There are only 5 hectares of vines (and 75 hectares of cereals and pasturage) at this ancient working farm in the heart of the Armagnac region. Pascal Bozzi renovated the original eighteenth century cellar eight years ago, and with the help of his friend Stéphane Beuret grows about 2000 cases of elegant Côtes de Gascogne.
Garnet colored, with black fruit, dried autumn leaves, and fresh white tobacco aromatics. The meaty flavors are seasoned with cassis and chocolate, and are carried through a long finish by ripe, fine-grained tannins.
Regional History
Viticulture in the Southwest of France was initially established by Phocaean traders and certainly expanded under Roman occupation. The region’s network of rivers made it possible to transport its wines to distant markets, and by the 2nd Century AD, wines from the Southwest were the most highly prized in Europe. The vine louse, phylloxera, literally wiped out the vineyards and the 2,000 year-old traditions of the region. A renaissance that began in the 1950s continues to this day, as enthusiastic growers and a new generation of winemakers reestablish the ancient vineyards. Côtes de Gascogne red wines perfectly addresses the local diet, which is high in fat-indeed, the initial studies finding a correlation between low cholesterol and red wine-drinking were done in this region.
Regional Foods
Cassoulet is the most famous dish of southwest France, an area that embraces the appellations of Armagnac, Toulouse, and Madiran. Cassoulet is a rich, hearty, bean and meat stew cooked over low heat in a clay vessel and may include (depending on local tradition) duck, goose, pork, sausage or lamb. Other regional specialties include large and small game birds from Landes such as palombe, ortolan or bec-fin. Excellent freshwater fish and vegetables are available in season. Expect oily, fatty, rich fishes such as eel, lamprey, crayfish and shad. Seasonal asparagus and sorrel often accompany these fishes.
© Moore Brothers Wine Company