Tresmontaine ‘Tabacal’ Rancio

Location: France, Roussillon, Côtes Catalanes

Winemaker: Jean-Pierre Papy & Anne Tixier

Grapes: Grenache Blanc

Winemaking: exposed to the elements in glass demijohns for 18 months, then returned to the cellars to rest in old foudres and barrique for an additional 10 years.

From the Importer Haus Alpenz: ‘Tabacal’ is the last Rancio produced by legendary Roussillon winemaker Fernand Baixas at Arnaud de Villeneuve, prior to his ‘retirement’. The blend was dubbed ‘Tabacal’ by Baixas, who declared it a perfect foil for a fine cigar. It can be enjoyed with cured meats and cheeses, as a contemplative post-prandial digestif, and yes, with a fine cigar. Shelf-stable, it should be served lightly chilled or at cellar temperature.

Based in the town of Rivesaltes, the Arnaud de Villeneuve cooperative was established in 2007, when the Caves de Salses (est. 1909) and Cellars de Rivesaltes (1932) merged together. Its membership includes over 300 vignerons farming more than 2000 hectares, incorporating a diverse array of climates and soils in the Côtes Catalanes IGP. Arnaud de Villeneuve is most celebrated for its oxidative wines, especially for the Rivesaltes ambré and Rancio secs made under the auspices of Roussillon legend Fernand Baixas (now in "retirement" at Domaine de Rombeau). Current winemakers Jean-Pierre Papy and Anne Tixier continue the distinctive regimen established under Baixas.