Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
Festive sparklers and refreshing still whites simply don’t get much better than those that come from Château Rives-Blanques in the woefully under-appreciated AOC Limoux appellation of South-West France. But, the region and particularly this winery are very much worth knowing. As Jancis Robinson recently noted, “The Panman family go from strength to strength.”
This is the ninth time we have featured these natural, hand-crafted, thoroughly delightful wines. Each time the orders have increased as more and more of our Members discover these splendid vinous gems.
Château Rives-Blanques
Château Rives-Blanques is a gorgeous 30 hectare estate and winery located near Limoux, twenty minutes south of the medieval walled citadel of Carcassonne and within sight of the majestic Pyrénées. Caryl and Jan Panman acquired the property in 2001 and have invested heavily in the vineyards and winery ever since. They have adopted rigorous farming and wine-making practices and have assembled a highly- skilled team of dedicated professionals, including consultant Pierre Roque and winemaker of thirty years Eric Vialade, in order to produce award-winning, world-class white and sparkling wines.
Château Rives-Blanques has long been known for being environmentally friendly and was among the first vineyards in France to be given the 'Agriculture Raisonnée' accreditation by the Ministry of Agriculture, confirming the ecological honesty and integrity of the way they grow their grapes and manage their lands. A happy combination of altitude (350 meters above sea level) and brisk summer winds lends a helping hand by keeping unwanted pests at bay - naturally. They never use chemical fertilizers and all vine cuttings, grape pips and skins left over from the pressing are ploughed back into the soil.
AOC Limoux
For centuries Limoux has produced white wines that sparkle naturally after a second fermentation. They became known as Blanquette de Limoux, Blanquette simply meaning ‘white’ in the Occitan language. Locals claim that fermentation in the bottle was developed here long before it was practised in Champagne; dating the production of cork-stoppered sparkling wines at the Abbey of St.-Hilaire from 1531.
The order at the Abbey of St.-Hilaire was Benedictine. Dom (Pierre) Pérignon (1638-1715), who according to myth invented the méthode Champenoise, was a Benedictine monk and speculation has it that members of the order brought the secret with them when they migrated north. There is much debate over which area makes the best bubbly, but there can be no argument about which produces the best marketers … a bottle of the delicious Blanquette de Limoux from Château Rives-Blanques is $26.00, while a bottle of Moet & Chandon Dom Pérignon currently sells for $219.95 at the LCBO!
In 1993 the AOC Limoux appellation was revised to include Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay in addition to the traditional Mauzac. Vinification in oak is mandatory. The region’s vineyards are so much higher, cooler and further from the Mediterranean influence than any other Languedoc appellation that the INAO authorities classify it as part of the Atlantic-influenced South-West France rather than as part of Languedoc-Roussillon. The traditional grape variety is the Mauzac, also called Blanquette, but increasing amounts of Chardonnay and to a lesser extent, Chenin Blanc have been recently planted.
The Exceptional Wines of Château Rives-Blanques
We are delighted to offer you eight very, very good wines from Château Rives-Blanques, three sparkling wines and five delicious still white wines. In addition, the winery has created two sampler cases for Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club – The Limoux Effervescent Sampler and the Limoux Still White Sampler – I recommend getting at least both samplers to see for yourself how superb the wines of Ch. Rives-Blanques are. All of these fine wines come in six-bottle cases.
As the Panmans note, “We are proud to say that every vintage without exception has been selected by the Guide Hachette (“This estate continues to astonish us.”) and included amongst ‘the best bottles of the millésime’ by La Revue du Vin de France.”
We plan to take your Château Rives-Blanques orders to the LCBO on lucky Friday, March 13th, 2015!!
The Sparkling wines from Château Rives-Blanques:
2011 Blanquette de Limoux (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $25/$150 case of 6 The world's oldest sparkler is still made to this very day in Limoux, under the strictest AOC rules. Blanquette de Limoux is the oldest appellation in Languedoc-Roussillon (declared in 1938), and one of the first in France. It has the lowest permitted maximum yield of any sparkling wine in the country, and is made exclusively from hand harvested grapes. Made from 90% Mauzac and 10% Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, it is a beautiful luminous light yellow colour. The deep nose mixes fruity notes and lightly toasted touches of vanilla. The mouth is seductively round, full and deep. It goes wonderfully with pan fried trout, shellfish and oriental cuisine. It has won numerous medals and awards and has been a huge success at our various dinners and tastings. “Light, fresh nose with real bite and length – well done, very refreshing” – Jancis Robinson. “A great Champagne substitute” – Steven Spurrier – Decanter. This is really terrific stuff. Order your party in a bottle now.
