On Monday 30th January, Olly Smith and Serge Dubs, World’s Best Sommelier 1989, Head Sommelier of l’Auberge de l’Ill, presided the annual blending ceremony of Le Faîte in Saint Mont, Gascony, South West France. Every year, restaurant owners, chefs, independent wine shops, and wine distributors from France, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK come together to blend both Le Faîte red and le Faîte white, Plaimont Producteurs’ top cuvees.
Every cuvee is a unique blend of the best terroir expressions of Saint Mont. The clay and limestone soils give power and ageing potential to the wines. The sandy soils of Aignan are well known for their finesse and elegance. The clay and pebbly soils surrounding Saint-Mont give density and character
Le Faîte 2015 Red:
The climate in 2015 was favourable with very sunny and warm days and cold nights. The blend No.5 was chosen. The final blend contains 60% pebbly-clay soils, 30% tawny sand and 10% limestone.
- Olly Smith: ”A powerful but well balanced and structured wine. It is a wine that needs ageing; you will have to be patient.”
- Serge Dubs: ”Its first quality is its youth. Ripe tannins, balanced and straightforward. It will keep this character and its unique qualities for many years.”
Le Faîte 2016 White:
The first part of the year was rainy until July, ideal for the varieties growing at the piedmont. The second part was dry and warm, which helped to achieve an ideal maturity. The blend No.5 was chosen: 65% Gros Manseng vinified in oak barrels (4 to 5 years old minimum), 30% Petit Corbu vinified in tanks and 5% Arrufiac.
- Olly Smith: “It combines the freshness and exuberance of the Saint Mont wines.”
- Serge Dubs: “It is the most thorough blend. Somewhere between caress, voluptuousness and freshness, it will offer numerous food pairings opportunities.”