DOMAINE DE SOUCH

Laroin, Jurançon

Yvonne Hegoburu, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 95, was living proof that it is never too late to follow your winemaking dreams. It all started when Yvonne and her husband René purchased 16 hectares of land in the Jurançon region in southwest France. The couple lived together in the small hilltop village of Laroin until 1987, when René unexpectedly passed away. Yvonne recalled how the duo would fervently discuss their winemaking dreams; in her husband’s honor, she decided to pursue viticulture for the first time at the age of 60. Today, Domaine de Souch is comprised of 7 hectares of biodynamically farmed vines, which have been certified since 1994.

Yvonne was taken by biodynamics early on. She believed that farming without herbicides and pesticides is the truest and most honest form of winemaking. The vines are double guyot trained and rooted into flinty clay soils. All fruit is hand-harvested and comes from south-facing vines grown at 1,000+ feet above sea level. The vineyards are mostly dedicated to Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng, two of southwest France’s most well-known varieties.

Yvonne herself said it best in the acclaimed documentary, Mondovino: “I planted vines when my husband died. Ever since then, all this love inside me, I give it to the vines. I talk to them. I have an exchange with them. I ask them to drive their roots deep down into the soil to get the best from the land.” Yvonne worked the vines tirelessly until 2014, when she handed over the operation of the domaine to her son Jean-René, who continues to make wine in the style of his mother to this day. We are inspired by the Hegoburu family’s robust work ethic and passion for honest viticulture as the domaine continues into the next generation.

Domaine Overview

Winemaker: Hegoburu Family

First year at Domaine: 1989

Winemaking Style: Traditional/Low intervention

Name of Domaine: Caves Cooperatives Chavost

Year Founded: 1946

Location: Laroin, Jurançon

Total HA: 6.8 ha

Number of Workers: 5

Grapes: Petit Manseng (70%), Gros Manseng (20%), Petit Courbu (10%)

Farming: Biodynamic (certified)

Bottles produced/year: 15,000

Wines

  • Region: Southwest

    Appellation: Jurançon

    Color: White

    Grapes: 60% Gros Manseng, 30% Petit Manseng, 10% Courbu

    Soil/Terroir: Limestone and iron-rich clay soils at around 350m just outside of Pau. From the south-southwest facing vines.

    Average Vine Age: 15-20 years

    Farming Practices: Biodynamic (certified) since 1994.

    Vinification: After hand harvesting, the grapes are fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. SO2 is added after the pressing to block malo.

    Aging: Aged for 6 months in stainless steel tanks. The wine does not go through malolactic fermentation.

    Fining/Filtration: none

    SO2: small amounts added at pressing and before bottling.

    Alc/Vol: 13.5%

  • Region: Southwest

    Appellation: Jurançon

    Color: White (sweet)

    Grapes: 50% Gros Manseng, 50% Petit Manseng

    Soil/Terroir: Limestone and iron-rich clay soils at around 350m just outside of Pau. From the south-southwest facing vines.

    Average Vine Age: 15-20 years

    Farming Practices: Biodynamic (certified) since 1994.

    Vinification: After hand harvesting, the grapes are fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. SO2 is added after the pressing to block malo.

    Aging: Aged for 6 months in stainless steel tanks. The wine does not go through malolactic fermentation.

    Fining/Filtration: none

    SO2: small amounts added at pressing and before bottling.

    Alc/Vol: 13.5%

  • Region: Southwest

    Appellation: Jurançon

    Color: White

    Grapes: 60% Gros Manseng, 30% Petit Manseng, 10% Courbu

    Soil/Terroir: Limestone and iron-rich clay soils at around 350m just outside of Pau. From the south-southwest facing plot directly in front of the main house.

    Average Vine Age: 35 years

    Farming Practices: Biodynamic (certified) since 1994.

    Vinification: After hand harvesting, the grapes are fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. SO2 is added after the pressing to block malo.

    Aging: Aged for 6 months in used Bordeaux barrels, then 4 months in tank before bottling. The wine does not go through malolactic

    Fining/Filtration: none

    SO2: small amounts added at pressing and before bottling.

    Alc/Vol: 13.5%

  • Region: Southwest

    Appellation: Jurançon

    Color: White (sweet)

    Grapes: 55% Gros Manseng, 45% Petit Manseng

    Soil/Terroir: Limestone and iron-rich clay soils at around 350m just outside of Pau. From the south-southwest facing plot directly in front of the main house.

    Average Vine Age: 35 years

    Farming Practices: Biodynamic (certified) since 1994.

    Vinification: After hand harvesting in late october, the grapes are fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. SO2 is added after the pressing to block malo.

    Aging: Aged for 6 months in stainless steel tanks. The wine does not go through malolactic fermentation.

    Fining/Filtration: none

    SO2: small amounts added at pressing and before bottling.

    Alc/Vol: 13.5%

    Notes: This wine is the signature cuvée of the domaine. It was first produced in 1989 as a tribute to Yvonne’s late husband.