The domaine Guirardel has belonged to the same family for almost four centuries; it is now managed by Françoise Casaubieilh and her husband Pierre Coulomb. The vineyard, located on the southern slopes of the Pre-Pyrenees foothills, at between 185 and 225m of altitude, looks out onto the Pyrenees. The domain’s vines are made up of the local varieties Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng, which are particularly suited to the micro-climate. The domain is in the process of converting to organic viticulture, and has begun using tillage in order to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem that doesn’t rely on fertilisers. The vineyard has reduced its use of disease control chemical treatments as much as possible. This couple of passionate winegrowers produces dry, sweet and dessert Jurançon, all of which are exceptional.

Despite being a dry wine, this cuvée boasts the same kind of rich, unctuous array of aromas that one would expect from a great sweet wine. It opens up with an intense freshness and exotic fruit aromas. On the palate, it’s acidic and crisp, with a certain liveliness. Raised in barrels on its lees for 9 months, this wine has an astonishingly long finish.