Jurançon Vendanges Tardives (Sweet) 2011

A late harvest of 100% Petit Manseng grapes makes this intense, deliciously sweet wine that still sings with freshness and acidity. Notes of stewed apricot with vanilla, butter cream candy and honey. The grapes were harvested in mid-November 6, and had developed concentrated flavours. The passage of over a decade has enriched the stone and tropical fruit flavours, and led to tertiary nutty and white truffle notes.

Story: For more than thirty-five years Domaine de Souch has been a leader in a modern style of Jurançon wines. Organic and Biodynamic since 1994, the southern-facing terraced vineyards are carved into steep slopes facing the Pyrenees Mountains. This late harvest cuvée is only made on special years, when the climate allows an early ripening process. The grapes are harvested very late, usually about a 6 weeks after the harvest for the dry wines and about a week after the Marie Kattalin Moelleux. It is coincidental that so far this wine has only been made every three years and 2020 will be released soon. However the trend will end there as a devastating frost in 2023 meant no harvest.

Vinification: 40 year-old Gros Manseng vines growing on clay and limestone soils .This cuvée comes from a small single vineyard with especially concentrated grapes. They make a special selection, and must harvest quickly and get grapes into stainless steel as quickly as possible so the fermentation doesn’t start. The wine is then aged for 18 months total, only in stainless steel. The wine has 125-130g of residual sugar.

Match it with: Fois gras, Tarte Tatin, creamy cheeses.