Domaine Franco-Chinois Petit Manseng 2017 (375ml)

91 / 100

Edward Ragg, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Franco Chinois’s 2017 Petit Manseng has a deep amber appearance. On the nose, there is lifted and attractive dried quince, red apple, peach with that naturally "spiced" character of the variety (clove, nutmeg) as well as some tertiary honey and slight nuttiness. On the palate, the 2017 Domaine Franco Chinois Petit Manseng is full-bodied, sweet—some 204 grams per liter of residual sugar in the 2017—with the naturally lifting acidity of the variety and well-integrated, moderate alcohol (12.5%). There’s an attractive core of dried Petit Manseng fruit with more of that quince, red apple and "spice baked fruit" character. This is a step up in quality from the 2016 vintage, but it doesn’t quite match the depth and concentration of the 2014. With its longer, if not very long, length, the 2017 is drinking well now but will also improve in bottle over the next 3-5 years. This is still one of China’s best sweet Petit Mansengs, and it is fascinating to see the vintage variation effect.