Domaine L'Ancienne Cure - Monbazillac L'Abbaye 2020 (liquoreux - 50cl)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Intense aromas of candied fruit, pineapple, pine, and flint; smooth and rich on the palate, with a lively finish.

About the estate:

Christian Roche has come a long way since obtaining organic certification in 2012 for his entire estate (50 hectares, including 33 for white wines and 17 for reds). He produces a wide range of impeccably crafted wines, both red and white. The entry-level wines are flavorful and approachable, the result of meticulous viticulture, while the top vintages are models of precision and complexity. In November 2021, Christian Roche passed away and made his wife Nathalie promise to carry on the legacy. And that is exactly what she is doing, supported by her children and her son-in-law.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Aged for 24 months in oak barrels, this 2020 vintage stands out for its unique blend: equal parts Muscadelle and Sémillon (45%), complemented by 10% Ondenc, a traditional grape variety from the Southwest that fell into obscurity following the phylloxera crisis. Deep golden in color, it delighted our tasters, who immediately praised the delicacy of its aromatic profile, blending acacia, exotic fruits, and candied citrus, tinged with vanilla from the barrel. Full-bodied, candied, toasted, honeyed, and subtly oaked, the palate nicely extends the nose, supported by a fresh and lingering finish.

About the estate:

As the fifth generation to cultivate vines, Christian Roche inherited part of the family estate in 1984 and built his winery five years later. Based in the former presbytery of Colombier and with a 50-hectare vineyard (predominantly white grape varieties) on varied soils, cultivated organically, he had made his estate—supplemented by his work as a wine merchant and producer—one of the must-visit destinations in the Bergerac region. Following his untimely death in 2021, his wife Nathalie continues his legacy.

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

About the wine:

The 2020 Monbazillac L'Abbaye has a distinct aroma of botrytis with notes of nougat and mango, but it is still too young to drink right now.

About the estate:

A rectory atop the hill lends its name to the vineyard, whose rows wind down the slopes to the road where Christian Roche has set up his tasting room. The vineyard, which has been organic since 2012, encompasses several appellations—including 3 hectares in Pécharmant—and is divided into four lines: Jour de fruit, L’Extase, and L’Abbaye, plus a sulfur-free wine: Ça sulfit! While the range is modernizing with this label, all the wines remain true to the classic fundamentals of the Bergerac region. Christian Roche passed away in the fall of 2020, but the adventure of L'Ancienne Cure continues thanks to his wife Nathalie.