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Discover the Depth & Distinction of the Jurançon
Domaine Barrère Clos de la Vierge 2024
6 bottles – $209.94 $149.94 ($24.99 per bottle)
12 bottles – $419.88 $275.88 ($22.99 per bottle)
Established by the Barrère family in the early 1900s, Domaine Barrère resembles most winery estates in the Jurançon, an area of southwest France that runs just 25-or-so miles through the Pyrenees foothills.
It’s less than nine acres, with walled vineyards that scale hillsides in neat horseshoe-shaped rows. And Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng—indigenious white grapes with thick skins, high acidity and high sugar levels that made the region famous for sweet, golden-hued bottlings—are the heartbeat of it all.
Unlike most however, its sister-proprietors Christiane and the late Anne-Marie Barrère had used the fruit to make small lots of stunning dry, terroir-driven wines for the last 50 or so years. (In fact, their father was instrumental in achieving national recognition of the style.)
Production was sold almost entirely to locals until 2023, when Domaine Barrère became our first white wine Vineyard Partner with its coveted all-Gros Manseng cuvée, Clos de la Vierge. It was a near-instant bestseller and has now sold out upon release the last two years in a row.
The next release, from 2024, has finally arrived and represents a new chapter for the estate, now under the direction of winemaker Damiens Sartori.
Clos, at a crossroads
If you ask Damiens, there’s no simple way to explain why the Jurançon or Domaine Barrère are so special.
“You have to see and feel it,” he says. “It’s all about vibrations—the terroir, the indigenous grapes, the climate.”
Damiens joined the sisters just over a decade ago to support them as they aged and inched toward retirement. But when Anne-Marie passed away suddenly, he jumped in without hesitation to steer the whole undertaking.
“I paid close attention, following Anne- Marie’s direction for years,” he says. “Our philosophy has always been the same, so it was not difficult to take over.”
That “philosophy” is simple: spend a lot of time in the vines and do all they can to preserve the natural expression of this exceptional place.
“About 90% of the job is done by the vineyard,” says Damiens. “We have the luck to have very old vines, the youngest planted in 1992. So in the cellar, we just try to respect the quality of the fruit...check that everything is alright.”
A long-awaited gem
This release marks Damiens’s first vintage at the helm. As always, it’s nervy, layered and delicious as ever, made entirely from one favored plot (or carré, as shown on the label) of Gros Manseng.
“It was a comparatively cool year, so the wine is really fresh,” says Damiens. “It has a nice soft yellow color, with a brightness around the edges. Its nose is full of exotic fruits and a bit of vanilla, its palate is incredibly refreshing.
“If you know how to wait, its evolution in bottle will be really nice... but we’ll have to talk about that in three years from now!”
The best way to secure a taste before it sells out is to become a Vineyard Partner. You won’t just be guaranteed access to the 2024, you’ll receive an allocation of six or 12 bottles each May thereafter, always at the best price. You’ll also get regular vineyard updates, VIP experiences at the estate, priority event access and more. And best of all, you’ll help Damiens, Christiane and the rest of the small dedicated team behind each vine, grape and bottle to thrive.
As a Vineyard Partner, you will...
ENJOY RARE ACCESS
Receive guaranteed allocations of exceptional wine—always at the best possible price. Help a vineyard thrive, and in some cases, survive.
CHAMPION TRUE TALENTS
Knowing that they have dedicated supporters allows more precious time to be spent on winemaking (less on sales and marketing).
UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE PERKS
Guaranteed savings, Vineyard updates, VIP experiences at the winery with advance notice, Early access to events & more
become a partner today
Choose 6 or 12 bottles for your first shipment. Then, each following year in May, 6-bottle partnerships will receive 6 bottles of the new vintage at $149.94, while 12-bottle partnerships will receive 12 bottles at $275.88. You’re free to cancel any time.
