PROVENANCE AOP LIMOUX South of France, OCCITANIA 2019 Languedoc - Occitanie

VARIETY Mauzac 100%

One designated parcel at 300m. altitude, on the plateau of a high TERROIR terrace of the Aude valley formed by Eocene molasses, with marl, sandstone, schist and pebbles Confluence of Mediterranean & Atlantic influences. Natura 2000 EU-protected nature reserve

VITICULTURE Organic treatments only, natural cover cropping, in final year returning to organic accreditation (Ecocert); vegan certified.

YIELD 32 hl/ha yield, 60-year-old vines planted at 4.400/ha.

VINIFICATION Fermented and aged in seasoned oak barrels Grapes picked from one selected parcel of old bushvine Mauzac on the plateau of the terrace. Sorted by hand, gentle pneumatic pressing, only best free-run juice used. Occasional batonnage Filtered to 0.65 microns Rigourous selection of individual barrels.

BOTTLING June 2020, 4,500 bottles.

ANALYSIS Alc: 13.80 % Vol 3.39 g/L Total Acidity Res Sugar: 0 g/L pH: 3.29 g/L

HARVEST By hand, October 3, 4, 2019, the last day of the harvest. A prevailing westerly wind throughout the growing season favoured extremely good growing conditions. Overall, an excellent year, despite the excessive heat of the summer months, with the hottest day ever recorded at the end of June. Even so, the Mauzac struggled to achieve maturity, and was left to the very end, picked just before the rains returned. Benefits from breathing time and service at 12°-14°C., or OPTIMUM SERVICE take out of the refrigerator 10 minutes before serving

OCCITANIA 2019

Mauzac Le Jardin, 60 year-old Mauzac bushvines

Mauzac has been growing in and around Limoux for 700 years. In 2020, over 4000 clones of original Mauzac vines conserved by Limoux’s Mauzac Conservatory were planted at Rives-

Blanques, making it the biggest single source of authentic Mauzac grapes in the Appellation. Written documents referring to this variety go back to 1525. DNA tests show it is unrelated to any other grape variety. Limoux is the only appellation in France that allows for 100% Mauzac, and Occitania was the first modern expression of this Renaissance grape variety in the Appellation. Ideal for sparkling wines, Mauzac is considerably more difficult to vinify as a still wine, needing slow maturation to preserve its acidity, and extended hang-time to develop its fruit.

Château Rives-Blanques is owned, managed and curated by the Anglo-Dutch Panman family, and is currently reconverting back to organic viticulture. Wine Maker: Jan-Ailbe Panman

« Limoux, Vignobles d’Histoire et de Légende » For further information: History meets Legend in the vineyards of Limoux. Château Rives-Blanques

The Panman family

11300 Cépie, France [email protected] T . + 33 468 314320 - M. + 33 675513352