BKWine Pick: Domaine de Ferrand, Côtes de Duras

Côtes de Duras

Côtes de Duras is today perhaps a not very well know district, located only 45 km from Saint Emilion, but that may well change. There are many similarities with St Emilion, both regarding the grape varieties used and the wine styles. What is very different, though, are the prices. Here you will pay substantially less than in Bordeaux for wines that are in many cases equal in quality. Here are some growers that we can recommend:

Domaine de Ferrand, Côtes de Duras

Denis and Marie-Thérèse Vuillion were getting close to retirement and started to think of what to do with “the rest” of their life. They found the answer in a 13 ha vineyard in Côtes de Duras. As part of the deal they also got 9 ha of plum trees (the region is well known for its “pruneaux d’Agen”, dried plums). “Duras might be a small appellation”, says Denis, “but there are great variations in terroir, which makes it interesting to aim for quality wines. And even if the appellations are not well known when people come here and taste they are very positive”. Tasting their different wines my attention was particularly caught by an aromatic Sauvignon Blanc 2005 with good length in the mouth (3.50 euro), a red unpretentious Domaine de Ferrand 2005, entirely without oak aging, with lots of fruit but with a nice tannic touch at the finish (4 euro), and a sweet Moelleux 2005 made from late-harvested grapes partially affected by botrytis (noble rot). Very good with aromas of honey and a refreshing acidity (8 euro).

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