De Montal “Excellence de Montrogue” Gascogne IGP 2020

DeMontal have probably the most modern distillery in the region and their methods of both viticulture and viniculture are hugely sophisticated. DeMontal makes great armagnac but also many wines from their 700 hectare estate. The advantages are that their quality is always exceptionally high and individuality between vintages is much harder to identify. The distillery is state of the art and it is claimed that the grapes spend less than 10 minutes between vineyard and press to minimize SO2 content. The pressings are in stainless steel pneumatic drums and the distillation is on very light lees. The method of vinification is altogether natural, the addition of anything artificial being forbidden. The wine is distilled right after harvest time so as to preserve a maximum amount of aromas. Stability of DeMontal quality is quite unique!

The wines of southwestern France have a long and controversial history. Local rivers have always played an important role as they have been the main trade routes for the transport of wines from traditional regions such as Cahors, Bergerac, Bouzet and Gaillac to markets. However, the neighboring region of Bordeaux was also influential. Winemakers and castle owners in Bordeaux really disliked the rival region and did everything to overshadow it and prevent it from developing properly. Therefore, many wines from the southwestern part had to fight hard to get to know about them and start including them in the wine lists of restaurants. The soil, climate and landscape of the southwest are as varied as the wines themselves. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea is due to the maritime climate, but there are also areas with a more continental microclimate, where drier and hotter summers prevail.