2018 M. Chapoutier Banyuls Rimage Domaine de Bila-Haut

This estate also makes a small amount of fortified wine, and the 2018 Banyuls Rimage is a year-in-year-out value wine that brings plenty of classic Banyuls character. Deep ruby/plum-hued with notes of mulled plums, blueberries, violets, cedar, and Asian spices, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, seductive, sweetly fruited style, and a great finish. It can keep for over a decade, but I like this wine in its first 4-6 years, while the fruit is upfront and juicy. While falling outside the focus of this Northern Rhône report, I taste these wines every year during my visit at Chapoutier. Looking first at the 2018s, this was a cooler, wetter, and later year, and the wines show terrific purity and freshness with more medium-bodied to medium to full-bodied profiles. The 2017s come from a hot, dry year and are bigger, richer efforts.