Domaine de Pellehaut Chardonnay

Château de Pellehaut has a long story, which is essentially that of the Béraut family, who have lived at Montréal-du-Gers for four centuries. In the 1950s, agronomy graduate Gaston Béraut took over the management of the family estate, breaking with the tradition of entrusting the running of it to a tenant farmer. During the 1970s, Gaston and his wife gradually acquired new land, including 50ha of vines.

Initially Gaston Béraut decided to distil his own wines to make armagnac. Then in the early 1980s, as its armagnacs began posting some success in tasting competitions, the estate applied for certification of its wines under the Vins des Côtes de Gascogne appellation. These efforts were combined with restructuring of the vineyards and winemaking facilities, and sons Martin and Mathieu began their involvement.

Today Mathieu and Martin are qualified viticulturalists and oenologists and have run the family estate on a sustainable basis for the past twenty years. Armagnac is still important, with their range regularly winning awards, but there is a renewed focus on light wines, which are typically pure and refreshing – reflecting their enviromental focus.

Their Chardonnay is a beautifully pure expression of the grape. Light yellow colour with a complex nose of white fruit, butter and white blossoms. Initially light in the mouth, the gossamer palate is sustained and enjoyable with stone fruit flavours and a delicate minerality as it takes you on a slow journey to the gentle finish.

This wine will accompany an entire meal from the aperitif to the cheese if you wished. Ideal with fish, such as gravlax-style Pyrenean trout.