Domaine DIDIER DAGUENEAU

Dagueneau, king of Pouilly

Domaine Didier Dagueneau is one of those great names in French wine that can't be forgotten. Masterfully led by Didier Dagueneau until his tragic death in a microlight accident in 2008, the vineyard is now run by Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau.

Domaine Didier Dagueneau is a behemoth of Pouilly-Fumé, and more generally of white wine in the Loire region, if not in France. Son Louis-Benjamin has risen to the challenge of the family succession and was voted winemaker of the year in 2016 by Revue du Vin de France.

Didier Dagueneau started out as a sportsman with a career in sidecars, then an apprentice winemaker who learned his trade in Sauvignon Blanc blends on Pouilly-Fumé terroirs. After some reflection, he decided to switch to plot-based vinification in Pouilly.

From then on, Didier Dagueneau began to make a name for himself, producing the sublime cuvées Silex and "Pur-Sang". At the time, Pouilly wines were still considered little Sancerre, but thanks to Didier Dagueneau's rigor, technical skills and innovative spirit, the estate's white wines offer an incomparable richness and straightforwardness of terroir expression.

Back to Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau, who now runs an estate with a state-of-the-art winery, three weather stations and one employee per hectare (the estate comprises eleven hectares planted exclusively with white grapes).

Not satisfied with the excellence of its work in Pouilly, Domaine Dagueneau has also exported its business to the South-West, where it farms 3 hectares of Petit Manseng in AOP Jurançon. The vines are planted on terraces and vinified under the evocative name of "Jardins de Babylone".

In the vineyard, work is done by hand and as few non-natural products as possible are used. At harvest time, no fewer than 50 to 70 pickers are dedicated to gathering perfectly ripe grapes in express time. A great wine requires not only great passion, but also masterful technical skills and rigor!

The wines

On the wine side, we're going to find several cuvées of surprising quality.

Les Jardins de Babylone (Jurançon) presents a smoky mineral touch and airy character that counterbalance the endemic mellowness. Tasting this wine transports you to the world of Jurançon late harvests, while retaining a drinkable tonicity.

Le Pur-Sang (Pouilly-Fumé) is an intense white wine that balances fruit and substance, while giving a sense of terroir. White flowers, spices, citrus, exotic fruits... so many aromas that burst forth and captivate your senses!

Le Buisson Renard(Pouilly-Fumé) is a dense, dynamic wine. Its aromas blend citrus, flowers and remarkable freshness. Its balance is powerful and tight, a juicy fruit that thrills.