Domaine La Casenove - Muscat de Rivesaltes 2011

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

A former press photographer, Étienne Montès has taken over the family estates, Casenove and Saint-Luc. The La Garrigue and Torrespeyres vintages form the accessible core of the range. The Commandant-Jaubert vintage is produced only when the vintage is suitable. It is named after a sailor, Étienne’s great-great-uncle, who built the estate.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Made primarily from Muscat of Alexandria and Petit Grain, Montes' 2011 Muscat de Rivesaltes is fragrant with notes of mint, orange liqueur, and dried apricot. Fortunately—and unlike so many wines from this appellation—it isn’t cloying, and although its finish is modest, it is refreshing and lively, offering a counterpoint to its sweetness.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

In the VDN category, the 2011 Muscat de Rivesaltes is very full-bodied and is developing on the alcohol.

About the estate:

Etienne Montès, a former renowned press photographer, has been at the helm of the family estate since the late 1980s. With his deep understanding of his terroirs and their potential, he produces a fine range of IGP Côtes Catalanes wines, ranging from simple, fruit-forward wines to full-bodied vintages—such as the highly acclaimed Commandant Jaubert. The VDNs are very serious in character but sometimes struggle to temper their warmth. The entire range is sincere and of good quality. Wine lovers will find beautiful, authentic wines here, capable of aging very well in the cellar. However, the wines are often heavy on alcohol, which detracts from their finesse and leads us to remove the estate’s star rating. A few technical and stylistic adjustments would likely suffice to refresh the style of these wines, whose depth of flavor is undeniable.