Clos Guirouilh Jurançon 2016

Profile & Story

Clos Guirouilh is a small, traditional domaine in the Jurançon appellation of southwest France, farming ten hectares at around 350 meters elevation near Lasseube on calcareous clay soils mixed with yellow sandstone; vines over forty years old surround the ancient farmhouse that serves as both winery and family home. This 2016 is a sweet (moelleux) Jurançon of 50% Gros Manseng and 50% Petit Manseng, hand-harvested in successive passes from November into December as the grapes dried naturally on the vine; it was fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in a mix of used barrels and stainless steel over three slow, cold months, aged about 22 months without malolactic fermentation, and reaches 85 grams per liter of natural residual sugar at 12.62% alcohol.