La Cave de l'Abbe Rous "Christian Reynal" Banyuls Grand Cru

Grapes: Grenache 

Region: Banyuls, France

Vintage: 2000

Viticulture:

Soils: schist soils

Vinification: The fermentation is stopped by adding alcohol, and follows a long maceration of 20 days, the wines are racked in small oak barrels for 8 years, without regular top-up. This oxidation process during the aging creates aromas of traditional Banyuls.

Aging: The wine is then bottled and aged for few more years in the cool cellars of Cave de l'Abbé Rous

Notes from the Importer: The Banyuls vineyard is located in the extreme south of France at the meeting point between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. The vines are planted there in terraces on schist slopes, from the seaside to the bottom of the valleys of the hinterland. For this cuvée, we select old vines, very sunny, exposed east / south-east, on lean, eroded and infertile schist soils.

This cuvée is made only with the best vintages. The grapes are selected from the best plots, which produce 20hl/ha in schistous soil and warm climate of Southern France. The fermentation is stopped by adding alcohol, and follows a long maceration of 20 days, the wines are racked in small oak barrels for 8 years, without regular top-up. This oxidation process during the aging creates aromas of traditional Banyuls. The wine is then bottled and aged for few more years in the cool cellars of Cave de l'Abbé Rous. Rich and full bodied, the aromas present in the bouquet follow through to the palate. The elegant final reveals hints of tobacco leaf aroma. Gingerbread on the opening., it evolves toward coffee perfume, créme brulée and old spirit flavours. A touch of undergrowth and humus.