Pacherenc du Vic Bilh

Located in the Hautes-Pyrénées, Gers and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, between two administrative regions (Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées), the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh appellation area merges with that of Madiran and is also part of the Béarn appellation area. ThePacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC was granted by decree on July 10, 1948, and applies only to white wines made from this terroir. 

The Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh appellation covers around 1,400 hectares north of Pau.

The vineyards of the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh appellation are planted on three types of soil: siliceous soils on colluvial pebbles, very stony, hot and dry, at the top of the slopes; clay-limestone soils on indurated molasse and palustrine or lacustrine limestone, at the base of the slopes; silty-clay soils, sometimes with low permeability. Within the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh appellation zone, clay and limestone soils are preferred for the red grape varieties that make Madiran wine. Soils dominated by clay and silica favor white grape varieties, which produce the dry or sweet wines of Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh. The climate is predominantly oceanic, continentalizing from the southwest to the northeast of the area.

The main grape varieties used to make Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh are Arrufiat, Courbu, Gros and Petit Manseng, Sauvignon and Sémillon. Two-thirds of Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh wines are dry whites, with the remainder being sweet wines. The latter are not produced using the noble rot technique as in Bordeaux, but through the loss of water from the standing grapes: passerillage. Particularly noteworthy among these wines are those produced by Château Montus, Cave de Crouseilles and Château Bouscassé.

Whether made from Sauvignon or Courbu grapes, Pacherenc du Vic Bilh flatters the senses. This wine from south-western France transmits the sunshine it has enjoyed to your glass.

Pacherenc du Vic Bilh sweet and dry wines are similar in many ways. On the palate, both have a certain roundness, although the sweet Pacherenc du Vic Bilh is more powerful. Visually, both wines have a golden color, with copper hues for the Pacherenc du Vic Bilh moelleux. The color of the dry Pacherenc du Vic Bilh is rather uniform. On the nose, both wines have a hint of honey, but the dry wine has a more acidic background than the sweet wine.

Dry Pacherenc wines are best drunk young. On the other hand, sweet Pacherenc du Vic Bihl should be aged in the cellar for up to 5 years, for better tasting.

Whether to add to your collection of fine wines or to serve with a good meal, here are a few suggestions:

- Château Laffitte-Teston de 2017 (dry)

- Château de Viella 1999 (sweet)

- Domaine Sergent 2018 (dry)

- Le clos de l'église 2016 (mellow)

Wines with the Pacherenc du Vic Bilh appellation can be served as starters or desserts. Like all white wines, they are the perfect accompaniment to seafood and fish. But they can also be drunk with pork or poultry dishes. On the sweet side, Pacherenc du Vic Bilh wines are ideal with tangy desserts such as red fruit mousses or exotic fruit pastries.