Domaine Plageoles Terroirists Orange NV

80% Muscadelle 4% Mauzac 4% Veranel 4% Ondenc 4% Loin de l'oeil 4% Sauvignon Blanc

Gaillac AOC, France

Organic practicing vineyard, the grapes are hand-harvested. The Muscadelle is whole-bunch macerated for 11 days, pressed and then aged in demi-muids for 9 months, the remaining varieties are direct-pressed and aged in tanks. Both fermentation and ML happen spontaneously with native yeast.

The two parts are blended at the end of elevage. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, with a tiny bit of sulfur (20ppm total).

The Plageoles family has been making wine in the Gaillac AOC since 1805. They are largely responsible for the revival of varieties indigenous to this region of Southwest France. Robert Plageoles hunted down wild vines in the forest and went to seed banks in order to revive many of the varieties that had nearly disappeared, and this work is carried on by his son and grandsons. They now farm almost 30 hectares, most of which is clay and limestone soil. It is all farmed organically and they grow primarily Mauzac Vert, Mauzac Noir, Ondenc, Duras, Muscadelle, and Prunelart varieties. They are as low intervention as possible in the cellar in order to preserve the terroir in their wines.