wine tasting in the United States. This Gasçon visionary then went on to develop winegrowing and winemaking techniques to bring out the best of the Colombard variety today.
The vineyards in Gascony are lush, green and generous, with the night-time harvests enhancing the freshness and the aromatic potential of these white grape varieties. After alcoholic fermentation the “thiols” develop aromas of exotic and citrus fruits, which are so characteristic of our Gascony wines.
Grape Varieties
Colombard
Gros Maseng
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Wine Style
Plaimont's Cotes de Gascogne wines offer a wide variety of dry and sweet wines, red and rosé wines, all characterised by full flavours and freshness.
Oliver Bourdet-Pees, winemaker and MD of Plaimont is passionate about Colombard and feels this variety is much misunderstood. He says "Colombard has a reputation for being a one-dimensonal grape variety without distincitve varietal expression or breadth. Given the right terroir and growing conditions, Colombard has ‘wonderful diversity. It is versatile and has a great ability to blend. It offers great quality at competitive price points.
With a similar production area as Madiran, facing the Pyrenees, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh is the fruit of over-ripened, sugar-rich grapes (left to shrivel on the vine. The grapes are harvested manually, after three periods of successive sorting, from October to December.
A unique terroir, that had almost disappeared by the early 1970s, but the winegrowers of Plaimont worked for many years to revive the tradition of fine sweet wines of the Pyrénean foothills. Its production area is the same as for Madiran, facing the Pyrenees. Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh is the fruit of over-ripened, sugar-rich grapes (left to shrivel on the vine). The grapes are harvested manually after successive sorting. After the first two harvests in late October and early November, the extra-ripened grapes of the finest cuvées are harvested in mid-November.
Grape Varieties
Gros Manseng
Petit Manseng
Courbu
Arrufiac
Wine Style
The Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh wines grape varieties require a very special soil, not to mention rigorous expertise that applies to no other grape varietal but these, endemic to the Pyrenean foothills.
The vineyard is situated on soils of clay-limestone and small gravel stones known as “Peyrusquets”. The altitude of the slopes and the proximity of the Pyrenees, and the hot days and cold nights, rather than causing noble rot, preserve the grapes so they ripen slowly, thereby concentrating the sugar and aromas and raising them to exceptional levels of liveliness and sweetness.
At the foot of the Pyrenees mountain range, the Madiran hills stretch to the rim of the French departments of the Gers, the Pyrénées Atlantiques and the Hautes Pyrénées. Our Madiran winegrowers enhance an exceptional, varied terroir that allows us to offer cuvées of powerful elegant wines, as well as cuvées of wines that are round and sweet.
The Madiran terroir characterises Plaimont's wines. At the highest altitudes, the pebbles of the Maucor nappe lend a roundness and sweetness to the wines. The eastern slopes stretch down to meet the gravelly shales where the grapes mature fully in the rising sun. These characteristics bring digestibility and depth to the wines of Madiran. On the opposite side, the steep western slopes of beautiful clay-limestone temper the intensity and bring out the vibrancy of the Tannat to create the best wines in South-West France.
Grape Varieties
Tannat
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet France
Wine Style
The indigenous grape variety, Tannat, is at the heart of the identity and originality of our red wines. Other varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon enter the blend of our Madiran wines: young and fruity to more complex and with great ageing potential.
