Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
The Southwest region of France was first cultivated by the Romans and had a flourishing wine trade. In fact is was also used to be part of the Gallia Aquitania Province that extended from Toulouse to Bordeaux. The green and generous land of Gascony is nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees and on the doorstep of the Atlantic. It had dedicated practically all of its slopes and valleys to the art of the vine.
The climate of the Gers region has a very privileged position: the right amount of sun, rain and coolness in order to pamper the vines. This will let them reach their optimum maturity giving a rich aromatic palette that is both complex and seductive. Nearly two thirds of the surface area of the region, 13,000 hectares, is dedicated to the production of Côtes de Gascogne wines.
Biscaye Baie, named after the neighboring Atlantic Bay, hails from the commune of Vic Fezenac, 25km southwest of Eauze, in the heart of Gascony. It is a reflexion of the region’s personality with the freshness and aromatic expression of Sauvignon Blanc. It is a single vineyard of 130 hectares (321 acres) of Sauvignon Blanc on white clay limestone and fine siliceous soils. Planting density is 5 000 vines per hectare and the average age of vines is 15 years.
Grapes are picked up early around mid-August to preserve the aromas. The juice is pressed and fermented at low temperatures. The wine is finally stirred one month on the lees in stainless steel tanks and is then bottled. It is bottled early to capture all of the aromas.
Offering the perfect balance of quality and value, Southwest, France is a recognized appellation that encompasses all wine regions in France’s southwestern corner (except for Bordeaux and Cognac, which merit their very own). Two of the more famous subregions here are Cahors, known for its Malbec, and Madiran, home of the robust Tannat grape. Bordeaux Blends are also popular red wines of the Southwest; Petit Manseng is the regions’s star autochthonous white variety.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.