Grape Variety: Duras

Colour: Red

Viticulture came to the Tarn with the Romans, but little is known of the history of Duras.

DNA fingerprinting has recently suggested that with Petit Verdot from Bordeaux, Duras is a parent of the Bastardo port variety. Bastardo is also known as Tressot or Trousseau, thus Duras is also a parent of the Trousseau Gris mutant once common in Californian wine, and also found in the Jura.

A native of Gaillac in particular Duras can be glimpsed in blends: take our jolly Domaine Les Meritz Duras-Cabernet made by Alain Gayrel - a light, juicy fruit-charmed red, something to smack down with the bacon and eggs of a morning - with good sappy acidity and the Gaillac Rouge Cuvée Les Drilles from Domaine d’Escausses (Denis Balaran) which is 75% Duras with some Fer Servadou - this has bright, peppery notes, hints of Seville Orange, bitter cherry and appealing suppleness in the mouth. Robert and Bernard Plageoles make a 100% Duras wine: it is properly rustic but easy-drinking.