Domaine de Menard Cuvée Marine, Côtes de Gascogne Blanc 2024

Elisabath Prataviera is the winemaker at Domaine Menard situated in the small village of Gondrin in the Côtes de Gascogne and is one of the new wave making really interesting wines from this part of the world. The terroir for Cuvée Marine has a particular type of subsoil comprising decomposed ancient seashells - the inspiration for the wine's name - which allows the Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Manseng to fully express their minerality. It's an expressive and aromatic wine packed with ripe stone fruit, lychee, grapefruit and pineapple aromas and flavours. And it's got good weight and an excellent concentration of ripe fruit balanced by fresh, clean acidity and finishes in nicely lengthy and style.

On one hand it's a nice light and fresh glugger and on the other a good partner for grilled chicken and fish.

Domaine de Menard, located in the heart of Gascony, is currently managed by siblings Philippe Jegerlehner and Elisabeth Prataviera. Philippe oversees the vineyards, while Elisabeth serves as the winemaker. They manage 160 hectares of vines, producing a variety of white wines from traditional Gascon varieties such as Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, and Gros Manseng. Additionally, they cultivate some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for a selection of reds and rosés. Also, being in the right part of the country, they produce an Armagnac known as Château Menard.