Cazottes Le Fruit Blanc

Distillerie et Domaine Cazottes is located in the town of Villeneuve-sur-Vère, in the Rive Gauche subzone of Gaillac. Managed by Laurent Cazottes, the winery produces organically made eau-de-vie and wines. The story of the domaine starts with Laurent’s father, Jean Cazottes. Jean was a travelling distiller who would move from village to village, set up his equipment in the town square, and produce spirits from the local fruits. He would sell the eau-de-vies back to the townspeople. It was Laurent who decided to set up shop in a single location. His first spirits were made from Williams pears harvested around Villeneuve-sur-Vère. His production grew to include 6 different brands of eau de vie, 6 different liquors and two wine-based aperitifs. In 2010 Laurent made the decision to start making wine from Gaillac’s indigenous grape varieties, which are not often found outside the area. He farms his fruits and vegetables according to organic and biodynamic principles, and ferments the wines naturally with ambient yeasts and no temperature control. 

Given all the time Laurent spends among fruit trees and aromatic plants it seems fitting that his crisp, table white should be an elaboration of orchardy white Mauzac and Loin de L’oeil, a hyperlocal white known for flirty, fruity aromatics.  Like the red, vinification is all in steel with extremely minimal sulfite application.