Rancio Sec de Maccabeu Domaine de Rancy 2011
Red 14% ABV ABV De RancyNot really my thing
My partner got this as a birthday present for me. I can tell it's well made and the finish is smooth, but the whole sherry-ish oxidised style just isn't for me. If you like that sort of thing you'll probably love it though — I could tell the quality was there even if it wasn't my cup of tea.
Blew my mind a bit
Never had a rancio before and wow, this is something else. It builds on you — first sip I wasn't sure, but by halfway through the bottle I was getting all these layers of dried fruit and nuts. The finish is really clean too, no harshness at all. Already ordered another one.
Weird and wonderful
Okay so this is NOT what I expected when I opened it. It's got this nutty, almost sherry-like thing going on but it's technically a white wine? The oxidative style threw me at first but by glass two I was completely hooked. Really interesting bottle if you're into trying something different.
Great dinner party find
Bought this for a dinner party after the guy at my local wine shop recommended it. Went down really well with the cheese course — that nutty depth works brilliantly with aged comté. At £31 it's not an everyday wine but it's a proper conversation starter.
Perfect with charcuterie
Picked this up after reading about rancio wines somewhere online. At 14% it's got some weight to it and that nutty aged character is lovely with cured meats. Sipped it over a whole evening and it actually got better as it opened up. Would buy again for a special occasion.
Solid and interesting
Had this at a restaurant in France last year and tracked it down online. It's a proper aged wine with real structure to it. The acid keeps everything fresh despite all that oxidative character. Good with rich food or just on its own after dinner.
Bit steep for what it is
Interesting wine but I'm not sure it's worth the £30+ price tag honestly. The oxidative ageing gives it character and there's decent complexity there, but I reckon you could find similar styles for less. Would try again if someone else was buying.