South West France,
one of the oldest wine regions or Terroirs, in France, produces
such vibrant, distinctive wines that Virgil and Horatius
immortalized their praise for wines of France’s South West after
the Romans first cultivated the vineyards there. The reason that
South West France is the most diverse wine Terroir in France stems
from the distinctive grape varieties that grow only in this region:
Tannat, Manseng, Fer Servadou, Mérille and dozen of other
varieties. Interested in
Green Wine?
The South West France region houses 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres)
of vineyards with 6,000 winemakers who yield 3 percent of
France’s total wine production:
South West Terroir:
270 million bottles, 88% red wine - 7% dry white wine - 3% rosé
- 2% sweet white wine.
Most red wines from the South West of France are produced from
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Tannat, Merlot and Malbec. White grapes are primarily Sémillon,
Sauvignon, Ugni Blanc and Manseng.
There
are 7 appellations for wines produced in France’s South West
region. France’s best known South West wines are Bergerac,
Cahors, and Gaillac while Fronton, Madiran, Marcillac and
Jurançon follow close behind.
Are you looking for
specific wines, wine gifts for friends or corporate gifts? Visit
ourWine Store. A great gift idea is
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here.
Gaillac
and Buzet are among France’s oldest wines in the South West
Terroir, with roots in Roman times. Gaillac is an exceptionally
diverse wine because of the variety of grapes. Wine growers mainly
use traditional grape varieties such as Ondenc, Len de l'el and
Mauzac (whites), Fer, Duras and Braucol (reds). They also use
typical grapes from Bordeaux towards the north and west, such as
Cabernet,
Merlot and Sauvignon, and Syrah and Muscadelle from the south
for their higher-priced “Cuvées spéciales.” Still reasonably
priced but delicious, try Mas d’Aurel 2002 or Mas d’Aurel
‘Cuvée Alexandra’ 2002. Marcillac produces powerful, spicy
dark
red wines
from the Fer Sevradou variety.
Although
traditional in the Gaillac region, the mauzac and len de l'el are
unusual grapes even for the rest of France. These grapes provide
the crispness that the Gaillac
white wines
are known for, the perfect wine for a summer evening! Try the sweet
Mas d’Aurel Gaillac Doux or the dry Château Lastours Perlé or
Château Lastours Blanc Sec.
Buzet
vineyards, producing 90%
red wines,
were once demarcated in the Bordeaux Terroir, but the decree of
1909 (link) now demarcates the cru in the South West France region.
Buzet wines, however, continue to produce from the yield of
Bordeaux’s noble grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. My
favorite is the Château Tournelles Cuvée Prestige
2002.
Bergerac is grown from the noble
grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon
and
Merlot
as well as the local, traditional grapes Côt, Fer, and Mérille.
The red Bergerac wines are typically blended with the noble grapes
of
Cabernet Sauvignon
and
Merlot.
My favorites are Ch. T.des Gendres ‘Gloire de mon Père’ 2004
and Ch. Tour des Gendres Merlot 2004 Le Classique .Bergerac’s
dry, nervous
white wines
like Ch. Petite Borie Sauv/sémillon/muscadelle are less popular
but should not be overlooked after at least 2 years of
aging.
The most popular variety of Madiran
is Tannat, grown from the particular Tannat grape. Tannat has
become so popular with its distinctive flavors that it is now
considered the national grape of Uruguay
Tannat (also called Tanat, Moustrou, Moustroun, Bordeleza Belcha,
Harriague) has high levels of tannin which are typically blended
and aged to soften their sharpness, yielding deep, dark-colored,
fruity and full-bodied wines. Go for the Château d’Aydie 2001
and Odé d’Aydie 2001. You will often see Madiran described more
poetically than other wines, with unique characteristics such as
sensual, earthy, burly, bright, and massively opulent, although
rough before it ages.
King Henry IV was baptized with
Jurançon: what more could you need to know about this golden wine?
The exotic fruit and honey aroma makes the sweet wine a true
nectar. The late harvested manseng grapes for the Jurançon wines
yield one of the best classic French wines, and you don’t often
find them mentioned on those starched shirt wine websites. Try
Juran Sweet White Wine Cauhape - Quintessence Petit Manseng, Dom.
Cauhapé ‘Symphonie de Novembre’ 2003, Château Castet 2003 or
Domaine Cauhapé ‘Noblesse du Temps’ 2000. The color of the dry
Jurançon (75% of all Jurançon) seems ethereal, best described as
almost a clear green. The blanc de blanc (white from white) is
fresh and aromatic, I always feel I should be sipping it in a
hammock while dressed in flowing white garments…
Cahors,
in my opinion, is the most interesting among the wines! comes from
the famous malbec grape, although it
is often blended with Merlot or Tannat. French laws require that
Cahors wine be at least 70% malbec. They are so dark, that in less
diplomatic times, it was called “the black wine of France.” Be
careful not to purchase a Cahors that has not aged long enough;
Cahors can age in the 'limousin' oak (link to page 2) barrels for
even 10 years or more. I prefer the Cahors aged in Oak,
recommending the Château Eugénie 2002 ( 90% Malbec ), Château du
Cèdre 2004, Château de Chambert 2000, and Clos Triguedina 2000.
If you prefer the Unoaked Cahors, try the Pigmentum 2004
(Vigouroux) ( Malbec), Château Hauterive 2002, Château Lafleur de
Haute- Serre 2003, Le Petit Clos de Triguedina 2001, or Château
Paillas 2002. Grand Crus is Cahors wine made of 100% Malbec grapes,
more expensive than the others but an amazing experience! Try the
Château du Cèdre ‘Le Cèdre ’ 2002, Château de Chambert
‘Orphée’ 2002, or Clos Triguedina ‘Prince Probus’ 2000
too. (That was a lot of recommendations—can you tell I like this
one or what!)
The grapes for Monbazillac (or
Montbazillac) sweet white wines await harvest until after the
noble-rot sets in. The preferred Monbazillac vintages (2006, 2005,
2000, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1990) are considered equal to Sauternes and
Barsac, for example. Some age longer than 30 years, but with even 5
years, these rich, sweet wines intensify in color and
character.
