Dark Chocolates Best Friend - Banyuls fortified wine
What is Banyuls? Banyuls is a fortified dessert wine (Vin Doux Naturel) made primarily of Grenache and/or Grenache Blanc. Grenache Noir is the most common variety in Banyuls and has to be 50% of the blend for red Banyuls (75% for the Grand Cru wines). Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Macabeu, Muscat and Malvoisie can also be used. Generally the vines are old vines, grown on terraced slopes in the communes of the Côte Vermeille in the Languedoc-Roussillon AOC in the South of France that joins Spain. The AOC is divided into sub-regions: Banyuls, Collioure, Cerberus, Port-Vendres. The different wines produced in the region are as follows: Banyuls Blanc, Traditional, Rimage, Grand Cru and Rimage- Mise Tardive.
The Banyuls-producing vineyards are sun-baked, terraced vineyards. Strong Tramontane winds, hot Mediterranean sun and relatively low rainfall all contribute to the intensity of the wines. Banyuls wines are made from grapes that are harvested in the early October in order to have a higher ripeness and sweetness levels. The reds are partially fermented as whole berries for a long maceration period of 3 to 6 weeks till the must reaches 5-10% abv. A neutral spirit is added to the must to stop fermentation, a process called outage. The naturally high levels of grape sugars and fortification of a neutral spirit produces a final alcohol level of minimum 15% abv. Port is made in a similar way. The wines are then matured in oak barrels, or outside in glass bottles (Demijohns) exposed to the sun. Post-mutage allows for color and tannin extraction. All Banyuls wines are barrel aged for at least 12 months – 30 months in the case of the Banyuls Grand Cru wines.
Vincent Carié established Domaine La Tour Vielle in 1982 in the heart of Collioure. The vineyards are carved into the side of the Côte Vermeille mountain with steep terraces throughout. The schists soils are some of the oldest in Europe. The slopes are very steep and are hand harvested due to the terraced formation thus maintain the deep tradition and heritage of the region. The vines are goblet shaped which provides natural shade to the berries in the hot, windy Mediterranean climate. The vineyard makes still white, red, rosé in Collioure AOC and fortified desert wines in Banyuls AOC. The Rimage wine is only made in the best years, long maceration, rich complexity and is fortified. The wine is meant to preserve the fruit and freshness and is bottled 6 to 12 months after harvest then aged.
Domaine La Tour Vielle Banyuls Rimage has fllavors of stewed strawberries, baked prunes, dark chocolate, mint and earth. It is very sweet, full bodied, medium to high tannins and medium acidity.
Perfect pairing for dark chocolate - truffles, chocolate mousse tart or double chocolate cupcakes. Savory foods as well such as blue cheese, goat cheese, poached pears with caramel, foie gras, seared duck breast with cherries.
