Empreinte Rouge
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Seared duck breast, traditional Gascon cassoulet, grilled ribeye steak
✨ Technical Specifications
Plaimont's Empreinte Rouge is a profound liquid tribute to the ancient, wind-swept terroirs of the Saint-Mont appellation in South-West France. The name 'Empreinte' (meaning footprint or imprint) signifies the indelible mark left by the Pyrenean terroir and the generations of winegrowers who have preserved these historic slopes. Grown on a complex mosaic of variegated clays and limestone soils, this wine is anchored by the region's powerhouse grape, Tannat, complemented by the rustic charm of Pinenc and the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. Historically, these vineyards lined the sacred pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, where medieval monks from the Saint-Mont monastery tended the vines and offered these deeply colored, restorative red wines to weary travelers. Crafted with traditional long macerations and aged carefully to soften its robust structure, the wine beautifully balances intense dark forest fruits, black pepper, and a refined, earthy minerality.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1979 through the union of wine cooperatives in Plaisance, Aignan, and Saint-Mont spearheaded by André Dubosc, Plaimont is an undisputed viticultural vanguard in Gascony and the Pyrenean foothills. Spanning diverse terroirs across AOC Saint-Mont, Madiran, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, and Côtes de Gascogne, its vineyards are defined by variegated soils of tawny sands (sables fauves), limestone, and clay-rich molasse tempered by Atlantic and mountain currents. Renowned worldwide for its preservation of ampelographic heritage—exemplified by its private conservatory and historic ungrafted pre-phylloxera plots in Sarragachies—Plaimont has revived forgotten indigenous varieties such as Tardif, Arrufiac, and Manseng Noir. In white vinification, Plaimont champions crystalline freshness, precise reductive aromatic protection, and thoughtful lees contact, highlighting local Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, and Colombard. Landmark cuvées include Cirque Nord, Les Cépages Préservés, and Les Vignes Retrouvées, presenting tensile minerality, bright citrus, exotic orchard fruit, and textural salinity emblematic of southwest France.
🍇 Grapes
Tannat, Pinenc, Cabernet Sauvignon
🍷 ABV
12.5-14%