Château de Rousse
Jurançon domaine run by Marc and Olivier Labat, with Manseng grapes on south-southeast terraces and wines from dry Sec to sweet Grandes Cuvées.
At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Appellation
- Jurançon
- Main grapes
- Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu
- Range
- Jurançon Sec, Jurançon Doux and Grandes Cuvées
- Dry cuvée
- Château de Rousse Sec
- Defining feature
- Narrow south-southeast terraces arranged in an amphitheatre
The Producer
Since 2000, brothers Marc and Olivier Labat have run Château de Rousse, a Jurançon domaine planted with Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu. Its range covers dry Jurançon Sec, sweet Jurançon Doux and Grandes Cuvées.
The dry wines use Gros Manseng, while the sweeter cuvées bring Petit Manseng and Petit Courbu into the range. Château de Rousse works across the three principal grapes of Jurançon, with the labels separating dry, sweet and Grande Cuvée styles.
Place
At 330 metres, Château de Rousse faces the Pyrenees from Jurançon. The elevation can slow ripening, while the south-southeast orientation supports sunlight on the vines. Harvest takes place from October to December, and hand picking with careful sorting separates the best bunches as they reach the desired stage.
The domaine's ground is argilo-siliceous, with calcareous poudingue bedrock and pebbles at the surface. The clay-rich component can hold water, while the stony and calcareous material helps balance water supply and drainage around the vines.
Wines
Jurançon Sec is the dry wine in the range, Jurançon Doux the sweet style, and Grandes Cuvées the named special cuvées. Château de Rousse Sec is made from Gros Manseng raised in cuve, the French term for a tank.
Peyrolet d'Arrose is a Grande Cuvée with a golden colour and orange reflections. Quatuor doux blends 50% Gros Manseng, 30% Petit Manseng and 20% Courbu, bringing all three principal varieties into one sweet cuvée.
Final Word
Château de Rousse is a Jurançon domaine where Manseng grapes are cultivated on Pyrenees-facing terraces and bottled in dry Sec, sweet Doux and Grandes Cuvées.
Sources
1. [Hachette des Vins: EARL Château de Rousse](https://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/producteurs/35414/earl-ch-de-rousse/) 2. [Vignerons du Jurançon: Château de Rousse](https://www.vins-jurancon.fr/vigneron/18-chateau-de-rousse) 3. [Guide Hachette: Château de Rousse Sec 2017](https://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/les-vins/ch-de-rousse-sec-2017-2019/201921714/)