Pacherenc du Vic Bilh - AOC Blanc
Winery: Château Viella
Region: Madiran, Southwest France
Locale: Gers, in the commune of Viella
Site: Gravelly clay soils with lots of calcaire and chalk. Vineyards sloping gentle to steep, with southern exposure. Every other row left with the grass to prevent erosion and loss of water; lutte raisonée, traceability from grape to bottle.
Grapes: 60% Gros Manseng, 20% Petit Manseng et 20% Arrufiac from a vineyard of 1 hectare; vine age about 15 years on average. Hand picked in the first part of October.
Vinification and Aging: After hand picking, the grapes undergo a brief cold maceration, are pressed, vinified, and finish their elevage sur lies in barriques, about 20% new, for 7 months.
Notes: The unusual name comes from the old tongue of Oc (?). Vic Buhl means "old country" as in vieux pays. Pacherenc was a type of pole, which was used to raise the vines high enough for the cows to pass through.
