From: Tursan AOC, Sud-Ouest, France
Varietal: Baroque, Gros Manseng, Sauvignon, Petit Manseng
Taste: If you love Rhône white wines and feel a little adventurous, this white’s for you. This completely unique white wine from Tursan shows off a deep lemon-gold color in the glass. Notes and flavors of star fruit, sunflowers, Taylor gold pear skins, fresh apricots, hints of dried mango, baking spice, and kumquat immediately greet your senses. Juicy and savory, you’ll find hints of dried wildflower honey, guava, quince, calamansi, baking spice, and white pepper as the wine opens. Its finish is like a glorious sunset with lifted stone fruit vibes that take you on a gentle float down a sun-soaked river.
Pairing: “It is a wine that is pleasant to open as an aperitif with a few duck rillettes but which goes well with fish or poultry in cream, which accompanies goat cheeses and Pyrenees tommes…” The Domaine’s official pairing suggestion
Given its crisp acidity and full-bodied nature, Baroque wine pairs beautifully with rich, creamy dishes or those with a good fat content to balance the acidity. Think of pairing it with dishes like salmon in a rich butter sauce, creamy pasta dishes, or even a decadent cheese board featuring brie or camembert. The floral notes of the wine also make it a delightful match for lighter, herb-infused dishes or salads that include fruit components, such as a pear and walnut salad with a light vinaigrette and goat cheese crumbles. Seafood, especially shellfish like scallops or prawns, can also benefit from the wine's crispness, enhancing the overall dining experience. Other pairing ideas include serving this alongside a butternut squash gratin, baked apple and pear tartlets, braised veal or chicken, duck confit salad, braised rabbit, poulet roti, and sheep’s milk cheese.
Rillettes of Duck
By Marian Burros
About. In the Tursan region, a remarkable journey from barren land to a flourishing vineyard encapsulates the essence of passion, dedication, and respect for nature at Domaine des Pentes de Barène. The story begins with nothing but an abandoned stable, a meadow, and a couple's dream to share their project.
Les Pentes de Barène is a distinctive and petite vineyard in the Tursan AOC, known for being the smallest in the region at just over 1.5 hectares (approximately 3.7 acres). The domain is owned and operated by Daniel and Gaelle Vergnes, who manage all aspects of production, from vineyard to bottle, producing around 5000 bottles annually. Their meticulous approach includes hand-harvesting grapes in multiple passes to ensure only mature bunches are used and even hand-filling, corking, and labeling every bottle. The vineyard produces only two white wines - one dry and one sweet.
The Vergnes family, with their profound connection to the territory and a deep-seated passion for viticulture, embarked on this ambitious journey in 2003. They envisioned an estate that would produce exquisite wines and operate on a scale that encouraged family involvement in every aspect, from vineyard tending to winemaking and direct sales. This vision was underpinned by a commitment to sustainable practices and a desire to enrich the land they hold dear.
One of the initial challenges they faced was the terrain itself—a steep slope on the side of a limestone collapse facing the majestic Pyrenees. Despite the daunting task, the benefits were too significant to ignore, including optimal sunshine exposure, a clay-rich soil that retained moisture for gradual grape maturation, and a limestone subsoil rich in trace elements. These elements were crucial in imparting finesse and minerality to their wines. To overcome the steep slope, exceeding 60% in some areas, the Vergnes undertook the laborious task of creating terraces, a unique feature in Tursan, enabling vine planting and mitigating soil erosion. They are the only terraced vineyard in the Tursan AOC.
A notable aspect of Domaine des Pentes de Barène is its commitment to cultivating the Baroque grape variety, a rare gem once prevalent in the early 20th century but replaced over time due to its fragility and lower sugar content than Gros Manseng. This choice reflects the domain's dedication to preserving regional identity and biodiversity. Complemented by Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, and Sauvignon Blanc, the estate's grape selection underlines its commitment to producing distinctive wines that echo the richness of their land.
Adopting a philosophy of minimal intervention, the Vergnes family focuses on allowing nature to dictate the course, intervening only when necessary to maintain vine health and balance. This includes pruning, deseeding, and using biocontrol products, moving away from chemical weeding in favor of a grass cover to promote a diversified ecosystem. Their efforts have been recognized with High Environmental Value (HVE) certification since 2019, a testament to their dedication to biodiversity and environmental stewardship.
Proud members of networks such as Bienvenue à la Ferme, Independent Winegrowers of France, and Tourisme gourmand des Landes, the Vergnes family embodies the spirit of community and shared passion. Domaine des Pentes de Barène stands as a beacon of how vision, hard work, and a commitment to sustainable practices can transform a once-abandoned piece of land into a thriving estate, offering a taste of their heritage and the beauty of Tursan to the world.
Vintage Notes: The composition is led by Baroque, making up 49% of the cepage, a choice that underscores the vineyard's dedication to preserving the unique character of the region's indigenous grapes. Gros Manseng followed closely, constituting 37%, contributing rich complexity and depth to the wine's profile. Sauvignon Blanc, at 8%, introduced a vibrant acidity and freshness, while Petit Manseng, though only 6% of the blend, added a delicate sweetness and finesse.