2013 Crémant de Limoux Blanc de Blancs (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $26/$156 case of 6 Blanquette de Limoux must contain at least ninety percent Mauzac while Crémant de Limoux may contain larger proportions of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. This Blanc de Blancs in fact contains only Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. It is a real mouthful … of fine and festive bubbles. This recent addition to the Rives-Blanques range of sparkling wines is crisp, clean and refreshing; made the same way as Champagne. Jancis Robinson says, “Pungent nose. Very tight bead. Fine in texture and just a whiff of Chenin. Quite delicate, more than a nod to the Loire.” “Elegant, creamy mouthful”- Rosemary George MW. Order this well-priced sparkler now.
2013 Crémant de Limoux Vintage Rose (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $27/$162 case of 6 “La vie en rose taken to a new festive dimension!” Made from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and a dollop of Pinot Noir, this fresh, sparkling rosé is characterised by elegant, fine bubbles and a gorgeous pink hue. This absolutely delightful fizz will be a great start to any party. It is made the same way as Champagne as well. “Pretty, delicate; dry and elegant” – Jancis Robinson. Order your elegant, festive ice-breaker now.
Limoux Effervescent Sampler (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $26/$156 case of 6 Can’t make up your mind about which of the wonderful Rives-Blanques sparklers to order? Or, just interested in trying them all? Well, this sampler is for you – two bottles each of the 2011 Blanquette de Limoux, 2013 Crémant Blanc de Blancs and 2013 Vintage Rosé in one joyful case. Order your sensational sparkling six-pak now.
The Still White Wines from Château Rives-Blanques:
2014 Le Chardonnay du Domaine (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $18/$108 case of 6 This little beauty, a vin de pays Haute Vallée de l'Aude, made from 85% Chardonnay and 15% Chenin Blanc is the work horse of the Château Rives-Blanques stable. Don’t let the screw top put you off – it helps keep the wine fresh and youthful.
Tasting Notes from Cees Van Casteren, Dutch wine writer - “Clean, green-glazed light yellow in colour. Rich aromas of golden delicious apples, peach blossom and clover honey. A floral touch. Also round and ripe in the mouth, with peaches and apricots, good freshness and length. Excellent aperitif wine, also to accompany salad-based meals, pastas, roast chicken with tomatoes, thyme and blanched onion.” “Scrumptuous” – The Spectator.
This is the house white for several Michelin starred restaurants. Hélène and I love it and will be ordering a case or two for summer sipping. Order this lovely, value-priced wine now
2012 Dédicace - Chenin Blanc (13.0% Alc./Vol.) $25/$150 case of 6 Dédicace, made from 100% Chenin Blanc is a "modern style of wine" that has been made from the fruit of 30 year old vines. Until recently it was the only Chenin Blanc with appellation status in the whole of Southern France. It has distinguished itself as one of the most interesting white wines from the region. Fermented and matured for six months in eight percent new French oak barrels, it is pale gold with green highlights. Its aromas are quince, green apples, pineapple, wood, vanilla and soft spices and in the mouth it is big and aromatic, quite typically chenin (honey, lime-blossom). You will be conquered by the depth, the elegance and the balance of this wine with its long and fresh finish, lifted by an agreeable touch of bitter.
"Gorgeous ... an absolute delight" - Jane MacQuitty, London Times "A distinguished chenin" - Guide Dussert-Gerber "The finest chenin outside the Loire I have ever encountered" - Chris Kissack, The Wine Doctor
Order your classy Chenin now.
2013 Cuvée Occitania – Mauzac (13.0% Alc./Vol.) $25/$150 case of 6 Mauzac is a grape of the Renaissance, referred to in Antiquamareto's Livre de Raison of 1525, but although once widespread, it is grown today only in two appellations: Limoux and Gaillac. Cuvée Occitania is the only 100% barrel-vinified Mauzac in the appellation - and perhaps in the world. It is a golden colour with light nuances of green. The nose is fine, elegant and subtly buttery with notes of yellow plums, peaches and apples. The mouth is complex, with a touch of honey in the finish. Pure pleasure! Cuvée Occitania has been included by La Revue du Vin de France in its roundup of the best wines of the millésime in France for the past four years in a row and awarded four stars by Decanter Magazine. For five of the past six years it has been chosen by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for its World Business Class travelers. Gold Medal – Sommelier Wine Awards. Order some pure pleasure now.
