Domaine de Lauroux at Manciet, 32 Gers
The Kitcheners - producers of Cotes de Gascogne and Armagnac 
It is always heart-warming
to find someone who follows their dream and the Kitcheners have
done just that and moved lock stock and family from the UK to the
depths of rural Gascony to run a vineyard which not only produces
red and white wines, but also Floc de Gascogne and Armagnac!
As if that were not enough they also provide B&B and self-catering
accommodation; and provide a regularly updated and fascinating
"Vineyard Diary" on their new website.
Situated at Manciet (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees) the Domaine
de Lauroux was purchased by Nick and Karen in 2004, so they
are in the exciting and often difficult early years of a new
venture, but the signs are good.
See map location for Domaine de Lauroux at Manciet
The wines are Vins
de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne and come in red, white and
rosé.
Domaine de Lauroux Blanc Sec (dry white) is a
typically fresh and fruity number made from Colombard and Ugni
Blanc with the addition of 10% Gros Manseng which adds that little
bit of soft roundness to counterbalance the zingy acidity of the
main grapes.
The red and rosé are made from the traditional Bordeaux blend of
Merlot and Cabernets
Domaine de Lauroux red was tasted on Spittoon
(www.spittoon.biz) :"produces a nice wedge of fruit and an
easy drinking palate. Red fruits burst open on the finish. Cracking
good value."
The
oak-aged red Domaine de Lauroux (Cuvée Confiance) also
reviewed on www.spittoon.biz "nose
with a cedar-led blackcurrant aroma. But the palate is quite soft
with the tannins appearing gently on the finish. Opening with rounded
blackfruit flavours there is a hint of mint, of cherries and a
touch of spice"
You can view/download the Product Information
Sheets for these wines - CLICK HERE (Adobe
Acrobat pdf format).
In addition they produce fine Armagnac brandy
and inherited a treasure of old vintage Armagnacs going back to
1929 - see www.frenchduck.com
Floc de Gascogne is the other
product - a blend of unfermented grape juice and Armagnac which
makes an ideal summer aperitif.
These wines are available in the UK - see their website for details of stockists
The Kitcheners have recently been quoted in the Telegraph (18 May 2007) as an example of Brits who have tackled the challenge of setting up a vvineyard in France!
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One feature of their website is the VINEYARD
DIARY which provides a fascinating insight and connection to running
a vineyard. Regularly updated it sounds as though this winter was
surprisingly cold and wet (snow even), whilst by the end of April
temperatures were already in the mid-20soC. It may also
come as a surprise that even for a Vin de Pays classification,
there is a stringent tasting test before any wine is passed as
worthy of the classification - just imagine doing all that work
in the vineyard and in the cellar and not getting confirmation
of the wine's status for 6 months or more. It makes me realise
that although there are aspects of owning and running a vineyard
which sound very tempting, it is invariably hard physical work
and you are subject to all manner of risks and uncertainties, not
least the weather, pests and diseases and the wonders of French
bureaucracy!
Gascony is a great place to visit, and the area
around Manciet is delightful - gentle rolling countryside with
few major towns or industry. The noisiest thing around is probably
the racing circuit at Nogaro -
although I prefer the weekly markets at Eauze or Aire sur l'Adour.
The area is home to Armagnac, Duck and Goose products including
foie gras - and the big tannic wines of Madiran. Hence the prospect
of staying in the Domaine
de Lauroux's self-catering accommodation in the midst of the vines sounds idyllic.
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