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On the steep slopes overlooking the Béarn plain, facing the Pyrenees mountain range, Domaine Naba embodies a contemporary, precise and deeply respectful vision of the Jurançon vineyard. Here, wine is not made by showing off or seeking opulence, but by a keen understanding of terroir, maturity and the natural balance of grape varieties. The domaine is part of this generation of winemakers who have chosen to give Jurançon back all its nobility, not by accentuating richness, but by revealing the tension, freshness and ageing capacity specific to this mountain vineyard.
The Domaine Naba is led by Jean-Baptiste Semmartin, a committed and discreet winemaker originally from Béarn, who shaped his project after several experiences outside the region. His return to Jurançon was accompanied by a clear determination to work on a human scale, favoring the most demanding slopes and producing wines that fully express the dialogue between mountain, climate and grape. The estate remains deliberately confidential, with parcels scattered across different sectors of the appellation, each worked as a living, autonomous entity.
The Domaine Naba vineyard is part of Jurançon's spectacular geography, where vines cling to sometimes vertiginous slopes. The soils here are complex, blending poudingues, galets roulés, argiles, sables fauves and limestone veins, offering natural drainage and a great diversity of expression. These soils force the vines to plunge their roots deep, naturally limiting vigor and favoring aromatic concentration.
The climate is a major player in the identity of our wines. The oceanic influence brings humidity and mildness, while the immediate proximity of the Pyrenees generates marked thermal amplitudes and regular winds, essential for sanitizing the vines and prolonging ripening. This unique combination enables the grapes to gain in richness while retaining high acidity, a fundamental element in the balance of the estate's Jurançon wines.
.The petit manseng occupies a central place in the vineyard, complemented by the gros manseng, grape varieties perfectly adapted to these extreme conditions, able to withstand rain, wind and late ripening without losing their energy.
At Domaine Naba, the vines are worked with an approach close to organic farming, guided by daily observation rather than the application of set recipes. The soils are maintained mechanically to preserve their structure and microbial life, interventions are reasoned, and the naturally low yields of the hillside are accepted as a condition of quality.
The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand, often in several passes. This practice is essential, particularly for sweet Jurançon, in order to harvest the grapes at the precise moment when the balance between sugar concentration, aromatic ripeness and acidity is achieved. The estate favors slow, gradual ripening, never forced, an essential condition for producing legible, long-lasting wines.
The winemaking philosophy at Domaine Naba is based on a simple idea: never constrain the wine. Fermentations are slow, often using indigenous yeasts, to preserve the identity of the grape and terroir. Temperatures are controlled, extractions non-existent for whites, and ageing adapted to each cuvée.
Wood, when used, is used sparingly, only to structure and round out the material, never to impose an aromatic signature. Time plays a central role in the development of the wines, some requiring long months of ageing to find their balance. The domaine accepts this slowness as a matter of course, convinced that correctness can never be achieved in a hurry.
The Dry Jurançon from Domaine Naba expresses a straightforward, chiseled vision of the appellation. The nose opens with notes of fresh citrus, crisp pear, white flowers and wet stone. The palate is taut, slender, carried by precise acidity that stretches the wine and underlines its minerality. The clean, slightly saline finish prolongs the sensation of freshness. This is a well-balanced wine, destined for the table, which naturally accompanies fish, seafood and fine cuisine.
The cuvée Brana embodies a fine, luminous reading of sweet Jurançon, where the natural richness of petit manseng is expressed without ever tipping over into excess. Produced from late-harvested grapes on well-exposed slopes, this cuvée favors gradual, patient ripening, allowing the berries to concentrate their sugars while retaining a structuring acidity. On the nose, Brana develops clean, elegant aromas marked by ripe apricot, fresh mango, orange zest and a floral touch reminiscent of acacia. With aeration, more subtle notes of light honey and delicate candied fruit emerge. The palate stands out for its immediate balance: the attack is ample but never heavy, carried by a constant tension that lengthens the wine and refines the sensation of sweetness. The long, precise finish leaves a lingering impression of freshness, the signature of Domaine Naba's terroir and style. Brana is a gourmet Jurançon moelleux, capable of being enjoyed young for its aromatic brilliance, but also of gaining complexity with a few years of cellaring.
The cuvée Milord represents a deeper, more concentrated expression of sweet Jurançon, resulting from more thorough selections and more advanced ripening. The grapes, mostly Petit Manseng, are harvested at a stage when the aromatic concentration reaches a remarkable intensity, sometimes under the influence of natural over-ripeness and slight passerillage. Milord's nose is dense and complex, revealing aromas of candied exotic fruit, roasted pineapple, quince paste and citrus marmalade, complemented by notes of deep honey, beeswax and a subtle spicy touch. The palate is full-bodied, almost tactile, but perfectly held together by a lively acidity that structures the whole and prevents any heaviness. The sweetness, more pronounced than on Brana, is integrated with great precision, giving the wine remarkable depth and length. The finish is long and drawn out, leaving a lingering sensation of ripe fruit and mineral freshness. Milord is a wine for meditation and ageing, capable of evolving over many years into even more complex expressions, while retaining the balance that characterizes great sweet Jurançon.
The Domaine Naba takes a resolutely sincere approach to Jurançon, far removed from the caricatures of overly rich or overly demonstrative wines. The wines focus on balance, clarity and the ability to stand the test of time. They tell the story of a demanding mountain vineyard, a contrasting climate and the patient work of a winemaker attentive to every detail.
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The Brana 2024 cuvée from Domaine Naba is a fresh, airy Jurançon moelleux. This organic wine from the Southwest develops aromas of yellow and candied fruits; the palate is fresh, balanced thanks to that welcome touch of acidity; finish on notes of citrus and apricots.
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The Cuvée Milord from Domaine Naba is a magnificent sweet Jurançon made from 100% Petit Manseng grapes. The nose develops aromas of white flowers and candied fruit; the palate is round, greedy, with a hint of acidity accompanied by long-lasting floral and citrus aromas.
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