2004 Château Mossé Rivesaltes Vignes des Causses

RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  6/20/2010, (See more on RJonWine.com...) 89 points

  (Château Mossé Rivesaltes Vignes des Causses) Bricking medium dark red violet color; berry, VA, raspberry nose; berry, raspberry, blackberry, port-like palate, but lighter in alcohol; long finish

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  8/29/2007, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (Chateau Mosse Vignes des Causses) Rivesaltes Dear Friends, This is a most unusual and Exhilerating example. Chateau Mosse is a winery we’ve profiled before but this is an experience I’ve been trying to obtain for months and it’s finally a reality. The 2004 Vignes de Causses was one of the most talked about wines in Paris at the biggest exhibition last year, where it walked away with the Gold Medal (MDO) and a cadre of followers that could not believe the wines being produced at this estate in the Roussillon. They tallied 2-3 Golds and were one of the most decorated estates in the entire show (from every region of the country). The French can’t get enough of this estate and restaurants have quickly gobbled up most of the wine (these are very tough to find at retail anywhere in Europe). This is pure tradition - from 100% old-vine Grenache left on the vine so long the berries are ready to explode, the wine is something like Henri Bonneau’s Cuvee Speciale mixed with Banyuls, masquerading as 2000 Dow from rootstock that has thrived in the Pyrenees since the turn of the last century. It is like getting a bottle of vintage Port from a top vintage (with French terroir) for a bargain price. Raised in cement and old barrels, left outside to literally “weather” the storm of the elements all winter and spring, the wine is then bottled and allowed to settle for a year before release. 2004 was an outstanding vintage in the Roussillon, probably better than 2005, and this version of the Vignes de Causses will be very happy to remain opened on your countertop for a week or more (with little oxidation) as the deep red fresh framboise, pipe tobacco and underbrush of the Pyrenees remains contained within the port-like glass bottle. The flavor lingers like a favorite memory and I’m tempted to say this wine is devilish as the intense red color and multitude of flavors on the tongue seem too good for this world but maybe it’s more appropriate to call it what it is - a unique effort in dessert wine that deserves to be rolled over your palate. For curiosity’s sake alone, this is worth exploration. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ONE SMALL SHIPMENT ONLY directly for the winery cellar (only 200 bottles for the entire US): 2004 Chateau Mosse “Vignes de Causses” Rivesaltes Vins Doux (750ml) (MDO/Paris) (this wine is a full 750ml, not a 500ml) . Please be patient with final allocations. Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA SOFR9994