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Domaine Rabiega

Domaine Rabiega is located near Draguignan in the South of France, and has been owned by the Swedish firm Vin & Sprit since 1986. Sweden is a not a country that springs to mind when thinking of investment in the vineyards of the Provence, but this is one more example of how this beautiful region draws in outsiders. The presence of Germans Peter Fischer and Henning Hoesch, French lawyer Dominique Hauvette, and many other incomers to the region, is testament to this effect. Admittedly, with Rabiega the interest was perhaps more commercial than with the impassioned individuals mentioned above. Vin & Sprit operate Domaine Rabiega as a training and conference centre as much as a vineyard, with the ultimate aim of gaining oenological experience in a firm which already had a strong position with its spirit brands, which include Absolut Vodka.

The vineyards are limestone and clay, with 10 of the 11.5 hectares planted to vines. These are predominantly red varieties, mainly those typical of the south; Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsaut, but also Cabernet Sauvignon. The whites are comprised of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier. The vineyards are managed along organic lines by Lars Torstenson, with ploughing replacing weedkiller, a green harvest in summer, with manual harvesting when September comes.

Much of the harvest is bottled as AC Côtes de Provence, with two red cuvées leading the portfolio. The first is Clos Dière Cuvée I, which is dominated by Syrah. This sees fermentation and a four week maceration in stainless steel, before up to a year in a mix of new and used French, Slovenian and Hungarian oak. It is bottled without filtration, and about 400 cases per annum are produced. The Clos Dière Cuvée II, however, is 60% Carignan and 20% Grenache, the balance being Cabernet Sauvignon. This also sees stainless steel fermentation, before up to a year in French and American oak. In contrast to Cuvée I, this cuvée may see an egg white fining and a light filtration before bottling. About 600 cases are produced per annum. Since 2003, however, Cuvée II has been phased out, with the fruit used instead to beef up the generic red Domaine Rabiega, also AC Côtes de Provence. There is also a rosé AC Côtes de Provence, also bottled as Domaine Rabiega rather than Clos Dière. Finally, the Clos Dière Blanc is a fascinating blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Viognier, bottled as Vin du Pays du Var. This wine is fermented and aged in oak, with annual production standing at around 300 cases.

In my experience the white has the potential to age well, developing honeyed, nutty style with increased time in bottle. The red also ages well, demonstrating not a huge degree of complexity, but always great colour - often amazing for the age - as well as meaty, gamey character combined with elegant balance. Pleasing wines indeed. (6/7/05)

Contact details:
Address: 83300 Draguignan
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 94 68 44 22
Fax: +33 (0) 4 94 47 17 72
Internet: www.rabiega.com

Domaine Rabiega - Tasting Notes

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Domaine Rabiega Clos Dière Blanc (VdP du Var) 2003: Honeyed, but fresh. Full palate, balanced, with a minerally, honeyed edge. Fresh, herbal style. Elegant, underpinned by good acid structure. Very integrated. This is lovely, and judging by older vintages has very good potential. 16.5+/20 (November 2004)

Domaine Rabiega Clos Dière Cuvée I (Côtes de Provence) 2003: Exotic, spicy nose, and great colour. Some nutty oak aromas still present. Full, balanced, elegant. Creamy. Shows finesse. There is tannin in the finish. Some length too. This is lovely. Will improve over the next ten years. 17+/20 (November 2004)

Domaine Rabiega Clos Dière Blanc (VdP du Var) 2000: SShowing further honeyed development here. Still a firm, mineral streak, but giving a softer impression on the nose than the 2003. Rounded, flavoursome palate. White fruit, mineral, honeyed. Ripe. Some grip. Very good indeed. Drink now or keep. 16.5/20 (November 2004)

Domaine Rabiega Clos Dière Cuvée I (Côtes de Provence) 1998: Moderate colour. Decent fruit-dominated nose. Ripe palate, with integrated, soft, ripe tannins. Moderate acidity. An elegant style. Ready but would be better with a little more integration. Needs 1-2 more years in the cellar. 16/20 (November 2004)

Domaine Rabiega Clos Dière Blanc (VdP du Var) 1996: Nutty, honeyed, mature style. A little fat. Flashy. Moderate acidity. Integrated structure. Lovely texture. Seamlessly put together. Herbal freshness alongside the mature characteristics. This is very good. For drinking now. 16.5/20 (November 2004)

Domaine abiega Clos Dière Cuvée I (Côtes de Provence) 1993: Still a very dense hue despite this wines age. Dark fruits with an earthy edge on the nose. Moderate concentration. Maturing, gamey fruit. Quite integrated and ready. Lovely extract, correct acidity, a trace of elegance. Remarkable showing for eleven years of age! Drink now and over the next five years. 17/20 (November 2004)