Mathieu Béraut, can you present Domaine de Pellehaut ?
he domain of Pellehaut is a family domain located in the village of Montréal du Gers at the heart of the Armagnac region. Our domain that extends over 500 ha, out of which 250 of vineyards have a big variety of soils which enable us to develop IGP Côtes de Gascogne wines and top-notch Armagnac Ténarèze. My brother Martin and myself chose to manage our estate focusing on three essential values which are tradition, modernity, and innovation. Indeed, we chose to farm in a traditional way by making crop rotation and following an integrated approach. Furthermore, we modernised our domain by investing in recent and adapted equipments, to facilitate the work while preserving the quality of our products. Finally, we innovate by using a very efficient enological material which respects the terroir. For example, we produce our own yeasts and use few enological products. So we are proud to propose authentic but different wines and Armagnacs that distinguish themselves by their bllends or their consumption mode!
How does Domaine de Pellehaut stand out among the Côtes de Gascogne?
We have the will to surprise our consumers by using grape varieties “unexpected” in the region for the crafting of our wines. So we associate a majority of local vines with qualitative vines of other regions like Chardonnay and Pinot noir, while highlighting the native grape varieties. 2 years ago we planted Manseng Noir stock nurseries and this year we are going to plants young vines. This technique enables us to obtain original blends while keeping a regional typicality. It is thanks to its originality and know-how that distinguishes Château de Pellehaut.
The Domain of Pellehaut also produces Armagnac whose reputation is not to be proved anymore!
Indeed, Armagnac is an ancestral production, our forefathers already developed it almost 4 centuries ago. We use 2 grape varieties on the domain: Folle Blanche and Ugni Blanc. Like for our wines, the development of the range of Armagnac has been done with passion in the respect for the tradition. Our vintage Armagnacs largely owe their typicality to our still. At the Château, we distil traditionally by using an Armagnac still that works continuously with a wood-fire boiler and we use Gascony barrels. Always in an innovative spirit, we work Armagnac to be consumed young as the Âge de Glace and the 5-Year-Old which are matured in Allier oak barrels, more adapted to these products. Thanks to our manufacturing processes and to the care brought to every assemblage, we propose the consumers fine, soft and complex brandies. The numerous medals and international prizes awarded to our Armagnacs give us the desire to continue this way...
Mathieu, tell us about your greatest success.
I wanted to propose a more unique, more high-end range of wine, this is how has been created the range Réserve. These wines, all aged in barrels, are more sophisticated and the red can be cellared for ten years. The latest released is Réserve Red 2012, a unique blend of Tannat and Pinot Noir barrelled 18 months. This cuvée was rewarded by a golden medal at the competition Alliance du Monde, ranging in the top 10.
Collected by Charlynne Zirah
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