Les Caves de Pyrene lists long lost Manseng Noir grape variety
Les Caves de Pyrene has listed long lost grape variety Manseng Noir originally discovered on a 150-year-old plot in Viella, AOC Madiran.
The grape variety, reintroduced by the Côtes de Gascogne appellation through the importer, has been researched since it was discovered and planted in Plaimont Producteurs’ vine conservation vineyard in 2008.
The cuvée, claimed to be the first release to date of the grape variety as a single varietal wine, is produced from a blend of grapes harvested from young, three to four-year-old vines, mainly planted on the clay, limestone hillsides of Condom.
From the 20 hectares planted, eight hectares are currently in production (the remainder is 1-2 year old vines). The 2017 release saw a production of 7,000 bottles for the specific cuvée of Le Manseng Noir.
The wine was first tasted in the UK via an experimental microcuvée at a tasting held in February this year to highlight the experimental vinification of the long lost grape varieties of the region.
The berries undergo 48 hours of cold skin contact before beginning a two-week fermentation with pump-overs. The wine is aged in vat for seven months with no oak to maintain fruit purity.
For the past decade, Plaimont Producteurs has been dedicated to ampelographic research and to the reintroduction of long lost grape varieties.
In September last year, the French co-operative gained permission to re-introduce long lost grape variety Tardif, which is thought to have been lost to phylloxera long ago.
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