Although Charles Hours comes from an old winemaking family, he started out as a scientist and rugby player before buying le Close Uroulat in 1983. In 2005, his daughter joined him, and together they grow three grape varieties: Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, and a parcel of Petit-Courbu (a native variety of the Pyrenees). The vines are cultivated following biodynamic methods, and benefit from the Foehn, a hot, dry wind from the Pyrenees. The domain is located 28km to the south-west of Pau, around 45km from the nearest ski stations and 80km from the Atlantic ocean.

The cuvée Marie is this estate’s dry white wine, something that is rather rare in this land of sweet wines. Gros Manseng often needs to be tamed, given how exuberant it can be: here the perfect balance is achieved, with a small amount of Courbu – a rarely-used, old grape variety – added to inject freshness into the blend. The wine is raised in barrels for ten months, 10% of which are new: their main concern is the lees’ quality as antioxidants. A mineral, tonic wine with a wide array of complex aromas (citrus fruits, white fruits, floral notes).