Gascony

Gascogny is the region in southwest France that sweeps south from the Bordeaux region down to the Pyrenees Mountains and the Spanish border. Bounded to the east by the Atlantic, it reaches deep into France’s Massif Central. One of Frances prime agricultural regions, the district is famed for its Armagnac, plum orchards, duck, foie gras of both duck and goose, and of course wine.

The Cotes de GAscogne

The Cotes de Gascogne appellation is slightly inland, nestled behind the pine forests of Les Landes, 5,000 square miles of former marsh, moor and dunefield that was stabilized with maritime pine tree plantations in the early 1800’s. The soils are largely clays and sands with some alluvial gravels. The region is largely devoted to white wines made from the local Colombard, Ugni Blanc (aks Trebbiano over in Italy), Folle Blanche, Petit and Gros Manseng, as well as Sauvignon Blanc. Because of their high acidity and relatively neutral flavors, Colombard Folle Blanche and Ugni are often distilled into the local brandy, Armagnac.

Bernard Magrez

Born in Bordeaux in 1936, Bernard Magrez left school at 16 to begin trading wine. Over the decades, he has built a formidable firm owning no less than forty-three individual domains, including several of Bordeaux’s most famous Crus Classes. In fact, he is the only individual to own 4 separate Cru Classe Chateaux. With properties now all over the world (literally on four continents), a yacht racing team, Magrez has lived his own dream.

Today, Magrez is as active as ever, expanding his portfolio of great wine estates, running his Institut Cultural Bernard Magrez, and the Grand Maison de Bordeaux- a 5-star hotel and restaurant featuring a wine list that includes over 150 Grands Crus Classes Bordeaux… both of which reside at the immaculately restored Chateau Labottiere in the city of Bordeaux.

l’Aurore en Gascogne Douceur deS vignes

At Magrez’ estate in the Cotes de Gascogne, he produces two wines, both of 100% Gros Manseng. The dry version is a classic Cote de Gascogne… dry, crisp and clean.

The Aurore de Gascogne Le Douceur de Vignes, however, is his masterpiece from this estate- lightly sweet (think Vouvray demi-sec), with heady floral aromas and a long delicate finish that sings with the marriage of acidity and light residual sugar. The perfect wine for a lunchtime picnic, for a fruit and cheese board at 3pm, or to accompany a cheese selection at the end of a great dinner.