If you aren't yet acquainted with the Côtes du Marmandais, you're in the right place! Elian Da Ros was the one of the first wine makers to leave the area's cooperative in 1997, when he struck out on his own to make wine on his own terms. The appellation now counts 8 producers among its number and has begun to see some real success. Not far from Bordeaux, this region in the South-West is distinguished by its climate, its terroirs and its grape varieties, most notably Abouriou. Our wine maker is the grandson of an Italian migrant who came to France when farms were in need of labourers, and the family gradually bought their own land. Elian's father dedicated himself to vine-growing, which gave Elian a taste for that world from an early age. He formed his desire to make wine soon after and this goal never left him. Trained at Domaine Zind Humbrecht in Alsace, he returned to the family land in 1997. He left the cooperative, buying some new vines and selling others, before building his winery. His wines very quickly made their way to the top of the appellation, flavoursome and characterised by beautiful fruit.

Abouriou is THE grape variety of the Côtes du Marmandais. According to Elian Da Ros, it has always been underestimated, but this wine maker found it to be especially characterful, on the one hand floral and spicy, and strong in its tannic profile on the other. After ten years of attempts, perhaps the first real success for this variety was produced, with a cuvée vinified in whole bunches. Locally, this grape is known as the “beaujolais”, though the origins of this are a bit of mystery. “It’s likely due to the spicy structure, though its overall profile is far-removed from the Gamay we find in the Beaujolais.” All of this is to say that Elian Da Ros, pioneer of the Côtes du Marmandais, has made a truly unique cuvée. It is made of 90% Abouriou and 10% Merlot to balance it out a bit. In the end, Elian decided to vinify this cuvée in the “Beaujolais-style” in order to better bring out its aromas.