V&S Domaine Rabiega, Clos Dière
Méridional, FR-83 300 Draguignan, France
Tel: +33 494 68 44 22 Fax: +33 494 47 17 72
Web: www.rabiega.com E-mail: vin@rabiega.com
This domaine is owned by the Swedish company Vin & Spirit AB,
and the winemaker is a Swede, Lars Torstenson. With just 10 ha of
vines, it's not a huge operation -- annual production is around 20 000
cases of wine, 90% of which is red. With a plus conference centre on
site, this estate concentrates on premium wine production, and money
doesn't seem to have been an object. The Clos Dière wines are the top
cuvées; there's also a more affordable 'r' series of wines, which
weren't on show here. The standard seems to be consistently good, and
I especially enjoyed the unorthodox but superb white and the delicious
dessert wine.
Clos Dière 'Cuvée 1' 1997
Cuvée 1 is 99% Syrah and spends 1 year in new French oak. This is a
very youthful wine; a deep red/purple colour it has a subdued nose and
a dense palate with bright fruit and firm tannins. Good balance. Very
good
Clos Dière 'Cuvée 1' 1993
The same cuvée with some bottle age, this is a similarly deep
red/purple colour. There's an attractive smoky/herby nose. On the
palate it is complex and shows great balance; still quite tannic. Very
good+
Clos Dière 'Cuvée 2' 1997
Cuvée 2 is a blend of different grapes, including Grenache and
Carignan, that spends a year in new French and American oak barrels.
This is a medium bodied red with a slightly muted nose and a rich,
sweet, spicy palate. It's a bit like a Châteauneuf du Pape in
character. Good balance. Good/very good
Clos Dière 'Cuvée 2' 1993
After several years in bottle this is a light red/purple colour with a
browning rim. The nose shows sweet fruit with notes of herbs and tea.
The medium bodied palate shows rich, soft, spicy fruit. Very good+
Clos Dière Blanc 1998
An unusual blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, but one
that works pretty well. Spends 3-6 months in new French oak. Lovely,
lively, fresh nose: bright and rich, with notes of peach, apricot and
honey. The full, rich palate has deliciously bold flavours and good
acid balance. Very good/excellent
Rabiega Vin Toussaint NV
A vin doux made from Carignan grapes picked in November, this is a
stunning dessert wine. A tawny colour, it has exotic caramel and
herb-laced nose. On the palate it is unctuous, rich and sweet, with
great balancing acidity. Very good/excellent
(Tasted November 2000)
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