The Domaine d’Arton Vineyard
Patrick de Montal, vigneron of the Arton estate, understood its potential for producing exceptional wines and Armagnacs. He planted the first vines on the domain in 1981, reviving the winemaking tradition in the area, subsequently restoring the reputation of the Haut Armagnac designation and exalting Côtes de Gascogne wines.
Arton, a land of character in the Haut Armagnac
Situated on the Lectoure plateau in the heart of Gascony, the vineyard of Domaine Arton stretches over 88 hectares, 35 of them planted with vines. It enjoys excellent natural conditions auspicious to the production of both wine and Armagnac of excellent quality.
The clay-limestone soils — rich, fertile, and filtering — are crossed by subterranean streams to which the roots of our vines stretch to meet. This fervent extension of roots is reflected in the vivacity of the wine, a mirror effect where the grace of our wines and of Armagnacs originates.
The humidity from the ocean, the Mediterannean warmth carried by the eastern winds and the continental influences create mild, wet winters and hot, often stormy, summers, where the wide differences between day and night temperatures benefit the aromatic potential of the grape.
The fertile earth is characteristic of Haut Armagnac, one of the three sub-regions in the AOC designation that can produce Armagnac.
Armagnac. An historical wine-making territory, it is the birthplace of the eau de vie that carries its name, the crown jewel of Gascon gastronomy. We call our region “Haut Armagnac” because it overlooks the rest of Gascony, a landscape of steep hills butting up against the Pyrenees mountains on one side and the Garonne river on the other. We call this region “Armagnac Blanc” because of its hillsides, which reflect the light off of limestone peyrusquets, or rocky layers of soil. We call it undiscovered because its vineyard, devastated by the phylloxera epidemic at the end of the 19th century, has been minimally replanted. Patrick de Montal was the first to reintroduce the grapevines to the Lectoure plateau, thus restoring the thread of history.
The art of planting is to be able to tell what is best for the soil
In addition to the natural heritage of the Arton domaine, it features an original collection of grapes: 8 varieties (Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon) divided among the 19 plots around the house, like many small vineyards, each with its own specific identity. Because here, it is Nature who speaks. Paying homage to the earth is to respect its diversity, that of the soil where the heterogeneity plays with the aromas of the wines and Armagnacs, that of the exposition of the sun and the wind, essential for pollination and the gift of the grape and that of the varieties that give richness and complexity to our blends.
The Arton vineyard is designed like a tapestry, a detailed combination of vines that give the wine grown on each plot a particular typicity. Nothing is left to chance. Each variety is planted on the plot that suits it best and each plot benefits from an oversight adapted to its specific needs. It is one of the secrets of our excellence.
The diversity of the plots is a daring approach that gives personality to our wines and Armagnacs. Subtly blended, our different varieties give a unique character to the final product. It is the signature of Arton and the insurance, year after year, of a consistency in taste that distinguishes us.
The Arton Signature
The wines of Domaine d’Arton carry a certain ambition, to explore the oenological potential of the Haut Armagnac region in order to put Côtes de Gascogne wines on the map.
The geological richness of the Haut Armagnac region, conducive to the production of both white and red wines, permits us to reconcile the regionalw a winemaking tradition with a creative spirit that expresses our terroir with an inventive approach. To preserve the local mastery of Gascony whites while also innovating. To highlight the unique expressions of the Gascony reds. All while freeing ourselves from a too-literal reading of the principles of Gascon winemaking, we are able to reinvent them within their birthplace in order to marry a region, Gascony, with the singular vision of Arton.
The uniqueness of Arton wines redefines the flavor profile of the Côtes de Gascogne and marks the Haut Armagnac as a land of innovation.