Domaine Nomboly-Traydou

Domaine Nomboly-Traydou

Leny Samson’s family have been entrenched here since 1683 and their current vineyard extent stands at 6 hectares, at an average altitude of around 250m. On their southwest facing terrace, frost is rarely a problem, but hail can be, and in what is one of the wettest wine regions of France mildew is of course a perennial nuisance. As elsewhere, the climate is warmer than it was a generation ago. In 2023 the fruit from their latest ripening vines was picked in mid September, whereas 25 years ago it would have been harvested in mid October. Picking dates are crucial ; too late and you risk having too much alcohol, too soo soon and you will have too much acidity. Only Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng are planted here. (For the Jurancon A.C. you are obliged to have a minimum of 50% of either of these key varieties.) They bottle two different dry versions of Jurancon. The one titled ‘Jusqu’ici tout va bien’ is made from 100% Gros Manseng, while the other one, ‘Quelques gouttes suffisent’ is pure Petit Manseng. Both show the attractive green colour tint in the glass and delicate, intriguing, complex fruit aromas and flavours.The Petit Manseng wine gets 100% barrel fermentation and ageing on the lees. Ths smaller berries with thicker skins provied higher concentration fo flavour. The Gros Manseng wine is fermented in old concrete tanks and is none the worse for that since it retains perfect freshness. The Jurancon  ‘Moment Present’ is a classic example of the sweet version of Jurancon, more ‘moelleux’ than ‘doux’.