Jurançon Sec

I’m trying out some weirder whites these days. By weird, I mean grapes that you wouldn’t necessarily ask for at your local wine shop, from regions you might not recognize. Don’t feel badly about that. I’m having some of these wines for the first time, too. You don’t sip every wine on the planet in sommelier school, though I wish you did!

Today’s tasting? The 2018 Clos Guirouilh Jurançon Sec, a mix of 85% Gros Manseng and 15% Petit Courbu grapes. Jurançon is a wine region below the Pyranees in southwestern France, where they make dry white wine called Jurançon Sec and sweet wine called Jurançon. Famous feminist French writer, Colette, was a big fan.

Clos Guirouilh is a legendary domaine in the region, making wines in Jurançon since the 16th Century.

This Jurançon sec has a light yellow straw color and fresh aromas of peach and stone fruit with some underlying almond and a hint of flowers like forsythias. It tastes tart with lots of lemon/lime, some light stone or chalk, and the slightest caramel flavor on the finish. It has fresh acidity, and is nice and clean thanks to stainless steel aging. The 13% alcohol is a touch hot, but not enough to be a turnoff.

I could see this wine working with so many different kinds of food from grilled chicken to scallops, even a cheese and charcuterie board. If you like Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc, this is a very cool wine to try.

I bought it on wine.com for $24.99 but it’s sold out. Astor Wines has it for $25.96.

Chin!