2010
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Thézan-les-Béziers, 10km north of Béziers
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| Dry white - full bodied, fermented and aged 1 year in barrel |
| 70% Grenache Gris & Blanc, 30% Maccabeu |
14.5%
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Fish, chicken, pork, paella, oriental dishes
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Still good
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Now to 2026 or longer
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The estate's flagship white, from 80 year-old Grenache Gris and Blanc and Maccabeu vines. Following on from a tasting of older Domaine Ravanès wines I presented to my local wine group in early 2023, we managed to secure a few bottles each of several older vintages (between 2005 and 2015) from the estate's "library stock". And whilst the reds have an undoubted ability to age for many years, these vintages of Le Renard Blanc also serve to illustrate the remarkable age-worthiness and positive evolution of the white wines, over at least 20 years. With extended maceration on the grape skins, followed by a year's ageing in oak barrels, the freshness of youth slowly gives way to a gently oxidative/nutty style, as it ages, much in the way of an old-style white Rioja (think of the Reservas and Gran Reservas of Lopez de Heredia) though with slightly less woody character.
Quite a deep, but limpid orange/gold colour - and this one has more than a hint of classic, old-style white Rioja about it. A complex array of aromas, including desiccated orange, baked apple, ground ginger, thyme, oregano, polished old wood and mixed curry spices. In the mouth, it is similarly spicy, herby and nutty, with flavours of spiced apple and raisin pie, apricot, lime oil and orange marmalade. It is really quite concentrated and rich, but a touch of grape tannin and bags of juicy mandarin/lime acidity keeps everything in balance, making for a truly hedonistic and compelling wine, with huge length. Another absolutely cracking wine, which is approaching maturity, but will hang on nicely for a few years yet. An absolute treat! |
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