2021 Mansengs et Compagnie Mansengs

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

Mansengs' is released as a Vin de France and contains 10% grapes from the 'estate'(Petit Manseng). The remaining 90% is Gros Manseng and comes from the Côtes de Gascogne from a friend of his. The philosophy and the care given to the wines, as I mentioned carried out in the same cellar as the estate cuvées, is identical. Winemaking and elevage taking place in seasoned barrels without fining or filtration and without additions, apart from a little sulphur at bottling. This wine has all the density, tension and aromatic complexity of the estate wines but the acidity is slightly softer (not a bad thing) and the mouthfeel slightly more expansive. This is just super.

"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