Domaine Jacques Rouzé
 Vignes D'antan
Quincy
 
The appellation of Quincy is found along the Cher River in the Haute-Loire, which is a tributary of the Loire River. Being a neighbor of Sancerre, it's not hard to guess that the cépage is Sauvignon Blanc. Having obtained Appellation Contrôlée status in 1936, Quincy is one of the oldest appellations in France. Vines are grown on banks of sand or gravel that form a bed over clay and limestone. This quartz-based sandy terroir and the local microclimate give the wines of Quincy their unique nature, and the hot & dry summers insure full and early ripening of the grapes. Like Sancerre, this appellation offers one of the best expressions of the Sauvignon Blanc grape producing a wine of great elegance, fresh and lively but round on the palate with a bouquet of citrus and dried fruits with aromas of white flowers.

Domaine Jacques Rouzé is a family-owned business that manages 13 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc vines with about a third aged more than 70 years. With a planting density of 6000 vines per hectare and a yield of 50-60 hl/ha, the vineyard produces full-flavored and concentrated fruit. Total production is only 80,000 bottles per year.

"Vignes d'antan" is the premium wine of Jacques Rouzé and is only a small percentage of their production. The name actually means "vines of yesteryear" since all of the fruit used in this wine comes from vines planted between 1920 and 1940. The wine is fermented at a reduced temperature (~20oC) to preserve the freshness of the fruit and a small portion is kept in barrels for added complexity.

"Vignes d'antan" has a full and clean bouquet with fruit aromas that are clear and forward. The palate shows a profound depth of fruit, which is round, and fat yet does not sacrifice acidity. To me, this is a straight-forward wine with a racy elegance that is well balanced with rich fruit and a very long finish. As good as many Sancerre wines for almost half the price.

Monsieur & Madame
Jacques Rouzé
 

 


Chicago, Illinois