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The Wines |
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Every vintage, from 2001 to date, included amongst the "Best Wines of the Millésime in France " by La Revue du Vin de France. Best in Class International Wine & Spirits Competition 2008, Gold Medal 2008, Concours des Grands Vins du Languedoc-Roussillon; Gold Medal 2008 Competition of the Great Wines of France; Silver Medal 2008 Concours des Grands Vins du Languedoc-Roussillon; Silver Medal 2008, Vinalies Internationales; Silver Medal 2008, Chardonnay of the World; Silver Medal 2008, International Wine & Spirits Competition London; Silver Medal 2008 Competition of the Great Wines of Languedoc-Roussillon; Silver Medal 2008 MUNDUSvini; Bronze Medal 2008, Decanter World Wine Awards, Bronze Medal 2008, International Wines & Spirits Competition; Bronze Medal 2008, Competition of Wines made by Envoronmentally Sustainable Viticulture; Bronze Medal 2008, Competition of the Great Wines of Languedoc-Roussillon; 'Commended' 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards; Commended 2008 International Wine Challenge, London
Every vintage to date from Rives-Blanques has been included in the Guide Hachette des Vins |
The WinesAOC Limoux: Chardonnay; Chenin Blanc; Mauzac; La Trilogie |
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AOC Limoux is the only white wine appellation in France . . .
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Cuvée de l'Odyssée (AOC Limoux) Chardonnay "Soft-edged, smooth, round ..."
Gold Medal, Vinalies Internationales |
Cuvée Occitania (AOC Limoux) Mauzac
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Dédicace (AOC Limoux) Chenin Blanc
An exceptional wine that is truly the exception in a region not known for its chenin blanc. Dédicace has been made with great dedication from 20 year old vines: it is a "modern style of wine", made with care and experience rooted in tradition. Until recently the only chenin blanc with appellation status in the whole of the South of France, it has distinguished itself as one of the most interesting white wines from the region.
"Gorgeous ... an absolute delight" - Jane MacQuitty, London Times Gold Medal, Concours des Grands Vins de France, Mâcon 100% Chenin blanc |
La
Trilogie (AOC Limoux) The harvest of 2005 marked the first time we were able to make a successful blend of the three grape varieties allowed by the Limoux appellation. Careful blending of our best barrels by the celebrated Georges Pauli gave us the first hint of the magic wine we had spent years trying to find: a wine that is elegant, complex, intellectually challenging and sophisticated ... yet startlingly clear and clean. Only 1250 bottles were made. In 2006 we were able to make a blend that was possibly the most interesting wine ever produced by Rives-Blanques to date: this time, 2500 bottles. The 2007 tantalises with promise: release date - early 2009.
"This magnificent ... superb wine gives honour to the Languedoc" Le Monde, Bettane & Desseauve "A particularly interesting blend" Gold Medal, Competition of the Great Wines of France
50%
chenin blanc, 20% mauzac, 30% chardonnay (2007) |
LATE HARVEST WINE 2004 "XAXA"
"The mouth combines concentration and
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CHARDONNAY DU DOMAINE
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Château Rives-Blanques |
AOC Limoux is the only white wine appellation in France requiring fermentation and maturation in oak barrels. It also decrees that the grapes must be picked by hand. The famous Roman historian Titus Livius was already extolling Limoux's 'wines of light' two thousand years ago. We are proud today to present the appellation's first-ever Trilogy of three wines made from the three permitted grape varieities: a chardonnay, a chenin blanc, and a mauzac - wines that reflect the full potential of the appellation, and glow with light as if the sunshine were still in them. A fourth wine, La Trilogie is an exclusive blend of the best barrels of the three grape varieties, and is the flagship of Chateau Rives-Blanques.
"Anyone can make a chardonnay anywhere in the world, but in Limoux, the terroirs give it a uniqueness you can find no where else." These are the words of the late René Renou, President of the French appellation institute (INAO). For our award-winning Cuvée de l'Odyssée, we use only hand-selected grapes from our top Chardonnay fields, arguably amongst the best in Limoux. The wine is fermented and maturated in French oak barrels, and bottled on the estate. 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.
This wine from uncloned vines celebrates Limoux's indigenous grape, dating back to the Renaissance. Mauzac is difficult to vinify as an interesting still wine for the same reasons that make it such a good base for sparkling wines: high acidity and a fairly neutral taste. By encouraging the mauzac on our lowest south-facing
slopes to reach an unusually high level of maturity, we were able to produce this unique still wine, which 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. Cuvée Occitania is the only 100% barrel-vinified mauzac in the appellation.
This was the latest Late Harvest in the history of the Aude valley: the chenin blanc was picked by hand in November, and the mauzac in January of the following year, when the grapes had reached a perfect balance of concentrated 
sweetness and heightened acidity. Because the Limoux appellation does not allow for naturally sweet wines made from these grape varieties, "Xaxa" has to be categorised as a "Vin de Table" - a designation which does great injustice to this delectable nectar. It was vinified entirely in seasoned French oak barrels, and made in celebration of the 21st birthday of Xaxa, the daughter of the house: a very special wine for a very special person. 
Silver Medal, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles