Fresh Muscat on the attack, but behind lie depths of very sweet pears, stone fruit, cream and vanilla. Irony power too. Very long. A wine to sip, with definite meditative quality! Now-2013

Product Code: TRG206

Jean-François Deu (see p.) is a Banyuls specialist, having inherited ancient foudres of old Banyuls from his father. In the cellar in the hills near the Spanish border one can taste deliriously heady fifty year old wines. Rimage refers simply to a vintage wine made in closed vats (i.e. not in an oxidative style): this is as pure as freshly made raspberry coulis. The Banyuls Blanc is a rarity, from Grenache Blanc and Gris and Muscat à Petits Grains, unoaked and aromatic. With the 2003 Grand Cru one moves to a more aged, caramel and dried fruit style. Finally, the Hors d’Age, from 2/3 Grenache Noir with Grenache Gris and Carignan, is something really special, awarded Grand Cru status after being submitted for tasting. Blended from one vat of 1991 Banyuls with much older vintages, at least fifteen years in barrel have given it the finesse and grace of a very old Armagnac.