Domaine L'Ancienne Cure - Monbazillac L'Abbaye 2022 (liquoreux - 50cl)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Christian Roche has come a long way since obtaining organic certification in 2012 for his entire estate (50 hectares, including 33 hectares of white grape varieties and 17 hectares of red grape varieties). He produces a wide range of perfectly vinified wines, both red and white. The entry-level wines are flavorful and easy to drink, the result of demanding viticulture, while the grand cuvées are models of precision and complexity. In November 2021, Christian Roche passed away and made his wife Nathalie promise to continue the adventure. She is doing just that, supported by her children and son-in-law.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

"Aromas still linger in the empty glass," notes one taster. That's how present this sweet wine is, "old-fashioned" according to the same judge. Meaning: "dense, broad, concentrated." Its daffodil color is dazzling. Its aromas of ripe exotic fruits and candied mandarin zest promise beautiful freshness. These aromas are echoed on the palate, tinged with vanilla from 24 months of barrel aging, in a round and opulent wine whose richness is counterbalanced by a lively and long finish. A sweet wine in the tradition of the estate's 2020 and 2015 vintages. Of note is its original blend, dominated by Muscadelle (60%), blended with Sémillon, Ondenc, and Chenin.

About the estate:

The fifth generation to cultivate vines, Christian Roche inherited part of the family estate in 1984 and set up his winery five years later. Established in the former presbytery of Colombier, and with a 50-hectare vineyard (predominantly white grapes) on varied soils, cultivated organically, he had made his estate, complemented by a wine merchant and producer business, one of the must-see destinations in the Bergerac region. Following his untimely death in 2021, his wife Nathalie is continuing his work.

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

About wine:

The Abbey with its comforting smokiness and lovely notes of quince. A fine piece of work, with a juicy, umami vine peach finish.

About the estate:

A presbytery at the top of the hill gives its name to the vineyard, whose rows run down the slopes to the road where Christian Roche has set up his wine cellar. The vineyard, which has been organic since 2012, has several appellations, including 3 hectares in Pécharmant, and is divided into four: Jour de fruit, L'Extase, L'Abbaye, and a sulfur-free wine: Ça sulfit ! Although the range is being modernized with this label, all the wines remain faithful 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.