Les Jardins de Babylone Vin de France Moelleux 2020

Les Jardins de Babylone is Didier Dagueneau's sweet Jurançon, made from Petit Manseng at extremely low yields and bottled as Vin de France.

Jurançon sits in the Pyrenean foothills of South West France, where Petit Manseng's thick skins and late ripening allow the fruit to hang into autumn and shrivel on the vine. The Dagueneau family, better known for dry Sauvignon Blanc at Saint-Andelain in Pouilly-Fumé, took on this small holding to work the variety in the same exacting way. The warmth of the site and the very low yields mean picking can happen in late October, roughly a month ahead of the usual Jurançon moelleux harvest. Selection is made berry by berry, and no botrytis is involved, so the sweetness comes from concentration on the vine rather than noble rot. The wine typically finishes near 130 g/L residual sugar, carried by high natural acidity in a style closer to a fine German Auslese than to a Sauternes.

Drinking well now and capable of long ageing. Serve at 8-10°C with blue cheese, a citrus tart or slow-cooked pork, or simply through the meal as you would a good Riesling.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.