TARIQUET

The rich history of Le Tariquet began at the beginning of the 20th century when the young Artaud, originally from the Ariège village of Ercé in the Pyrenean foothills, returned to France after a journey to other countries. Having lived in the United States for more than 20 years, this bear catcher and tamer returned to his country in 1912 to find a place to live out his remaining years. He discovered Château Tariquet in the small village of Eauze, in the Gers department, and fell in love with it. With his son Jean-Pierre Artaud, who had returned from New York, he bought the estate.

The acquisition of Domaine Tariquet marks the beginning of the Artaud-Grassa family saga, as Jean-Pierre and his wife Pauline gave birth to Hélène, and Hélène, in turn, married Pierre Grassa. The couple restored the property after the phylloxera crisis decimated the vines, of which only 7 hectares remained. The couple gave the property its viticultural vocation back to produce Bas-Armagnac.

Since then, four generations of Grassa have succeeded one another in running the Tariquet estate, which covers more than 1,000 hectares and has become an emblematic figure in the South West region. Renowned for its range of Armagnacs, this winery is equally renowned for its surprising collection of dry and sweet white wines. Wines of remarkable quality, with a fruity taste and incomparable freshness!

Domaine Tariquet was one of the first wineries to produce aromatic white wines. The result of perseverance and patience, these wines are the first success story of the family. Combining liveliness and elegance, Tariquet wines surprise with their taste and their excellent value for money. Playing the conviviality card, these nectars defined as "friends' wines" are all the rage at aperitif time, especially with young people.

Better known for its white wines, the Château du Tariquet originally only produced Armagnac. The entire harvest was used for the production of this amber-coloured brandy with powerful aromas. However, in 1982, a year in which the armagnac market was in its infancy, the Grassa family took a risky gamble. During this period, when only the white wines of the Loire and Burgundy were recognised for their quality, the family decided to develop the estate and diversify its products with white wine.

While white wine was highly sulphited and known to give headaches, the Grassas devoted part of the estate's Ugni Blanc to making white wine. In addition, the family pushed the adventure even further by cultivating grape varieties that were not very popular in the region and by testing new blends such as Chardonnay and Chenin or Chardonnay and Sauvignon. Their first wine, called Classic, was a success and contributed greatly to the reputation of Côtes de Gascogne throughout the world.

The commercial success of the Domaine du Tariquet began with the launch of the Classic cuvée. Like the wines classified as IGP Côtes de Gascogne, this nectar is a light, fresh and fruity wine with a low alcohol content. Evolving over time, this cuvée was first made using only Ugni Blanc before being enhanced with Colombard, Sauvignon and Gros Manseng.

However, Domaine Tariquet also owes its success and worldwide fame to the Premières Grives vintage. This mellow wine, with a gourmet and fruity palate, is made from Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng grapes. Offering a fruity aromatic palette (citrus and exotic fruits and fresh grapes), it is appreciated for its combination of a beautiful smoothness and an intense freshness on the palate.

Distributed in over 60 countries, Tariquet white wines are among the most exported in the world; a success that is not about to stop thanks to the rigorous work of Armin and Rémy, the fourth generation of the Grassa family. To achieve this, they rely on innovative winemaking methods and a large production, designed for international export. In addition, their intelligent and efficient marketing and the excellent value for money of their wines are major assets in maintaining the worldwide reputation of their brand.

At Tariquet, all desires are fulfilled. Lovers of dry or sweet white wines will surely find what they are looking for in the particularly wide range of this wine estate.

Looking for a supple and fruity dry white wine? The Classic and Reserve cuvées are perfect. The first seduces with its intensity on the nose with floral aromas, citrus notes and beautiful exotic nuances. On the palate, it is tonic, crisp and very fresh. The second one exhales complex and melted aromas between fruity notes (yellow peach and exotic fruits) and vanilla notes of wood. With its floral notes combined with spicy and citrus scents, the Côté vintage also has everything to please. Fresh and elegant in the mouth, it reveals both the roundness of the Chardonnay and the mineral character of the Sauvignon.

For those who prefer full-bodied and classy dry white wines, the Tête de Cuvée Chardonnay is more suitable. Intense and elegant on the nose, this wine reveals vanilla and exotic notes (fresh pineapple and coconut milk). On the palate, it offers a pleasant freshness with fruity notes (yellow peach, mango and dried apricot) and a persistent finish, both rich and lively.

More interested in a sweet white wine? The Premières Grives cuvée is a safe bet. Produced only in the best years, this sweet wine, made from grapes picked at over-ripeness, is appreciated for its great finesse and for its remarkable balance between sugar and acidity.