Winegrowers’ Portraits
The history of Château du Pouey lasts since four generations. It continues thanks to the fervour of the latest, Bastien Lannusse, one of the youngest wine growers of the appellation. At the age of 25, he already impresses by his maturity and his serenity in front of the future of his domain. He took over the reins from his father three years ago and from his first year, his wines were awarded.
The Chateau derives its name from pouey, derived from pech or pey, meaning hill. Indeed, from the terrace of the vathouse, we have a magnificent view on the house’s vineyards, until the Pyrenees if the weather is good.
Pierre, Bastien’s father, began with 2-3 hectares. In the course of time and plantations, his domain got bigger to reach the current 22 hectares. He was one of the first ones to introduce the Petit and Gros Manseng variety. While Pierre worked for a commercial group, Bastien decided for a change of course, not only commercial, but in the spirit. Although he continues to sell a little in bulk to the trade time to develop, he chooses to sell his wine in bottles to the on-trade, cellars, delicatessens. He now produces 45,000 bottles in three appellations: Madiran for the red, Pacherenc de Vic Bilh in dry and sweet white wine, and IGP Côtes de Gascogne in rosé.
He wants his wines to be fruity, silky, expressive and typical of the terroir, with supple tannins, that is why he uses little ageing in barrels. He only ages his cuvee Bastien, a 100% Tannat prestige wine, in oak barrels. He tries to make a wine that adapts to the customers. Wines that at his image, that express his attachment to the terroir, his passion, his pride, and above all, that are appreciated.
At the moment, he exports a little. His first objective is to reach 120,000 bottles, maximum capacity of the current surface area and installations. And getting bigger is not on the agenda for the moment. He wants to keep a family spirit. To develop slowly but surely, like wine.
As the quality begins with the grape that compose it, Bastien works his vineyard in integrated farming. He benefits from an argilo-rocky ground among the best of the appellation and facing southeast, south and southwest. Thanks to a lot of observation, few phytosanitary products, organic amendments to favour the development of microorganisms, nearly total and permanent grass cover between the rows, the wines of Château de Pouey gain expression and fruitiness.
The efforts of Bastien paid from his first vintage: a medal in the contest Féminalises in Beaune for his 2012 IGP Côtes de Gascogne rosé, finalist the same year of the competition Jeunes Talents du Vin Français, presided over by Philippe Faure-Brac, ranking among the three best ones of the Southwest (all regions considered) and entering the national Top 10 with its cuvee Bastien in Madiran; selection of the cuvee Bastien and the Réserve du Vigneron 2010 (Madiran) in the Belgian guide Vins & Terroirs Authentiques in 2013, and of his Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh L'Aydasse in the 2014 Guide Hachette.
The prizes and the medals are sales points, certainly, but make taste his wines is even better. Thus Bastien develops the winetourism thanks to original aperitif-concerts, tapas aperitifs. He fitted out a magnificent reception room with a view on the vineyards for the big evenings. He organizes open door days. Many means to attract the lovers of terroir and besides non-elitist wines because they have an excellent value for money with prices under €10 for all the range. Do not hesitate to call him and visit Bastien, he will welcome you with all the heat and the beautiful accent of the Southwest.
Château du Pouey
32400 Viella
Tél: +33 (0)5 62 69 78 25
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