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Wine Tasting Adventure

2024 Domaine Laguilhon, Jurançon Sec - Liberty

£14.49 GBP
£14.49 GBP

Owned by viticulturist Henri Estreboou, Domaine Laguilhon takes its name from the French word for ‘a shepherd’s crook’ . This is a playful nod to the domaine’s hilltop location, where sheep would pass by on their way to graze in the nearby fields. Their 12 hectares of vines, planted with Gros and Petit Manseng, are situated in the Jurançon village of Monein, which is known to create particularly rich styles of wine. Their soils, known as ‘poudingue de Jurançon’, are composed of small, round stones and alluvial sediment, providing excellent drainage in this wet region, which receives an average of 1,200mm of rain annually. The vineyards also have an ideal, south-facing aspect, allowing later harvesting for the ‘Doux’ styles the region is famous for. Domaine Laguilhon’s vineyards are hand-harvested to ensure grapes are picked at optimum ripeness. Their wines offer great value and showcase Jurançon at its best.

The dry Jurançon Sec is made from 50% Gros Manseng and 50% Petit Manseng, fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks before spending six months ageing on its lees to create additional texture. The resulting wine is fresh and vivacious, with aromas of pear and green apple, making it perfect to enjoy as an apéritif or with dishes requiring acidity to balance their richness.

The sweet Jurançon ‘Doux’ is also a 50/50 blend of Gros and Petit Manseng. However, it is picked later, during the last two weeks of October, to allow the grapes to raisin on the vine, concentrating the sugars and enhancing their acidity. This is a luscious, yet balanced wine, with fragrant aromas of fresh pineapple and honey.

The domain owns 12 hectares planted with Gros and Petit Manseng. Vineyards are south facing and sit at 350 metres above sea level. The soil here is called "poudingue de Jurançon" (derived from the word pudding). It is composed of fragments of round stones and alluvial sediment, which provides excellent drainage in this wet region (1200mm of rain per year).

The 2024 vintage in Jurançon proved challenging, with abundant rainfall through June followed by summer heat and drought. The region's elevated vineyard sites and characteristic Föhn winds helped mitigate weather extremes. Rigorous vineyard management and selective harvesting were essential, with only the finest parcels chosen for production. Despite reduced yields, the vintage ultimately delivered superior-quality wines with concentrated character.

All the grapes were hand harvested at optimum ripeness and underwent a moderate pressing before fermentation occurred in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine matured for three months in stainless steel tanks before bottling.

Pale yellow in colour, with green reflections, this dry Jurançon has charming aromas of citrus and white flowers. On the palate, this wine has bright accents of citrus fruit and a subtle minerality that carries through to the long, refreshing finish.