Liberty Wines to sell oldest Rivesaltes collection

Published: 16 October, 2012

Liberty Wines is to sell a limited collection from Roussillon producer Maison Cazes comprising the oldest Rivesaltes vintages in existence.

Although Vin Doux Naturels from Rivesaltes are a Cazes' specialty and it has been producing them for the past 80 years, it has taken five years to put together the collection of 29 of the oldest vintages.

Cazes' managing director Lionel Lavail had to first track down the wines and negotiate with 10 producers from all over the appellation to bring them back for their final ageing in oak casks at Cazes' cellars in the centre of Rivesaltes.

The launch took place at London's Antique Wine Company on October 9, with a tutored tasting of six vintages from the collection 1931 (rrp £357.99), 1932 (rrp £379.99), 1942 ( rpp £303.49), 1947 (rrp £181.99), 1952 (rrp £252.99) and 1962 (rrp £181.99). All were chosen and presented by Lavail and Andrea Briccarello, head sommelier and wine buyer at the Galvin group of restaurants.

Only 500 bottles exist in total and each vintage is sold separately in a black and gold presentation case, which contains an elegant, round-shouldered bottle, reminiscent of the oak casks in which the wines are aged. The closure is natural cork. In addition to the number of the bottle in the limited series and tasting notes, the back label features the date of mutage, the date the wine went into cask and the bottling date.

Andrea Briccarello said: "I have loved sweet wines since I was a child but nothing could prepare me for wines like these. The complexity and structure of these wines was like nothing I've tasted before. I am impressed by the endless food and wine-matching opportunities but also by the indestructible life these wines have.

He added: "These wines have the sun and the Mediterranean spirit packed in every bottle and they let you discover another side of France you've probably never expected. Give them a try and indulge in a glass, they will surprise you with the huge range of flavours and colours - a true taste of terroir and a glass of history".

The following vintages are available: 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962.

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