Gaillac Braucol Plageoles 2021

Braucol, a native grape variety of the Basque Country in Spain, is also known as Mansois or Fer Servadou. The vines of this iconic and authentic south-western grape variety, from two separate parcels, grow on clayey-siliceous and clayey-limestone soils. Thanks to ‘gobelet’ pruning, each vine produces grapes and buds of the highest quality. After the manual harvest, the Braucol grapes from the first parcel are destemmed and vinified in concrete vats. The other parcel is vinified in whole bunches under carbonic maceration. Regular pumping over is performed at the beginning of the spontaneous fermentation to oxygenate the yeasts. When fermentation is complete, the contents of both vats are blended together. The cuvée is then bottled without filtration after six months’ ageing in vats.
The ruby-red colour unveils a delicate, refined bouquet with hints of small black berries. The perfectly balanced palate is beautifully complemented by smooth tannins leading to a long, persistent finish.