Banyuls AOC

The liqueur wine area is located in the Roussillon wine-growing region at the foot of the Pyrenees directly on the Spanish border. It is the southernmost appellation in France. The AOC Collioure is produced from the grapes not used for liqueur wine production, the area of which is congruent with that of Banyuls. The vineyards on steep slopes on the coast facing the Mediterranean cover around 1,400 hectares of vineyards on slate soils in the four municipalities of Banyuls-sur-Mer, Cerbère, Collioure and Port-Vendres. One of the most famous sweet, fortified Vin doux naturel is produced here. Due to the poor soil, there are only very low yields of less than 20 hectolitres per hectare. The grapes reach a high level of ripeness and often shrivel up on the vine like sultanas (roughly comparable to a Trockenbeerenauslese). In some cases, the mash is already sprayed (mutage sur grains), which results in an intensive extraction of the colour and aroma substances.

Variants

Contact with oxygen or oxidative ageing is forced by frequent decanting. However, there are also variants without oxygen contact. Depending on the grape varieties used, there are products in the colours red, rosé and white. However, there is hardly any difference in age between the white and red colours. All varieties are blended from at least 50% Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta), Grenache Gris (Garnacha Roja), Grenache Blanc (Garnacha Blanca), Macabeo, Malvoisie du Roussillon (Torbato), Muscat Blanc and Muscat d'Alexandrie, as well as a maximum of 10% Carignan Noir (Mazuelo), Cinsaut and Syrah.

Quality classes

The Banyuls Rancio appellation applies to wines that are aged for up to two years in oak barrels that are exposed to sunlight. These often develop an amber-yellow colour and have the typical rancio flavour (French: goût du rancio, a pronounced aged note). The designation Banyuls Grand Cru applies to wines made from at least 75% Grenache Noir, vinified from destemmed grapes and matured for at least 30 months in oak barrels. There is also a Banyuls Grand Cru Rancio.

Producers

With appropriate ageing, the extremely long-lasting Banyuls resembles a port wine with an intense aroma and flavour of coffee, honey, vanilla, nuts, plums and dried fruit with a dry finish. Wines from special vintages are labelled with "Rimage". This is derived from the Catalan "rime" (grape) and means vintage. Well-known Banyuls producers include Cellier des Templiers, Chapoutier, Château de Jau, Clos des Paulille, CV l'Étoile, Domaine de la Casa Blanca, Domaine de la Rectorie, Domaine de la Tour Vieille, Domaine du Tragnier, Domaine du Mas Blanc and Domaine Vial-Magnères. Other VDN appellations in Roussillon are Maury, Muscat de Rivesaltes and Rivesaltes.

Image: By Doronenko - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link