Bila-Haut Banyuls Vin Doux Naturel 2020 6x50cl

A powerful nose, shifting between black fruit and red berries, giving it a lovely freshness, subtly complemented by notes of cocoa. On the palate, it is sumptuous balanced between the solar strength of the wine and the fineness of its tannins. It has a great persistency with sweetness which develops greedily.

Vineyards

From terraced vineyards on old mica-schist from the Primary era, the grapes are hand-harvested when they are very ripe.

Vintage

The very mild winter was accompanied by heavy rainfall (+300mm accumulated in January). Spring continued with a rainy period, the likes of which are rarely seen in Roussillon (the equivalent of a whole year’s rainfall in a single month). These beneficial Roussillon rains came just when the vines were at their most sensitive, particularly to mildew but due to quick adaptation of viticultural practices its development was contained, but not without a notable loss of volume. But in the end, the rains made it possible to regulate the vines for the summer, avoiding hydric stress and producing a more bountiful vintage than in 2019. The arrival of the summer was perfectly timed for the continued development of the grape bunches and the beginning of ripening. Even though it was very hot and very dry, the accumulated water reserves brought the healthy harvest to optimum ripeness. The 2020 harvest was much more condensed than other years: all picked in four weeks, erasing the maturity discrepancies between the whites of Collioure and Latour de France, among others. The Collioure vines took advantage of this sunny climate, without water stress, to produce pure, elegant wines. On Latour de France and Lesquerde, the water and summer heat contributed to very well-balanced, structured wines. The biodynamic wine-making process revealed silky tannins and a beautiful aromatic complexity.

Winemaking

The grapes are destemmed and crushed. The maceration is long with an addition of alcohol to favour the extraction of aromas and tannins.

Enjoy with:

• Grilled and Roasted Red Meats
• Pizza/Pasta
• Casseroles/Stews

Perfect desert wine to pair with chocolate desserts