2013 Odyssée - Chardonnay (13.0% Alc./Vol.) $25/$150 case of 6 Only hand-selected grapes from the top Chardonnay fields, arguably amongst the best in Limoux are used in the production of this outstanding Chardonnay. Fermented in French oak barrels, followed by 6 months maturation in the barrel (1/3 new), it is a brilliant yellow gold with light straw-coloured reflections. The nose is intense and charming characterised by soft notes of perfumed citrus fruit, vanilla, caramel and oak. The mouth is silky, full and marvellously textured. The freshness is carried by citrus and noticeable tannins. The Panmans suggest that this wine be decanted prior to serving.
Cuvée de l'Odyssée has been listed amongst the best wines of the year in France for the past five years in a row by La Revue du Vin de France and was included in the dream wine list drawn up by the three Best Sommelier in the World winners. "Soft-edged, smooth, round ..." Oz Clarke "This chardonnay charms the senses" 1,000 Vins du Monde selected by Oenologues de France "An excellent cuvée of brilliant gold" Guide Hachette des Vins
Gold Medal – Chardonnay du Monde.
Order some of this truly superb, classy Chardonnay now.
2013 Le Limoux (13.0% Alc./Vol.) $25/$150 case of 6 This is the second year for this blend from Château Rives-Blanques – made from 46% Chardonnay, 37% Chenin Blanc and 17% Mauzac under screw cap. The AOC also requires that all the grapes be hand-picked and the wine be fermented and matured in oak barrels. On the nose there is more than a note of sweetness with aromatic pear, peach and green apple character. In the mouth it is full and sweetly endowed with notes of jasmine over the pear. It is full, aromatic, balanced and floral – an ideal companion for a good pâté.
Here’s what a Dutch wine writer says about it “It's a wine that goes beyond a simple 'smells like white peaches' definition. It has so much on board that connoisseurs will call it 'complex'. That doesn't mean difficult, it means well endowed.”
Great stuff! Order this opulent beauty now.
Limoux Still White Sampler $23/$138 case of 6 Here is the perfect opportunity to try five very unique and totally delicious white wines from the stellar, but curiously not well known French wine region of Limoux. You get two bottles of the 2014 Le Chardonnay du Domaine and one bottle each of the 2012 Cuvée de l’Odyssée (Chardonnay), 2012 Le Limoux, 2010 Dédicace (Chenin Blanc) and 2012 Cuvée Occitania (Mauzac). These are all very special white wines and I highly recommend you give them a try. Order your bevy of wonderful whites now.
The LCBO is the only entity authorized to sell beverage alcohol in Ontario. Arthur Sellers & Company and Arthur's Cellar Wine Club do not sell or markup beverage alcohol, but rather, arrange for customers to purchase it from the LCBO. Our prices indicated above and on our website include the LCBO sale price plus a fee to cover the cost of sourcing, handling and marketing the wine. The LCBO's sale prices are available on request.
Not a Good Month for Wine Dogs
Rives-Blanques lost its best salesman ever; Bruno, their 17 year-old Springer Spaniel who charmed every visitor to the Panman’s tasting room with his winning smile, has died. He was immortalised on Decanter's inside-back-cover as one of its Top Dogs (“the best nose”), but it was a customer who had the last word. She wrote in their guest book, "I love your wines. But I love Bruno more".
And, we lost our marvellous Miss Sailor Blue, the sweetest Golden Retriever you could ever know. She was often seen riding shotgun on our wine pickup and delivery runs.
If there is a doggie heaven, it just got a whole lot brighter!
Do you know others who might enjoy some world class sparklers and wonderful whites from Southern France? If you do, we would appreciate it if you passed this bulletin on to them.
Many thanks and cheers,
Jim, Hélène and Kate www.arthursellers.com jaswalker@arthursellers.com www.ofrance.ca hbuisson@ofrance.ca kwalker@arthursellers.com
