Love Is Rivesaltes (Sweet)

Love Is Rivesaltes (Sweet) is a natural wine crafted by Cave Aux Fioles, in the Roussillon region in France. This 17% sweet wine wine is made with Grenache Gris and Macabeu grapes, and it is aged in DemiJohns and barrels.

This wine is meant to be enjoyed as a dessert wine. 

The terroir of these parcels is made up of beautiful ochre-coloured clay soils on the karst plateau of the Corbières. The vineyards are situated around Mas Vespeille, a 12th-century estate, on the foothills of the Corbières between Rivesaltes and Salses-le-Château. The grapes are destemmed and directly pressed as soon as they arrive at the winery. Alcoholic fermentation is then stopped through fortification, with the addition of 96% alcohol.

During the winter, the wine is kept in a large open vat. The aim is for the Vin Doux Naturel to begin its slow process of oxidation through contact with the air.

Before bottling, the wine is placed outside the cellar in glass demijohns for several months. This creates another form of oxidation, which further mellows and refines the wine.

We have not yet tried it, but the producer states it has a powerful opening on the palate, with flavours of aged eau-de-vie and fresh walnuts. This is followed by aromas of coffee sweets, caramel and old wood.The palate is very long and powerful, with a refreshing finish showing notes of figs in syrup and citrus marmalade.

The producer recommends it with strong blue cheeses, goat's cheese or sheep's cheese. It is also described as delicious with citrus or coffee-based desserts, or served as a digestif.