Chateau Rives-Blanques, Le Limoux, Languedoc, France 2018

Finding whites of this calibre at this price hardly ever happens. Jan and Caryl have managed to pull off that rarest of tricks – produce an age-worthy, fresh and characterful white which is light on it’s feet and remarkably good value.
Fresh, orangey and minerally with a discrete richness from the oak barrel ageing (15% new), it is delicious now but will age beautifully over the next 4 - 5 years. I love it for its mix of Loire freshness (from the Chenin Blanc and the local Mauzac), and Burgundian roundness (from the Chardonnay and the oak). If possible, give it a bit of time in a decanter to open up. The bottle I tried was even better on night two.
Offered: July 2020.
Alcohol: 13%
Vintage report: A very challenging year - a wet spring followed by a boiling hot summer, mildew issues and wild boar to boot. As with 2017, quantities were low but grape quality of what was there was good.
Drinking window: 2020 – 2025.
Food matching: Very versatile, works as an aperitif but would also go well with chicken and leek pie, smoked salmon pasta or pork chops to name a few.