Quincy

Grower Profiles

Jacques and Côme

Domaine Jacques Rouzé
Jacques Rouzé is a big man whose mumbled enunciation makes him difficult to comprehend. He’s the third generation of his family to work this domaine, although he nearly lost it all after the devastating frosts of 1991 which saw him off-loading vineyards to newcomers in the appellation just so he could remain financially viable. This is a close knit family concern involving Jacques’s wife, Sylvie and their children, Adèle and Côme. Strategically, perhaps, each has their own dedicated pseudo-domaine, although everything is run from their tiny office-cum tasting room in the centre of Quincy.

Adèle, who joined her father in 2003, has a degree in viticulture from Bordeaux, whilst her brother has only recently returned to the domaine after working elsewhere, but is clearly now being groomed to take over the running of the domaine. Between them, the Rouzés are now responsible for a total of 20 hectares planted principally to Sauvignon Blanc (15ha all of which are in Quincy), with Pinot Noir (2.5ha) and Pinot Gris (.40ha) established in Reuilly. The decision to expand into the neighbouring appellation was made in the late 1990s and allowed Jacques the pleasure of being able to produce a little red and gris. At the start of 2007 foundations for a new cellar were dug to accommodate the increased vineyard plantings, with the first grapes being received at the new facility the same year.   

The 17 hectares planted in Quincy are to be found in the lieux-dits of Les Crèves Coeurs, Les Rimonés and Le Clos de la Victoire, all on the left bank of the Cher, whilst Jacques is also fortunate to have vines in Les Grandes Vignes on the opposite side of the river. The age of the vines spans three distinct periods of planting; four hectares are between 70 and 90 years old, with a further three hectares planted in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The remaining ten hectares, which form the backbone of the generic Cuvée Tradition, were planted between 1982 and 2006.

Apart from the basic wine, there are a further five different Quincys produced. The Domaine Adèle is altogether more serious and sources grapes from some of the oldest vines; a 1.85ha parcel planted between 1930 and 1950. The Domaine des Croix comes from 3.5ha of vines that are in the name of Sylvie. Villalin is a separate bottling from the gravel soils of the right bank (Jacques is related to Maryline Smith whose family own the majority of the vineyards on this side of the river) and come from vines planted in the late 1970s. The cuvée Vignes d’Antan is made up of the oldest parcels, planted in Le Clos de la Victoire between 1920 and 1940. Production here is understandably small, with vines averaging around 35hl/ha at best. In addition to the above, Jacques also makes an occasional release under the name Collection. This is normally produced from the first pressing from his best parcels and is bottled to commemorate any significant event at the domaine. The 2006 Cuvée ‘La Cinquantaine’ celebrated Jacques 50^th birthday, whilst ‘L’Auguste’ 2008 celebrated the birth of his first grandchild. The 2009 ‘En Vol’ is named to commemorate the return of Côme to the family domaine.  

It is here that I make a commercial declaration in that I have been working with Jacques since the 2002 vintage, when I was granted a total allocation of 25 cases of ‘Tradition’. Volumes have thankfully moved northwards since then. Needless to say, I believe that the Rouzés are one of the star performers in Quincy, their wines being consistently being of the best produced in the appellation as well as showing the characteristics of each vintage.

Domaine Jacques Rouzé
Chemin des Vignes
Quincy
T: + 33 2 48 51 35 61
F: + 33 2 48 51 05 00
rouze@terre-net.fr
arouze@terre-net.fr
www.jacques-rouze.com

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