Arthur Sellers Bulletin Archive
Château Rives-Blanques (http://www.rives-blanques.com/) 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. They have adopted rigorous farming and wine-making practices and have assembled a highly-skilled team of dedicated professionals in order to produce award winning, world-class white and sparkling wines.
AOC Limoux
For centuries Limoux has produced white wines that sparkle naturally after a second fermentation. They became known as Blanquette de Limoux, Blanquette meaning simply ‘white’ in Occitan. Locals claim that fermentation in the bottle was developed here long before it was consciously 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 $27.00, 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, locally called Blanquette, but increasing amounts of Chardonnay and to a lesser extent, Chenin Blanc have been planted.
The 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 one of each to see for yourself how superb the wines of Ch. Rives-Blanques are. The Sparklers come in six-bottle cases, the whites in twelve bottle cases. Don’t forget to use our ‘Share a Case’ feature if twelve bottles are too much of a good thing.
Jancis Robinson, the highly respected English wine writer is a big fan of the wines of Limoux and Château Rives-Blanques in particular. See her recent article in the Financial Times of London for the full story.
The prices below include our one dollar per bottle handling charge. We plan to take our Château Rives-Blanques order to the LCBO on Thursday, January 14th.
The Sparkling wines from Château Rives-Blanques:
The Still White Wines from Château Rives-Blanques:
2007 Dédicace - Chenin Blanc (13.5% Alc./Vol.) $25/$300 case of 12 Dédicace, made from 100% Chenin Blanc is a "modern style of wine" that has been made from 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 8% new French oak barrels, it is pale gold with green highlights. Its aromas are quince, wood 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
2008 Cuvée Occitania – Mauzac (13.5% Alc./Vol.) $25/$300 case of 12 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 the past three years in a row it has been chosen by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for its World Business Class travelers. Order some pure pleasure now.
2006 Cuvée de l’Odyssée - Chardonnay (14.0% Alc./Vol.) $25/$300 case of 12 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 three Best Sommelier in the World winners. The 2005 vintage of Cuvée de l’Odyssée was selected by Aer Lingus for its Premier Class passengers. Winner of the prestigious Médaille d’Or 2007, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and the Médaille d’Or 2007, Vinalies Internationales.
"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
2008 La Trilogie (13.0% Alc./Vol.) $41/492 case of 12 This is the star of the Château Rives-Blanques array of fine wines. It is comprised of the best barrels of the three grape varieties permitted by the AOC Limoux– Mauzac, Chardonnay (50%) and Chenin Blanc. 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 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 paté. Great stuff! Order this opulent beauty now.
Limoux Still White Sampler $25/$300 case of 12 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 four bottles of the vibrant 2009 Chardonnay du Domaine and two bottles each of the superb 2007 Dédicace (Chenin Blanc), 2006 Cuvée de l’Odyssée (Chardonnay), 2008 Cuvée Occitania (Mauzac) and the magnificent 2008 La Trilogie. These are all very special white wines and I highly recommend you give them a try. Order your bevy of wonderful whites now.
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.
The O!France (www.ofrance.ca) tours to Provence for 2010 are filling up quite nicely with several returning guests. Please contact Hélène (hbuisson@ofrance.ca) to make your reservations.
Many thanks and cheers,
Jim and Hélène jaswalker@arthursellers.com hbuisson@ofrance.ca www.arthursellers.com
