2006 M. Chapoutier Banyuls

Chapoutier’s 2006 Banyuls suggests strawberry and black raspberry preserves laced with lily and gardenia. Polished and rich on the palate, it is at the same time juicy and bright, an exemplar of the ideal in fortified wine of capturing the essence of the ripe but not over-ripe grape. Faintly bitter suggestions of coffee and burnt sugar add welcome contrast on a palate underlain by refined, scarcely noticeable tannins. Sweet floral perfume wafts all the way through to a finish of lift and invigoration. This can be enjoyed anytime over the next 6-8 years, though for capturing the essence of the fruit, now is the time. For reviews of other Roussillon Chapoutier projects, please see under Agly Brothers and Domaine Bila-Haut. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900