Didier Dagueneau — the wines we carry

Following the tragic passing of the late Didier in a 2008 plane accident, his son, Louis-Benjamin, took over the estate. He crafts wines that place great emphasis on optimal grape ripeness while faithfully expressing the unique character of each vintage and terroir. Spanning approximately 12 hectares, the vineyards are managed with deep respect for the soil and environment, continuing the biodynamic practices that his late father initiated in 1989. Certain parcels are plowed using horses, and cultivation methods are employed to keep machinery to an absolute minimum.

The Jurançon vineyards were acquired by the late Didier in 2002, with the inaugural release of "Les Jardins de Babylone" following in 2004. The illustration on the label is inspired by the deities depicted on ancient Babylonian murals.

Grapes are hand-harvested with rigorous sorting directly in the vineyard. They are completely destemmed by a destemmer located on the second floor of the winery, pressed in a pneumatic press on the first floor, and the juice is then gravity-fed into underground tanks. Throughout this process, the transfer of the grape must is carried out entirely by gravity. The juice is chilled prior to fermentation, and meticulous racking is performed to remove impurities. Selected cultured yeasts are used for alcoholic fermentation in barrels, utilizing an equal split of 25% new oak and 25% each of one-to-three-year-old barrels. The barrels are primarily custom-made 300-liter cigar-shaped casks (cigares) and 600-liter demi-muids, allowing the varying surface area of contact with the lees to impart nuance and complexity to the texture. After 12 months of fermentation and aging, the wines are assembled in stainless steel tanks and aged for an additional 8 months. Because identical vinification methods are applied to all wines, the sole distinguishing factor among the various cuvées is the terroir itself.

In the 2017 vintage, although all analytical parameters were flawless, the wine was denied Pouilly-Fumé appellation status during the tasting panel for certification due to perceived high volatile acidity. Believing that the prejudices of a few individuals shackled by absurd rules and dogmas only serve to diminish the standing of the Pouilly-Fumé appellation, Benjamin concluded that remaining bound by such constraints made it impossible to craft authentic wines that truly express the estate's originality, convictions, and philosophy. Consequently, starting with the 2017 vintage (and the Jurançon Moelleux and Sec from the 2015 vintage), he made the decision to renounce the AOP for all wines outside of Sancerre and release them as Vin de France.

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