Domaine Duffour Blanc, IGP Cotes de Gascogne, France

Bright, aromatic, and refreshingly light on its feet, 2024 Domaine Duffour Blanc combines 70% Colombard with 15% Ugni Blanc and 15% Gros Manseng from mature Gascon vines. Fermented with indigenous yeast and raised entirely in tank, the wine remains focused on its exuberant fruit and natural freshness rather than oak. Passion fruit, gooseberry, grapefruit, green apple, and citrus meet a lightly herbaceous edge and mineral-driven acidity, creating a crisp, dry white with considerable aromatic character at just 11.5% ABV.

Product Details:

• Current Proprietor: Nicolas Duffour
• Grapes: 70% Colombard, 15% Ugni Blanc, 15% Gros Manseng
• Farming: Sustainable
• Certification: HVE Level 3
• Soils: Clay-limestone
• Vine Age: 35+ years
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeast in tank
• Aging: Tank-aged, unoaked
• Style: Dry white wine
• ABV: 11.5%
• Closure: Screwcap

Sensory Description:

Highly aromatic, with passion fruit, gooseberry, grapefruit, green apple, and fresh lemon joined by subtle green herbs. The palate is dry and lively, moving from juicy tropical and citrus fruit into a tangy core of acidity that gives the wine considerable freshness and definition. Gros Manseng contributes aromatic breadth and a touch of weight, while Colombard and Ugni Blanc reinforce the brisk citrus profile. A clean mineral impression emerges on the finish, leaving the wine crisp, tart, and refreshing rather than heavy or overtly fruity.

Winemaker's Background:

The Duffour family has been growing grapes in Lagraulet-du-Gers since the establishment of its domaine in 1955. Michel Duffour took the family property forward from the early 1980s, retaining mature Colombard and Ugni Blanc vines while expanding the vineyards with other regional and international varieties for the production of Côtes de Gascogne wines, Floc de Gascogne, and Armagnac. Today the next generation is represented by Nicolas Duffour, following his father Michel and grandfather Edilbert. The family vineyards occupy the rolling clay-limestone landscape of the Ténarèze, where limestone frequently lies close to the surface. Sustainability is a formal part of the estate's contemporary approach, including HVE Level 3 certification and investment in practices designed to reduce environmental impact. Domaine Duffour Blanc highlights the local varieties that have long served both Gascon table wine and the region's distilling tradition, presented here as a fresh, aromatic, unoaked dry white.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve well chilled at approximately 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. Its low alcohol, vivid aromatics, and brisk acidity make it particularly effective as an aperitif. At the table, pair with grilled halibut or other white fish, oysters, shellfish, ceviche, goat cheese, asparagus, fresh salads, vegetable dishes, or lighter preparations seasoned with lemon and fresh herbs. It is best enjoyed young while its citrus, tropical fruit, and herbaceous freshness remain at their most expressive.