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The renaissance of a terroir
In 2018, Maison Soulat took over the Saint-Sornin winery, which was damaged by hail a few months prior. Jacques Soulat wanted to bring back to life the historic site and its wine terroir, the only one in Charente able to claim the appellation "IGP Vins Charentais - Saint-Sornin". He joined forces with Olivier Pucek, who knows the vineyard well, to carry out this project. Olivier already cultivated vines attached to the slopes of Saint-Sornin for his own wines, produced under the Maverlan label and vinified in Miaulant.
In Saint-Sornin, the wine tradition goes back to the 17th century. Dominating the Tardoire valley, halfway between La Rochefoucauld and Montbron, the hillsides offer ideal sunshine; in 1879, the vineyard reached nearly 470 hectares. But the phylloxera disease passed through and decimated the vast majority of the vines. At the beginning of the 1950s, the vineyard area was barely 30 hectares, producing wines of mediocre quality. Planting work took place, and in the 2000's the winery vinified 180 hectares, while the quality progressed.
Jacques Soulat and Olivier Pucek, “Sapiens” at the roots of two historical cuvées
With the restructuring of the historic vineyard of Saint-Sornin, the two men are committed to a quality approach, respectful of the environment. In 2019, “Sapiens” and “Petit Sapiens” were born, the first wines in a decade to bear the appellation IGP Vin Charentais Saint-Sornin. Their names evoke the traces of our distant ancestors, found in the nearby Placard grotto, classified as a historical monument in 1989. The vineyard is currently in transition to obtain the organic farming certification.
Sapiens is a blend of Gamay (90%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). Seven months of maturation (in barrels of Grand Cru Classés from Bordeaux) give it structure and ageing potential. This cuvée offers pleasant aromas of red and black fruits. It is limited to 5000 bottles.
“Petit Sapiens”, the second wine of the family, is an easy-drinking wine that combines Gamay and Cabernet Franc in equal proportions. More rounded than its big brother, it is aged in vats for four months. Its production is limited to 8000 bottles.
Come and meet the family!
The Sapiens are available at Maison Soulat: at the Marché des Halles d'Angoulême, at Boutique Maurice, La Cave de Saint-Sornin (winery/shop) and online.
