March 2009
Clos Uroulat, Cuvée Marie 2006, Jurançon Sec AC, $23
When Dave Holstrom of Guy du Vin poured this bottle in his recent Wines of SW France class, the wine took most of our students by surprise. A blend of two little known grape varieties – primarily Gros Manseng with a little Corbu added as well – the wine was truly unique and unlike anything our students had tasted previously, showing citrus fruit, light floral notes, spice and smoke. Barrel fermentation and lees aging add to the wine’s richness and complexity.
About Jurançon: Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in SW France, the Jurançon region lies in a relatively cool microclimate, with a strong Maritime influence from the nearby Atlantic and a cooling impact from altitudes around 1000 feet. In addition to Sec (dry) style wines based on the Gros Manseng variety, the region is also known for long-lived and complex sweet wines based on Petit Manseng.