I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t totally excited to try Banyuls.  Having read about it back in Wines of the World at Rochester Institute of Technology, again once I started First Pour Wine, and most recently during our introduction to France.  Coming from the Languedoc, Banyuls is a fortified wine that’s made from Grenache.  While you might think it’s like Porto, it actually tends to be significantly lighter, more elegant, and can be a great compliment to chocolate. Given the season, it only seemed appropriate to crack open Abbe Rous Baillaury Banyuls 5 Ans d’Age.

Sight:  A ruby red core with elements of pink. The edges slow a slight oranging.

Smell:  Bright jammy blackberries, fresh macerated raspberries, and an element of sun dried prunes.  Notes of dark chocolate and vanilla lace with spices.

Sip:    The body is bright, lively, and light.  A moderate sweetness leads off, and there’s a lot of chocolate and espresso stitched into a deep jammy mix of prunes, blackberries, and raspberries.  Notes of currant and blueberry come out into the mix with plenty of spices.

Savor:  The ending is packed with bright jammy raspberries, hints of spice, and tasty vanilla and mocha.  The finish has a little note of tannin to it.

Abbe Rous Baillaury Banyuls 5 Ans d’Age is a beautiful fortified wine with great raspberry flavors and an incredibly light body.  The lightness of the body is elegant, dancing across the palate with jammy red fruit.  The flavors are slightly delicate, but are a nice match darker chocolate, or anything on the less sweet side of the spectrum.  Abbe Rous Baillaury Banyuls 5 Ans d’Age is a great choice of wine for halloween, a cool fall night, or just enjoying after dinner.

Verdict:  Jammy Raspberries, Blackberries, Sun Baked Prunes, Spice
Rating: 90
Price: $15
Banyuls, France