Rivesaltes

The Rivesaltes vineyard covers more than 4,000 hectares spread over 86 communes in the Pyrénées-Orientales and 9 communes in the Aude. Production is highly diversified: "Ambré, Tuilé, Grenat and hors d'âge". The Decree of December 29, 1997 on the appellation distinguishes between these four main types of Rivesaltes. Amber Rivesaltes wines, made from Grenache Blanc and Gris, Macabeu, Malvoisie du Roussillon, Muscat Petits Grains and Muscat d'Alexandrie grapes, are aged in oxidative conditions for at least 2 years in large containers (oak vats or foudres). They have a beautiful dark golden or amber color and are distinguished by their scents of hazelnut, almond, walnut shell, candied citrus fruit and roasting. Young bottled red Rivesaltes wines (75% Grenache Noir) are kept in a reducing medium for at least 12 months, including 3 months in bottle. They seduce with their deep ruby hue and aromas of red berries (cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry, blackberry). Rivesaltes tuilés (50% Grenache noir) are aged in large containers in contact with air for at least 2 years. Their color is a pretty tile with brown or orange highlights. They develop aromas of coffee, cocoa, tobacco and candied fruit (fig, prune, strawberry, quince). The term "hors d'âge" may be added to the terms "ambré" and "tuilé" for Rivesaltes appellation wines that have been aged for at least 5 years after production.

The Rivesaltes appellation takes its name from the town of Rivesaltes, which means "High Banks" in Catalan. Crossed by 3 rivers - the Agly, the Têt and the Tech - which have shaped a relief of tiered terraces and hills, the Rivesaltes vineyards cover extremely diverse soils: sometimes white, like the pebbles of the middle and high terraces or the granitic arenas of the Albères, sometimes red, like the clays and silts found in the Corbières foothills or the Aspres, sometimes black or brown, like the schists of the Agly valley. The terroir of Rivesaltes is fully expressed in the crus offered by Domaine Sarda-Malet, Domaine de Rancy and Domaine La Casenove.