Domaine de Rancy Rivesaltes Ambre 4 Ans d'Age NV

Profile & Story

Jean-Hubert Verdaguer and his wife Brigitte run Domaine de Rancy in the Roussillon, one of only a handful of producers still making exceptional Rivesaltes in the old Ambré style. Jean-Hubert inherited the estate from his father, along with tiny parcels of old vines and a cellar of odd-sized old barrels, each marked with a cryptic numerical code. Rivesaltes Ambré is a Vin Doux Naturel, in which a pure spirit is added during fermentation to arrest the conversion of sugar to alcohol; Domaine de Rancy's wines are made entirely from organically farmed, hand-picked Macabeu, pressed, fermented, and fortified in tank, with only the best lots selected for extended barrel ageing — a minimum of four years, and in older bottlings, sixty or more. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered as needed, and because they are already fully oxidized, an opened bottle can be enjoyed over days, weeks, or even months without loss of quality.

Pairing Recommendation

Domaine de Rancy's Rivesaltes Ambré is versatile with food: enjoy it as an aperitif with almonds, nuts, olives, and a variety of hors d'oeuvres, or as a dessert wine alongside fruit tarts, or simply on its own.