Comte Louis de Lauriston, Poiré, NV, Poiré Domfront (AOP)

'One-Liner'
Normandy’s wonderfully elegant answer to cider – delicate pear, citrus and natural sparkle with a beautifully crisp, dry finish.

Tasting Note
Pale gold with a lively natural sparkle, opening with delicate aromas of fresh pear, pear blossom and citrus alongside a subtle creamy note. The palate is light, dry and wonderfully refreshing, with juicy orchard pear balanced by bright acidity and a fine, gently prickling mousse. Hints of lemon and white fruit bring extra freshness, while the traditional perry pears give the drink a subtle grip and complexity beyond simple fruitiness. Elegant rather than sweet, it has a lovely delicacy that makes it particularly good at the table. The finish is clean, crisp and mouth-wateringly fresh, leaving pear and citrus lingering behind.

Country: France
Region: Normandy
Sub-Region: Poiré Domfront AOP
Grape(s): Pears
ABV: 3%
Friendly: n/a

Awards & Critics' Scores
Vimoutiers 2025 – Silver Medal

The Story
Poiré is one of Normandy’s great orchard traditions, and the countryside around Domfront is its natural home. Here ancient, towering pear trees thrive on the region’s distinctive soils and produce small, tannic fruit quite different from the pears you would normally eat. Lauriston uses traditional varieties including Plant de Blanc, Muscadet, Avenelle and Poire de Grise, crushing and pressing them immediately after harvest before allowing the juice to ferment naturally for five to eight weeks. The Poiré is bottled while fermentation is still underway, so the remaining sugar continues to ferment in bottle and creates its sparkle naturally rather than through forced carbonation. The result is wonderfully individual – lighter and more floral than cider, but with the acidity, structure and dryness to make it a genuinely versatile drink at the table.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Lightly seared scallops with lemon and herbs
- Vegetarian: Roast cauliflower with tahini, lemon and toasted cumin
- Vegan: Cucumber, dill and apple salad with rye croutons