If you aren't yet acquainted with the Côtes du Marmandais, you're in the right place! Elian Da Ros was the one of the first wine makers to leave the area's cooperative in 1997, when he struck out on his own to make wine on his own terms. The appellation now counts 8 producers among its number and has begun to see some real success. Not far from Bordeaux, this region in the South-West is distinguished by its climate, its terroirs and its grape varieties, most notably Abouriou. Our wine maker is the grandson of an Italian migrant who came to France when farms were in need of labourers, and the family gradually bought their own land. Elian's father dedicated himself to vine-growing, which gave Elian a taste for that world from an early age. He formed his desire to make wine soon after and this goal never left him. Trained at Domaine Zind Humbrecht in Alsace, he returned to the family land in 1997. He left the cooperative, buying some new vines and selling others, before building his winery. His wines very quickly made their way to the top of the appellation, flavoursome and characterised by beautiful fruit.

Nestling at the heart of the south-west, the vines are carefully cultivated in line with the organic farming principles. All chemical fertilisers and weedkillers are prohibited to favour a more balanced approach to viticulture to allow the terroir to fully express its qualities. During the harvest, 80% of the fruit is hand-picked over a period of around three weeks. The grapes are then meticulously sorted both in the vineyard and in the winery. Fermentations are triggered spontaneously by native yeasts naturally present in the berries. The cuvée is then placed in foudres (large capacity wooden barrels) where they will age for several months before bottling.
The ruddy colour, with light tile-red reflections, is sublimated by a fine, fresh nose, with morello cherry aromas mingling beautifully with remarkable volatile acidity. The full, luscious mouthfeel reveals luscious aromas of red fruit, perfectly integrated within a fleshy body, leading delicately to a fruity, refreshing finish.