by Paige Donner
Colombard-Sauvignon, Domaine du Rey, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
Tasting Notes: Pale yellow with silvery green highlights. Complex and delicate nose of grapefruit, lime and pear. On the palate greater emphasis on citrus – the grapefruit and lime show themselves with a hint of green pear. This is a blend of Colombard and Sauvignon (blanc and gris) grapes.
The most representative of the Domaine – this blend uses the complementary aromatics of these two varieties to create a classy, original wine.
– C. Almayrac
Pair With: Fish and shellfish. Asian food such as shrimp fried rice, broiled whitefish. Also white meats and charcuterie. Serve at 8ºC – 10ºC.
Production Notes: Maceration on skins followed by cooled carbonic maceration, controlled fermentation at 15C before racking. Long maturing on fine lees in tank. Drink within 3 years to best enjoy the fruit. Medals: Guide Hachette des Vins (2010); Silver, Concours general Agricole Paris 2012 (vintage 2010).
Domaine du Rey – About
The Côtes de Gascogne is in that lush and beautiful Southwest region between Bordeaux and Toulouse. It’s knows as Armagnac country but as Domaine du Rey’s wines attest to, some wonderful white-variety grapes are grown in the region resulting in fresh, characterful white wines.
The terroir of the region can be described as a mixture of sands blown-in from the West, limestone sediment and soil deposits from the Pyrénées. The area is influenced by the Garonne River on one side of it and the Adour River to the south which flows into the Atlantic at Bayonne. These are the two rivers that demarcate this Southwest region of France.
The owners of Domaine du Rey, Claude Almayrac and family, attest that their 26 ha. of Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne evidence the same or similar characteristics of that of the famed Ténerèze of Armagnac terroir: mixture of clay-limestone soil from near Condom (the town), detritus deposits washed down from the Pyrénées and white sand from Bas Armagnac. Domaine du Rey also has gravelly soils.
In addition to the richness the diversity of the soil lends the maturing grapevines, the Southern and Eastern sun exposures also allow for a slow-developing ripening and maturation. They grow five dominant grape varieties in their vineyards: Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Gros Manseng. The vines’ average age is about 20 years.
domainedurey.com Domaine du Rey – 32330 GONDRIN (FRANCE)
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