Petit Manseng Sec 2019

Varieties: Petit Manseng

Vineyard: Monein x2 and Lasseube

Harvest: Oct 4th 2019 (Monein, Ucha), Oct 10th 2019 (Lasseube), Oct 16th 2019 (Monein, Cardesse)

Production: 2,460 bottles of 75cl, 6 magnums of 150cl

Winemaking Notes

  • Hand Harvested
  • Hand Sorted
  • Foot trodden in the press basket
  • Basket Pressed with one rebèche
  • Cold Settled (debourbage) for 4 days in steel tank
  • Fermented using 2 selected yeasts
  • Fermentation and aged in used French oak barrels of 3-6 years old, coming from Cru Classé vineyards in Sauternes (Lasseube grapes), and Pauillac (Monein Grapes)
  • Occasional battonage
  • The wine was pumped just 3 times from picking to bottling. Racking by inert gas transfer
  • Blended July 2019
  • Bottled October 10th 2020

Technical Analysis

Abv 14.85%

TA (tartaric) 9.3g/l

pH 2.95

18mg/l free SO2 at bottling, 62mg total

RS 2.9g/l

Commentary

Fermentation was very slow for this vintage, taking almost 6 months to finish. We used a third vineyard (a different cooler vineyard site in Monein with old vines and a more northerly aspect) this year to help build more complexity and give us additional flexibility in finding a balance while blending. We used a slightly older average age of barrels too in order to tone down the oak aspect to the wine. We feel that this has given a more relaxed feel to the wine this year in spite of the zingy acidity. A great match for a rich or creamy dish.

Petit Manseng Sec 2018

Varieties: Petit Manseng

Vineyard: Monein and Lasseube

Harvest: Oct 4th 2018 (Monein), Oct 10th 2018, Oct 11th 2018 (Lasseube)

Production: 2,251 bottles of 75c (yellow wax capsules), plus 144 unfiltered bottles of 75cl (pale green wax capsules)

Winemaking Notes

  • Hand Harvested
  • Hand Sorted
  • Foot trodden in the press basket
  • Basket Pressed with one rebèche
  • Cold Settled (debourbage) for 3 days in steel tank
  • Fermented using 2 selected yeasts
  • Fermentation and aged in used French oak barrels of 3-5 years old, coming from Cru Classé vineyards in Sauternes (Lasseube grapes), and Pauillac (Monein Grapes)
  • Occasional battonage
  • The wine was pumped just 4 times from picking to bottling. Racking by inert gas transfer
  • Blended August 10th 2019
  • Bottled September 20th 2019

Technical Analysis

Abv 14.65%

TA (tartaric) 9.48g/l

pH 2.92

18mg/l free SO2 at bottling, 70mg total

RS 2.9g/l

Commentary

A blend combining the richness and power of Monein fruit with the finesse of Lasseube fruit, this petit manseng was vinified oxidatively initially, then reductively when dry. The wine is in an unusual style—highly concentrated with rich, ripe notes of pineapple and peaches balanced by a racy, lime zestiness. Drinking well now, though should continue to improve in bottle for many years. Food Matching— drink with cheese or robust white meat dishes. Perfect with chicken in a mushroom sauce, or the local Ossau Iraty sheep’s cheese.