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Happy New Year!! We will be taking your orders for the delightful wines from Château Rives-Blanques to the LCBO on Thursday, January 14th. Don’t miss out on these excellent values, particularly the six-bottle Limoux Effervescent Sampler (only $168) and the twelve-bottle Limoux Still White Sampler (just $300).
 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.
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Caryl and Jan Panman,
Jim and Bruno |
Rives-Blanques has long been known for its environmentally friendly practices and was amongst 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.
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:
2007 Blanquette de Limoux (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $27/$162 case of six
 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. Order your party in a bottle now. |
2007 Crémant de Limoux Blanc de Blancs (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $28/$168 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 new 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.” Order this well-priced sparkler now. |
2007 Crémant de Limoux Vintage Rosé (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $29/$174 case of 6
 “La vie en rose taken to a new festive dimension!” Made from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and 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. Made the same way as Champagne as well. Order your elegant, festive ice-breaker now. |
2007 Limoux Effervescent Sampler (12.5% Alc./Vol.) $28/$168 case of 6
 Can’t make up your mind about which of the wonderful Rives-Blanques sparklers to order? Or, just interested to try them all. Well, this sampler is for you – two bottles each of the 2007 Blanquette de Limoux, Crémant De Limoux Blanc de Blancs and Vintage Rosé in one joyful case. Order your sensational sparkling six-pak now. |
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The Still White Wines from Château Rives-Blanques:
2009 Le Chardonnay du Domaine (13.5% Alc./Vol.) $17/$204 case of 12
 This little beauty, made from 90% Chardonnay and 10% 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. And, 2009 is looking like it is going to be a great vintage!
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.”
Order this lovely, value priced wine now.
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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
Order your classy Chenin now.
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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.
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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
Order some of this truly superb Chardonnay now.
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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.
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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.
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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
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