TN: 1949 Domaines et Terroirs du Sud Banyuls GC, Vin Doux Naturel, Roussillon, France
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:02 pm
16.5 pabv. Approx $80/750 ml. Purchased about 8 years ago specifically to celebrate Barbara's 65th birthday on 3/20/2014. Opened for dinner at the Pinnacles Grill on board the MS Zuiderdam (Holland America Lines) on the way to dockside in Aruba. This wine is a Grenache VDN dessert wine.
This wine seems to have little crusting or particulates when opened. Double-decanted from cork-finished bottle at first into duck decanter by Chief Cellarmaster Adrien, who also approved the health and well-being of this bottle. Bottled no more than about 10 to 15 years ago and has spent the rest of its life predominately in neutral oak or glass. A very richly extracted (by appearance) vibrant red wine, translucent to the center of the glass; plenty of legs.
Scents of savory dry red candied cherries, with caramel, spun sugar and mild earthy tarriness, a hint of vanilla cream, and a bare minimum of fruity ester and volatile acidity.
A beautiful red cherry pudding, caramel, and nutmeg mouthful, with a seasoning of dry ripe tannin and great length of cherry, chocolate, and volcanic-grown Arabica coffee. Reminds me strongly of some of the best old Commandaria (Cyprus) wines I've had long ago. Came to the table with an amuse-bouche of tuna and hazelnut with a soy reduction.
Drinks beautifully over several days and even through three plus weeks. 94/100. Thanks, Barbara, for the first wonderful nine years of our love; drink now through 2025. Great anticipation for the future. (94 pts.)
This wine seems to have little crusting or particulates when opened. Double-decanted from cork-finished bottle at first into duck decanter by Chief Cellarmaster Adrien, who also approved the health and well-being of this bottle. Bottled no more than about 10 to 15 years ago and has spent the rest of its life predominately in neutral oak or glass. A very richly extracted (by appearance) vibrant red wine, translucent to the center of the glass; plenty of legs.
Scents of savory dry red candied cherries, with caramel, spun sugar and mild earthy tarriness, a hint of vanilla cream, and a bare minimum of fruity ester and volatile acidity.
A beautiful red cherry pudding, caramel, and nutmeg mouthful, with a seasoning of dry ripe tannin and great length of cherry, chocolate, and volcanic-grown Arabica coffee. Reminds me strongly of some of the best old Commandaria (Cyprus) wines I've had long ago. Came to the table with an amuse-bouche of tuna and hazelnut with a soy reduction.
Drinks beautifully over several days and even through three plus weeks. 94/100. Thanks, Barbara, for the first wonderful nine years of our love; drink now through 2025. Great anticipation for the future. (94 pts.)