SW of France : Jurancon

Question 1

Jurancon: Climate and Location

Answer 1

• 300m altitude
• foothills of the Pyrenees
• Mild humid climate with high rainfall at 1200mm throughout the year.
• Vines are planted on slopes for drainage
• some sloped are terraced adding to cost
• best sites are S /SW for max sunlight
• heavily influenced by the Fohn wind =dry hot air helpd to ventilate the canopy and raise temps
• creates over ripe beries for sweet wines
• Spring frost is an issue so budding zone is trained high off the ground
• Soils are mix of limestone, clay ,sand and stones

Question 2

Jurancon: Viticulture

Answer 2

• Grapes are picked by hand and for sweet wines, at many selective pickings
• First selection is october for Dry wines /and some sweet
• Second and Third are in November and December for sweeter wines - grapes are dried on the vine - Passerillage ( dried by sun, wind and hang time )
• Low yields raisse the intensity of fruit and cost

Question 3

Jurancon: Petit Manseng

Answer 3

• Early budding , prone to spring frost
• Mid to Late ripening
• Thick skin, open bunches =resistant to bunch rot and suitable for late harvest
• Aromatic and high in acid =balanced sweet wines
• Can reach 17% abv on the vine

Question 5

Jurancon: Gros Manseng

Answer 5

• used mainly for dry wines due its lass aromatic concentration and flavour

Question 6

Jurancon: Styles of Wine

Answer 6

Three styles: All must be a minimum of 50% Petit or/and Gros Manseng
1. Jurancon Sec - dry, max yileds of **60hl/hc **
2. Jurancon **- medium sweet wine with max **40g/l RS . max yield 40hl/hc **
3. Jurancon Vendages Tardives -
a sweet wine with min 55g/l of RS and max yield is 40hl/hc . Made of Petit and Gros Manseng exclusively.
Grapes for Jurancon VT cannot be picked before 2nd of November .

Question 7

Jurancon: Winemaking

Answer 7

• higher quality sweet wines are typically fermented in barriques and aged for 12-18 months
• old oak is preferred
• adds complexity and cost to wines
• MLFC does not happen due to a low PH , retains acid and primary fruit
• Dry ,high quality wines are made using a small amount o Petit Manseng and aged on lees in SS tanks

Question 8

Jurancon: Wine Business

Answer 8

• Co-ops make up 64% and private companies are 36%
• Sales are divided equally between direct sales, supermarkets and hospo
• Significant producers are Doamine Cauhape
• more attention to dry wines - 32 % , 67% medium -sweet wines and 1% VT