Léonce Vermouth
Founded in 1999 by François Lurton, Pardela Wines specializes in distributing wines from around the world.
The "Spirits" project began when François Lurton launched his range of innovative vermouths and gins, made from wines produced on his vineyards .
Our mission is to distribute in France the spirits produced by François Lurton and our partner houses within the craft spirits sector. We represent partner producers with a philosophy similar to that of François Lurton: expertise, passion, and the pursuit of perfect balance.
These encounters and our shared philosophy naturally led us to forge partnerships with skilled and engaging individuals, all of whom have created spirits with a "reason for being ." This might stem from the story they tell, their unique character, their production methods, their innovative nature, or simply the pleasure they provide.
The Pardela, our symbol, is a migratory bird of the southern hemisphere. Traveling tirelessly from one continent to another, it seemed to perfectly reflect our work of searching for the best spirits across all the continents that we regularly taste and visit.
Terroir
After the launch of their first premium distilled gin, Sorgin, Sabine and François Lurton are back with the Léonce range of vermouths.
Each vermouth expresses a particular terroir and enhances François' favorite grape varieties : Sauvignon Blanc in Gascony (France), Maury in Roussillon (France) and Malbec from Chacayes (Argentina).
The Léonce range of vermouths is a tribute to Léonce Récapet, great-grandfather of François Lurton , an inventive distiller, hard worker and true pioneer.
Vermouth is an aperitif made from fortified wine and flavored with a selection of plants , and depending on the region and country of production, there are different grape varieties used for its production.
Drawing on this family expertise, enriched by the winemaker's experience, these vermouths , conceived like wines , elegantly and subtly link the world of wine and the world of spirits.
Léonce Extra Dry White Vermouth
The Les Fumées Blanches estate is located in the Gascony region of southwestern France, an area particularly renowned for Armagnac. In 1997, François Lurton and his brother Jacques recognized the potential of this previously unknown terroir, ideal for cultivating and expressing the true character of Sauvignon Blanc.
Les Fumées Blanches takes its name from the morning mists, a consequence of the significant temperature differences between night and day, which drift like white smoke over the vines on the foothills. These mists offer protection from the harsh southern French sun for part of the day.
Extra Dry White Vermouth
This vermouth, conceived like a wine, elegantly and subtly expresses all the complexity of François' favorite grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc. Léonce Extra Dry Sauvignon Blanc is made using a base of Sauvignon Blanc wine from our Domaine des Fumées Blanches vineyard. Fortified with Sauvignon Blanc brandy, the wine is then enriched with botanicals through maceration or the blending of distillates.
The botanicals are citrus fruits (peppermint peel, bitter orange, mandarin, yellow and green lemon), lychee, violet, licorice, mugwort and sage.
Appearance: Its golden color reveals all the purity of the Sauvignon Blanc.
Nose: Initially an explosive nose of citrus (pink grapefruit, lemon, orange zest) followed by notes of violet and sage.
Palate: A round and expressive palate with notes of lychee and bitter orange with a gentle bitterness on the finish with notes of licorice and wormwood.
Enjoy it chilled, neat, on the rocks or with a premium tonic. Léonce will elevate your cocktails, such as the Spritz (6cl Léonce / 4cl Sparkling Wine / 2cl Sparkling Water) or the Nuit Blanche (4cl Sorgin Gin / 4cl Léonce).
Reviews
Léonce Maury Red Vermouth
For more than 25 years, François has been cultivating the terroirs of Maury and Tautavel in Roussillon on his Mas Janeil property.
He chose a naturally sweet wine that he produces, Maury, as the heart of Léonce Rouge for a new expression of know-how in Roussillon.
At the foot of the Corbières mountains , in the heart of the Agly Valley terroir, lies Mas Janeil . Thirty-four hectares of vines planted on a wide variety of soils , with different exposures, produce grapes of exceptional quality , which are then vinified with precision at the Mas. For over 25 years, François has been making wines without artifice, following sustainable farming practices that respect the vines, blending innovation and tradition.
The Maury PDO has protected the region's unique expertise in producing naturally sweet wines since 1936. The winemaking process is stopped mid-fermentation by the addition of alcohol, which leaves a residual sugar in the wine—a natural sugar. The fortified wines are then aged in oak barrels.
Maury Red Vermouth
For more than 25 years, François has been cultivating the terroirs of Maury and Tautavel in Roussillon on his Mas Janeil property.
He chose a naturally sweet wine that he produces, Maury, as the heart of Léonce Rouge for a new expression of know-how in Roussillon.
At the foot of the Corbières mountains , in the heart of the Agly Valley terroir, lies Mas Janeil . Thirty-four hectares of vines planted on a wide variety of soils , with different exposures, produce grapes of exceptional quality , which are then vinified with precision at the Mas. For over 25 years, François has been making wines without artifice, following sustainable farming practices that respect the vines, blending innovation and tradition.
The Maury PDO has protected the region's unique expertise in producing naturally sweet wines since 1936. The winemaking process is stopped mid-fermentation by the addition of alcohol, which leaves a residual sugar in the wine—a natural sugar. The fortified wines are then aged in oak barrels.
For over 20 years, François has been showcasing the best of the Languedoc-Roussillon terroir on his estates. He chose Maury, a naturally sweet wine appellation, as the heart of Léonce Rouge. This vermouth is conceived like a wine, with a blend of several Maury vintages that expresses the complexity and richness of this unique Roussillon terroir and perfectly balances its aromas.
Naturally sweet, Maury is then enriched with distillates. These are natural extracts of citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, lemon), Mediterranean herbs (hyssop, blessed charcoal, germander, etc.), spices (juniper, star anise, tonka bean, bird's eye chili, etc.), and aromatic plants (verbena, angelica, cornflower, elecampane, wormwood, etc.) obtained through maceration or distillation. Léonce possesses a unique character while remaining true to the tradition of French vermouths.
Eye: A beautiful purple dress.
Nose: A typical Maury nose of ripe fruit enhanced by a spicy touch (star anise), an explosion of citrus followed by vegetal notes (sage/hyssop)
Palate: A full and round palate where peppery and spicy notes are balanced with the natural tannins of Maury. A complex and persistent finish of chili pepper and bitter orange.
Enjoy it chilled, neat, on the rocks, or with a premium tonic. Léonce will elevate your classic cocktails, such as the Negroni (3cl Léonce Rouge / 3cl Sorgin Gin / 3cl Bitter) or the Americano (3cl Léonce Rouge / 3cl Bitter / a splash of sparkling water).