Domaine Plaisance-Penavayre
Region // AOP FRONTON, (South West France)
Size // 26 ha
Viticulture // ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC (since 2005)
Varieties // Red: NEGRETTE, NEGRET PONJOU, JURANÇON NOIR, ABOURIOU, ALICANTE, SYRAH, CABERNET FRANC, GAMAY FRÉAUX, GAMAY // White: SEMILLON, BOUYSSELET, CHENIN BLANC, MUSCAT, SAUVIGNON BLANC
Winemakers // MARC & THIBAUT PENAVAYRE
Established // 1991
https://www.plaisancepenavayre.fr/
Marc can be classed as an ambassador for the local "forgotten" and ancient grape varieties. The South West ‘bassin’ is an amazing trove for Bouysselet and Negret Pounjut, whilst Negrette is the main focus of the Domaine.
Marc has a holistic approach to winemaking - super precise, gourmand, mineral, and made to last at least another decade after bottling.
Marc created the domaine in 1991 in the Village of Vacquiers, about 35km north of Toulouse - it represents today 26.00 ha of vineyards planted in Fronton AOC and Vin de Pays. Working with his son Thibaut, they have an incredible feeling for nature that reflects in their wines - terroir, permaculture, biodiversity, and natural winemaking are at the heart of their philosophy.
Marc Penavayre has been a family friend for nearly 25 years- I remember tasting Marc’s delicious Negrette wines in my teenage years.
I am very excited to stock 2 others stunning grape varieties which have recently been rediscovered - Bouysselet, a white varietal, known as “the Savagnin of the South” and Négret Pounjut, a black varietal, known as “the Poulsard of the South”.
Les vins de Domaine Plaisance-Penavayre
BOUYSSELET (2021)
Style: White
Variety: 100% Bouysselet
Abv: 13.5%
Region: Fronton
Terroir: Bouysselet, an ancient native grape variety, was rediscovered recently in a pre-phylloxera vineyard. It is a cross of Savagnin from Jura and Plant de Cauzette from Béarn. In Occitan, "Bouysselet" means 'bush'. Climate change has benefited its late ripening, resulting in excellent wines. Marc's Bouysselet comes from two vineyards on chalk-clay soil, lending freshness and richness.
Winemaking: Grapes are handpicked and destemmed, followed by a slow press. Vinification and maturation occur in sandstone amphorae, oak barrels, and stainless steel tanks. The wine matures on lees for 8 months before blending and bottling.
2021 yield: 50 hl/ha
Bottles produced in 2021: 3200
Light filtration before bottling
Total SO2: 20mg
Tasting notes: Bouysselet offers unique qualities, balancing minerality and acidity with a luscious texture. Flavors include stone fruit, green melon, custard, and a hint of flint. The wine is saline, textured, with a slightly bitter, clean finish.
Aging potential: 6+ years / Serving temperature: around 8°C.
L’AHUMAT (2022)
Style: White
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Abv: 14%
Region: Fronton
Ahumat, meaning 'Smoky' in Occitan, pays homage to the Fume of the Loire with its unique expression of Sauvignon Blanc.
Terroir: L’Ahumat epitomizes the potential of Vacquiers terroir for white wines. The fruit is sourced from two distinct vineyards totaling 1 hectare, characterized by pebbles on sands and silts. These 25-year-old vines are densely planted at 5000 vines/ha, situated at an altitude of 180 meters. Yields are exceptionally low, not exceeding 20 hl/ha!
Winemaking: Hand-picked grapes undergo destemming before slow pressing at low pressure. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation. Aging and vinification are split evenly between tank and amphora, with the wine maturing on lees for 8 months before blending and bottling.
Bottles produced in 2022: 1800
Light filtration before bottling
Total SO2: 30mg
Tasting notes: L’Ahumat is fresh, balanced, and lively, exuding charm and vigor. Its appearance is very light yellow with green reflections. On the nose, delicate aromas of white fruits (peach, apricot) mingle with fresh, subtle smokiness, avoiding the overly "Sauvignon" style. The palate is smooth, fruity, and round, with citrus notes and a gentle tension on the finish, offering a balanced wine with beautiful depth. It pairs wonderfully with aperitifs and seafood dishes such as fish terrines, crab flan, avocado with shrimp, as well as cheese fondue and fresh goat cheeses.
Aging potential: 5 years / Serving temperature: around 8°C.
ALABETS (2020)
Style: Red
Variety: 100% Négrette
Abv: 12.5%
Region: Fronton
‘Alabets’ means ‘What else…’ in Occitan, the French of language from South West of France.
Terroir: The primary grape variety in Fronton AOC is Négrette, unique to the region and with historical records tracing back to the sixth century. When carefully cultivated in the right location, this flagship black grape yields elegant and refined red wines. Alabets’ Négrette is the result of massal selections from the Domaine’s conservatory, encompassing the entirety of available genetic diversity. The 2.8-hectare vineyards thrive in clay-loam and sandy soils, creating a cool terroir.
Winemaking: After manual harvesting, the grapes are destemmed before fermentation to ensure a delicate extraction. The Négrette rests on lees in concrete vats for 26 months before bottling, using a total of 35 mg of SO2. The wine undergoes no filtration or fining.
The yield of 2020 was 40 hectoliters per hectare, resulting in a production of 14,000 bottles.
Tasting notes: Prominent aromas of black fruits and liquorice intertwine with a subtle hint of violets. The palate boasts richness and generosity, accompanied by abundant freshness and an impressively long finish. The wine embodies elegance, displaying remarkable finesse and precision.
Anticipated Aging Potential: Up to 10 years Serving Temperature: Approximately 14°C.
NEGRET POUNJUT (2022)
Style: Red
Variety: 100% Negret Pounjut
Abv: 10.5%
Region: Fronton
Terroir: Marc found this ancient local variety called Négret Pounjut 10 years ago. Pounjut means pointy in the Occitan language - The berries are “pounjut”, pointy, like an olive shape. Marc is its only producer. Thibaut describes it as “The Poulsard of the South”. The wine is only 10.5% alcohol!
Located on the highest terrace of the river Tarn (altitude 220m), the terroir corresponds to ancient, highly eroded alluvial deposits resting on the limestone and clay substrate of the southwest basin.
Depending on the altitude or slope, the layer of alluvium (pebbles, sands, silts) varies in thickness. Negret Pounjut is planted in a plot rich in pebbles, on siderolitic clays. The fruits come from 2 different plots (0.8 ha total). The vines are planted at 5000 vines/ha, and the yield for 2022 is averaging 45 hl/ha.
Winemaking: The grapes are handpicked rather early as soon as ripe. The vinification is in a stainless steel tank with 100% destemmed bunches. The maceration takes place cold and lasts 5 days for gentle infusion.
Bottles produced in 2022: 2000
Light filtration before bottling
Total SO2: 30mg
Tasting notes: Light both in colour and body, this Negret Pounjut is an elegant easy-drinking red. Vibrant and energetic, the aromas are refined and subtle - crushed raspberries with a hint of blackberries, and blackcurrant buds.
It is a true "buddy" wine, thirst-quenching, for casual drinking. Light red, lively, spicy, and quaffable. Served chilled, it can replace a rosé.
Potential ageing - 2 to 3 years
Serving - around 14°C.