At Domaine Laougué located in Viella in the Gers, Sylvain Dabadie produces Madiran and Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh wines in an innovative spirit, where the authentic expression of the terroir is based on a reconciliation of tradition and modernity.
The appellations in the foreground
In the Madiran wine region , Domaine Laougué is a well-known name. Its reputation is built on five generations of winemaking expertise. Today, Sylvain Dabadie oversees the family estate, working closely with his father, Pierre Dabadie . The estate's vineyards stretch across hillsides at the crossroads of the Hautes-Pyrénées, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and Gers departments. Although the property straddles the Côtes de Gascogne appellation , winemaking focuses on the two major appellations of this Pyrenean foothills: Madiran for reds and Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh for dry and sweet whites. Great care is taken to respect the terroir and ensure its sustainable development. Certified High Environmental Value ( HVE ), Domaine Laougué also began its organic conversion in 2020.
Tradition served by technicality
Sylvain Dabadie is a determined winemaker whose approach is grounded in solid technical training. Both an oenologist and an agricultural engineer, he maintains a close relationship with the family vineyard, deeply rooted in the terroir's identity and strengthened by innovative and expertly applied techniques. In particular, all vinification is carried out using indigenous yeasts, which the winemaker carefully selects before each harvest. This process perfectly highlights the terroir's authenticity from the outset. The grape varieties, typical of this region of southwest France, include several plots of old vines, some of which were already documented in 1904. Their proven qualities make them a genetic reservoir, ensuring the vineyard's renewal through massal selection . On approximately thirty hectares where maintaining grassy rows is essential, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon form the core of the red wines, while the whites benefit from Petit and Gros Manseng, as well as Petit Courbu . The topography of the plots, combined with the high standards for grape quality, makes hand-harvesting the preferred harvesting technique.
Freshness and fruit in balance
In the cellar, the aging favors the expression of the fruit favored by the reduction of sulphites. The woody which is often required in Madiran wants to be discreet and balanced. A fresh profile distinguishes each range of wine. With in introduction for the reds the Your Nat's, a vat wine to which carbonic maceration gives it its lively and fruity character. On more complex expression paths, plot selections shape the character of Madiran. Clay-silty for the cuvée 19.10. Gravettes for the plot Camy, a majority Tannat married to Cabernets for an 8-month aging period. Clay and limestone for Marty, a 100% Tannat the complexity of which increases over 12 months of aging in new barrels. From " Wines at the top » Arbison, destemmed, macerated, drawn before its meticulous aging in barrels. In Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh dry, L'Orée takes advantage with rarity and finesse of a 100% Small Courbu, fresh and flowery with light woody counterpoints. Talion, a cuvée also rallying Wines at the top, Where the Small Courbu a large majority flirts with the lively bursts of Petit Manseng, aging in demi-muit and absence of sulphite setting the sincere bouquets. Nectar of the appellation in version Soft Pacherenc, the 19.58 in 100% Petit Manseng deploys these powerful aromas concentrated by the late harvests whose syrupy pleasures blend into a tense freshness after aging in barrels.
Domaine Laougué: massal selection and Arbison cuvée