Sometimes it doesn't take much to pique my interest. That was the case with this 2011 Domaine Nigri Confluence from Jurancon region of southwest France when I realized it was made of three grape varieties that I had not tasted before. The wine was 80% Gros Manseng, 10% Camaralet and 10% Lauzet. I was aware of Gros Manseng from having had wines made from its cousin Petit Manseng, but the other two were totally new to me.
The color in the wine was a very pale gold and the aromas were pineapple spring rain. The pineapple was there in the taste. The nose had led me to expect a sweetish and ripe taste but what I got was the flavor of pineapple with almost no sweetness. There was also some honeydew melon aromas and flavors. A little swirling and some waiting and the wine never did move from that profile. Moderate acid and a small amount of tannin were present. This was a nicely balanced wine.
Dinner was a chicken breast baked in parchment paper with some thyme, rosemary and goat cheese in the wrapper. This wasn't the best match for the wine as this dish could have used a touch more acid, but the wine was still quite tasty. On the second day it remained constant except that the acid seemed to have increased a little.
Interesting wine and one I liked. There are two more bottles to experiment with as far as matching it with food, but I'll give them a few months before trying another one.
Domaine Nigri Confluence. 13% alcohol and $18.
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