Jurancon Moelleux Souch 500ml 2018

Jurancon Moelleux Souch, biodynamic sweet wine, late harvest Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng, rich dessert wine but bracing acidity.  The Moelleux classification of Souch wines is richer than Monplaisir, the fruit coming from slightly older vines and being harvested later.  There is no oak ageing as with Marie Kattalin but the 18 was a warm vintage and this wine is a stunning intensity of sweet, confit fruit, honey, tangerine and more.  This is gorgeous sweet wine.  It would go well with a rich chicken or veal dish and almost any dessert, but on its own with a slice of salty blue cheese would be mega.

The story of Yonne Hegoburu - Domaine De Souch is both sad and inspiring.

In the 1970s Yvonne and Rene Hegoburu found the ruins of an old house at the top of the hill of Laroin.  They decided to renovate it in order to retire there.  Later, they moved there with the ambition of planting a few hectares of vineyards in the Jurançon appellation. Tragically René died prematurely very soon after they moved in and before they could realise their dream. Yvonne decided to preserve her husbands memory by continuing the plan to start a winery and Domaine De Souch was born.  30 years later, her stunning sweet wines grace the tables of almost every Michelin star restaurant in Europe.

The domaine is 7 hectares of south facing slopes with vines of Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng.  The vines are now 35 years old and have been farmed naturally from the start.  This is an amazing place, full of life and vitality and run with as little impact on nature as is possible.

The soils are red clay which capture the heat of the day in summertime and release it during the evening.  This makes for riper Manseng grapes and much better for sweet wine production.

Yvonne was something of a pioneer and discovered biodynamics in the 1990s and Domaine De Souch was certified biodynamic in 1994.  Despite being in her 90s, until very recently she had been very much involved in the running of her Jurancon estate.  This diminutive character is now finally taking a back seat.  She lets her children run things but the wines continue to go from strength to strength.