Banyuls

Banyuls

What it is

Mutage — killing the ferment with spirit while the sugar is still the grape's own — is credited to Arnaud de Villeneuve, physician at Montpellier around 1285, and it underlies every vin doux naturel. At Banyuls the wine then spends years in glass bonbonnes left out in the sun and in old foudres, deliberately oxidising into the walnut-and-cocoa note the trade calls rancio.

In the kitchen

Reduce it with a duck fond and a strip of orange peel, and stop while it still coats a spoon — pushed further the sugar catches and turns acrid. It is the one wine that will stand up to both Roquefort and dark chocolate.

Goes with

Duck Dark chocolate Roquefort Walnut Orange Fig

Same species

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale DOP Amontillado Armagnac Brandy de Jerez Champagne vinegar Cognac

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Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink in moderation.