France — wine

Jurancon

One of France's most unique and underappreciated white wine appellations, Jurançon in the Pyrenean foothills of Béarn produces complex dry and sweet whites from the indigenous Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng grapes on the steep slopes above Pau. The sweet Jurançon — made from late-harvest Petit Manseng dried by the warm Foehn wind on the vine — produces wines of extraordinary concentration, exotic spice and mountain mineral character that age magnificently for decades. The dry Jurançon Sec offers vibrant, aromatic dry whites of genuine complexity and food versatility.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Outstanding Béarn year; Petit Manseng of exceptional concentration and the classic Jurançon spice character
2022 Good year with fine ripeness; both dry and sweet Jurançon showing Manseng's characteristic freshness
2021 Elegant and precise; benchmark dry Jurançon Sec and fine sweet wine concentration
2020 Reliable year; authentic Pyrenean character in both sec and demi-sec expressions
2019 One of Jurançon's finest vintages; extraordinary Moelleux concentration and dry wines of benchmark character