Domaine Cauhapé

The location of Domaine Cauhapé

The name Domaine Cauhapé comes from the land of "Caussapé", which means foot warmer in Bearnais. The first vines planted there date back to 1558. Since then, the winegrowers of the region have continued to produce dry and sweet Jurançon wines, following the example of Henri Ramonteu, the current owner of Domaine Cauhapé.

The Domaine Cauhapé vineyard

Located in the Béarn region, very close to Pau, the Domaine Cauhapé vineyard extends over 47 hectares of hillsides, generously exposed to the south-east. Henri Ramonteu has chosen to explore forgotten grape varieties, such as Camaralet or Lauzet, which are giving birth to a new generation of dry Jurançon.

The more classic grape varieties are not left out, such as Petit Manseng which contributes as much to the elaboration of sweet wines as to dry wines. Gros Manseng and Courbu complete the plots, bringing fruitiness as well as finesse.

The soil is predominantly clay. The hillsides are on steep slopes and benefit from a south, south-east exposure. The highest plots reach an altitude of 400 metres.

All the work at Domaine Cauhapé is carried out by hand: trellising, de-budding, de-leafing and harvesting. The latter are carried out using small crates which preserve the berries until they reach the press and the sorting table.

The winery is equipped to the highest standard, with pneumatic presses and a stainless steel vat room. The harvest is almost entirely vinified in oak barrels (80%). The new barrels are reserved for the very top of the range vintages.

The wines of Domaine Cauhapé

La Canopée - Dry Jurançon

The La Canopée cuvée is produced using only Petit Manseng, always picked at high maturity. The wine has an elegant golden colour. The nose is complex and varied. It begins with musky, then spicy impressions, before moving on to smells of sultanas, quince and medlar, then finishing with pineapple and candied apples.

The palate is generous and nervous. It overflows with notes of ripe fruit, spices and honey. It finishes with an explosion of flavours, dominated by citrus. Domaine Cauhapé Canopée can be kept for up to 10 years. It is suitable for savoury cooking with apples or fish with citrus sauce.

The Ballet d'Octobre - Sweet Jurançon

Ballet d'Octobre evokes a wonderful fruit basket. Produced only with Petit Manseng from south-east facing clay-silica plots, it is a wine with exotic flavours.

The nose is intense, filled with citrus, exotic fruit and gingerbread. The palate is round and crisp. The Ballet d'Octobre from Domaine de Cauhapé goes well with anchoïade and houmous spread on toast. It is also ideal for sweet and sour dishes. Ballet d'Octobre can be kept for 5 years.