Domaine Didier Dagueneau - Vin de France - XXI - Blanc - 2021

Wine:

Due to a severe frost that devastated various parts of his vineyard, Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau decided to combine his 2021 harvest into a single, unique cuvée. The 2021 white Vin de France XXI offers a fresh balance, with noble vegetal notes that have become rare in recent years. Moreover, it possesses an extremely tasty richness and a delicate texture grain supported by beautiful bitters, all nourished by meticulous aging in wooden barrels and ovoid wooden tanks. Patience is required, as it will take five to six years to relax and open up. There is no doubt that it will evolve serenely for more than fifteen years. Rated 94/100 by RVF.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels and ovoid wooden vats.

The estate's one and only wine in 2021, due to a terrible frost that devastated various parts of its vineyards.

Color:

Bright light gold.

Nose:

Noble herbal notes, hints of gentian.

Palate:

With its great purity, this wine offers fresh balance, extremely tasty fullness, noble oak and a delicate texture carried by beautiful bitters.

Temperature:

Serve between 10 and 12°C. Decant before serving.

Food and wine pairing:

Lobster au gratin with tarragon butter, langoustines in tempura, roasted turbot, curried sweetbreads, goat cheeses such as the famous Crottin de Chavignol.

Cellar aging:

Starting today, ideally from 2028 onwards, until 2038 and beyond for enthusiasts.

A true icon of the Jurançon, Les Jardins de Babylone is widely regarded as one of the region’s most exceptional wines. This tiny 3.2-hectare estate, discovered by Didier Dagueneau 20 years ago, is carved into the terraced slopes of Aubertin and has earned a reputation for the distinctive vibrancy of its wines. Today, Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau is fully committed to raising this confidential production to its highest expression.

These wines are unforgettable: extraordinary fruit expression, dazzling freshness, beautifully balanced acidity, and remarkable length. Low in alcohol yet full of finesse, they offer astonishing aromatic precision. This level of purity is the result of meticulous hand-harvesting in successive passes, followed by fermentation in new oak using a mix of 320-liter “cigars” and 600-liter tonneaux.

Every aspect is masterfully handled. Louis-Benjamin continues his father’s artisanal legacy with elegance and precision, carrying forward a vision of excellence that we previously featured in Racines magazine.

Almost never available to private buyers and typically reserved for top restaurants, these wines are traded discreetly, and only a fortunate few ever get the chance to experience them.