Cazes Rivesaltes 1945

93 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 1945 Hors d’Age is another beautiful old dessert wine, but it shows just a whisper of volatile acidity on both the nose and palate (which I suppose is not too surprising, given how long it stayed in old foudre prior to be bottled up for release). The lovely old nose offers up a blend of orange peel, brown sugar, salty soil tones, rancio, tobacco smoke and gently caramelized nutty tones. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with excellent complexity, fine focus and grip and a very long, concentrated and palate-staining finish. This is a darker color than some of these old vintages and probably started out life as a Tuilé with plenty of black grenache in the blend. Fine old juice with plenty of life still ahead of it. 2013-2060. (May/Jun 2013)"

93 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "[$500 list] The white grape-based Cazes 1945 Rivesaltes, smells of smoke-infused dried figs as well as saline, alkaline sea breeze. Dried fig and complexly floral honey engage with smoky, saline mineral nuances in a sustained finishing dialogue. (Jan 2014)"

93 points CellarTracker.com community score.

Domaine Cazes, founded in 1895, is one of the oldest and most famous producers of Rivesaltes wines from the eponymously named Rivesaltes AOC in Roussillon. Rivesaltes, officially a "vin doux naturel," is in fact a fortified dessert wine that can be made from any combination of Grenache Blanc, Noir, and Gris, Macabéo, and to a much lesser extent Torbato (here called Malvoisie du Roussillon), as well as Muscat. Rivesaltes may taste of raisins, coffee, chocolate, fruits, or nuts and the most concentrated can, like Banyuls, be some of the few wines that happily partner with chocolate. John Gilman writes that "Domaine Cazes is one of the greatest producers of sweet wines that I have ever had the pleasure to come across...these are utterly distinct and unique wines of brilliant complexity and character, and though they may not be as well known in the wine world at large as their superb quality deserves, they are truly some of the wine world's greatest treasures."

This selection comes directly from the domaine in June 2021. 100% Grenache Blanc. Aged for almost 7 cades in its original vat. This Rivesaltes is a rich and elegant wine, with polish wax, honey and leather aromas, and an outstanding balance. Alcohol 17.5%.