The genial Andre Dubosc steered this great ship from complete obscurity to fame. Now that he has retired, we can only hope his successors will be as talented. He began by organizing co-op members in a way unheard of anywhere else, giving them joint responsibility for quality. He equipped the winery with state-of-the-art technical systems allowing gentle but effl?cient grape handling, even introducing compulsory hand harvesting for white AOC varietals. Most important, he suc?ceeded in building strong, well-respected brands based on well-made, fruity wines that were right for the times, using his unique flair for marketing to create a highly diversified portfolio. All of the wines set an example for other producers in Southwest France, from the top-end offerings Arte Benedicte, Plenitude, and Falte to the middle-of-the-range Passe Authentique. Following the acquisition of small local wineries in places such as Crouseilles, the range now includes Madiran and Pacher?encs wines that are even more expressive.