Appellation in the centre of the southwest region of France on the northern edge of the Armagnac area. The area classified in 1973 was formerly called Côtes de Buzet. The vineyards include 2.000 hectares of vineyards on the upper reaches of the Garonne in the communes of Ambrux, Anzex, Barbaste, Bruch, Buzet-sur-Baïse, Calignac, Caubeyres, Damazan, Espiens, Feugarolles, Lavardac, Leyritz-Moncassin, Moncault, Montagnac-sur-Auvignon, Montesquieu, Mongaillard, Nérac, Pompiey, Puch-d'Agenais, Razimet, Sainte-Colombe-en-Bruilhois, Saint-Léon, Saint-Pierrede-Buzet, Sérignac-sur-Garonne, Vianne, Villefranche-du-Queyran and Xaintrailles in the department of Lot-et-Garonne.
After the phylloxera catastrophe at the end of the 19th century, it came to a virtual standstill, and it was not until the mid-1950s that there was an upswing again. Red wine and rosé are blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec(Cot). White wine is produced from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Well known producers are Château Baleste, Château du Frandat, Château de Gueyze, Château de Mazelières, Château de Pardère, Domaine de Pech, Château Sauvagnères and Chateau Tournelles.
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena