Domaine Horgelus, Sauvignon - Gros Manseng, 2025
Domaine Horgelus, Sauvignon - Gros Manseng, 2025
- White Still
- 75CL
- 12.5%
- Organic
- Sauvignon Blanc, Gros Manseng
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Domaine Horgelus crafts this distinctive white blend from the rolling hills of Gascogne, where Sauvignon Blanc meets the local Gros Manseng variety in perfect harmony. The 2025 vintage captures Sauvignon's characteristic citrus drive whilst Gros Manseng adds weight, texture and subtle exotic fruit flavours that distinguish this wine from straightforward Sauvignon Blanc.
This is a modern, food-friendly white that drinks beautifully now and over the next two years. The blend offers more complexity than single-varietal Sauvignon whilst retaining the freshness that makes it ideal for seafood, salads, and lighter cuisine. Best served well-chilled as an aperitif or with delicate dishes that won't overwhelm its elegant character.
This wine is designed for immediate enjoyment, showing its best fruit expression in its first year after release. The Sauvignon component will maintain its citrus brightness through 2027, whilst the Gros Manseng may develop slightly more honeyed characteristics. By 2028, the wine will retain its charm but begin losing some aromatic intensity. This is not a wine for long-term cellaring - drink whilst the fruit remains vibrant and the acidity crisp.
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale gold with green highlights, crystal clear and bright.
NoseFresh citrus zest leads, followed by white peach and subtle tropical fruit from the Gros Manseng. Underlying mineral notes add complexity, with a delicate floral lift. The aromatics are clean and inviting without being overpowering.
PalateCrisp entry with lively acidity from the Sauvignon component, balanced by Gros Manseng's rounder, more textured fruit flavours. Citrus and stone fruit dominate the mid-palate, with a subtle honeyed richness developing. The blend creates harmony between brightness and weight, finishing with mineral precision.
FinishClean and persistent, with citrus zest and a gentle saline edge.
Overall impressionAn elegant blend that demonstrates how local varieties can enhance international ones, creating complexity whilst maintaining freshness.
Food Pairings
In Gascogne, this style of white wine traditionally accompanies the region's renowned foie gras, where the wine's acidity cuts through the richness whilst the Gros Manseng's subtle sweetness complements the liver's intensity. Local fishermen pair similar wines with fresh river trout, often grilled simply with herbs from the countryside. The wine also suits cassoulet when served as a lighter starter, and works beautifully with the region's famous Roquefort cheese, where the acidity balances the blue veining's saltiness.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve well-chilled at 8-10°C to preserve the wine's crisp character and aromatic intensity. No decanting required - this wine benefits from immediate service to capture its fresh fruit expression. Use medium-sized white wine glasses to concentrate the aromatics whilst allowing the blend's complexity to develop. Open just before serving to maintain the wine's vibrant acidity.
The vineyards sit on the gentle slopes of Gascogne's clay-limestone soils, which provide excellent drainage whilst retaining enough moisture for consistent ripening. The Atlantic influence moderates temperatures, creating ideal conditions for preserving acidity in white varieties. Morning mists from nearby rivers help extend the growing season, allowing Gros Manseng to develop its characteristic honeyed complexity whilst Sauvignon Blanc retains its crisp, mineral edge.
IGP Côtes de Gascogne covers the rolling countryside of southwest France, between Bordeaux and the Pyrenees. This classification encourages experimentation, allowing producers to blend international varieties with local grapes like Gros Manseng and Colombard. The appellation has gained recognition for producing fresh, modern whites that offer excellent value whilst showcasing the region's unique terroir and grape varieties.
The 2025 growing season in Gascogne presented winemakers with a complex puzzle of variable weather patterns that tested their adaptability. Spring arrived with encouraging warmth that promoted healthy budbreak across the rolling hills, though periodic rainfall kept soils well-hydrated without causing waterlogging concerns. Summer brought the kind of diurnal temperature variation that Gascogne's elevated vineyards handle so well, with warm days developing flavour intensity while cool nights preserved the essential freshness that defines the region's character. Harvest timing proved crucial as growers navigated pockets of September rain, rewarding those who picked selectively.
The resulting wines display genuine regional character with particularly impressive results from Colombard and Ugni Blanc, which retained their signature crisp minerality whilst achieving notable concentration. Gros Manseng delivered wines of excellent balance, combining the grape's natural acidity with more developed fruit flavours than recent vintages have offered. Overall quality sits comfortably in the solid-to-good range, producing wines that capture Gascogne's unpretentious charm without the peaks or disappointments of more dramatic years. These wines are drinking beautifully now and should continue to offer pleasure over the next two to three years while their vibrant freshness remains intact.
FAQs
How does Gros Manseng change this blend compared to pure Sauvignon Blanc?
Gros Manseng adds weight, texture and subtle honeyed fruit flavours that balance Sauvignon Blanc's sometimes aggressive acidity. It provides peachy, exotic fruit character whilst maintaining freshness, creating a more complex and food-friendly wine than either variety alone.
When should I drink this wine for best results?
This wine drinks beautifully now and should be consumed within two years of vintage for optimal freshness. The 2025 vintage will be at its peak through 2027, after which it will begin losing some of its vibrant fruit character.
What makes IGP Côtes de Gascogne different from other French wine regions?
This appellation encourages blending international varieties with local grapes, creating modern, accessible wines that express regional terroir. Unlike stricter AOC regions, producers can experiment with varieties and techniques whilst maintaining quality standards, resulting in excellent value wines with unique character.
What temperature should I serve this wine?
Serve well-chilled at 8-10°C to preserve the wine's crisp acidity and aromatic intensity. Serving too warm will diminish the Sauvignon Blanc's freshness, whilst serving too cold will mask the Gros Manseng's subtle fruit complexity.
Is this wine suitable for cellaring?
No, this wine is designed for immediate consumption and will not improve with age. The fresh fruit character and crisp acidity that make it appealing will diminish over time, so drink within two years of vintage for best results.
What foods pair best with this wine?
This wine excels with seafood, particularly grilled fish, shellfish, and sushi. It also works beautifully with goat's cheese, fresh salads, and lighter poultry dishes. The wine's balanced acidity and fruit character make it versatile for aperitif drinking or food pairing.
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