2021 Mansengs et Compagnie Marcel

WINEMAKER: Jean-Baptiste Semmartin
REGION: Jurançon, FR
VARIETAL: Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng
VITICULTURE: Certified Organic/Biodynamic

Marcel is a blend of Gros (two thirds) and Petit (one third) Manseng, from the commune of Monein. The plot is located at the very top of a hillside, on the plateau, and is one of the highest points in the village. The terroir is limestone with quite a bit of clay too, Jean Baptiste remarks that it is 'cold' soil that produces wines of real austerity. This wine has real density, with a fleshy richness and firm acidity. Lifted, fresh cut pineapple but without exoticism. In the mouth it's direct and very (very) long flavoured and delicately salivating, salty, very classy. Marcel is a beauty.

"Jurançon is one of the mythical wine regions in France, tucked into the Pyrenees and producing incisive and long lived wines from the Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu grapes. In fact it's sweet liquoreux wines can improve over many decades. Jean-Baptiste Semmartin the proprietor/vigneron behind Domaine Lajibe was a sportsman in a past life, representing France on it's national fencing team. He fell into wine from there, first making wine in Bordeaux, then in Collioure and finally in Burgundy where he worked with Biodynamic pioneer, Emmanuel Giboulout. This experience led him on the path towards respect for the environment and the conservation of nature. His vineyards were certified Organic in 2010 and Biodynamic in 2019. The dry wines are taught, fine and chiselled yet there is weight and density and a superb concentration - the wines are impeccably balanced with a fine freshness, a zesty pineapple core and salty minerality on the finish. These wines can hold their own with any others !" - Andrew Guard