L'Ancienne Cure - Pécharmant Jour de Fruit 2011

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Christian Roche buys the best grapes he can find, at whatever price is necessary, to produce a Pécharmant that makes no compromises. It is one of the appellation’s finest wines: precise, juicy, and lively, avoiding the pitfall of overly harsh tannins, with impeccably refined aging. Bravo!

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 perfectly 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 son-in-law.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

As the fifth generation to cultivate vines, Christian Roche inherited part of the family estate in 1984 and set up his winemaking facility 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.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

This vintage shows lovely maturity, with aromas of incense, Burlat cherries, and black cherries. The palate remains very appealing, with a supple structure and a hint of eucalyptus on the finish—a 2011 that is ready to enjoy right now.

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

About the wine:

Fruit Day 2011: a wine with a firm yet expressive fruit profile.

About the estate:

A presbytery atop the hill lends its name to the vineyard, whose rows cascade down the slopes to the road where Christian Roche has set up his wine shop. The vineyard, which has been organic since 2012, encompasses several appellations, including 3 hectares in Pécharmant, and is divided into four: 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 L’Ancienne Cure adventure continues thanks to his wife Nathalie.

RVF - Guide des Meilleurs Vins à moins de 20 euros € - Gerbelle & Maurange

About the wine:

A wine with more punch and vigor than L'Abbaye. Its pronounced tannins will appeal, starting this winter, to lovers of bold wines paired with moderately full-bodied game.