portfolio
Fortified
Fortifying a wine with alcohol before, during or after fermentation provides bacterial stability to a wine or aromatized wine, allowing the winemaker to conduct the rest of the production process without the wine spoiling. Fortifying a wine does not aid in aromatic stability, however, so a fortified wine does not of its own nature have a longer shelf life after opening.
Maury
Mas Peyre Maury Hors d’Age ‘La Rage du Soleil’ NV
France ➜ Roussillon ➜ Maury AOP
17% Alc/Vol • Fortified, Oxidative
First established in 2003, this singular Maury solera was augmented with small lots each year until 2008, then rested quietly in barrel until bottling in late 2016. 100% Grenache noir, the name ‘Rage du Soleil’ alludes to the heat of Roussillon and the enduring nature of its old vines. Oxidative, yet still primary, this deft wine boasts notes of cherry compote, spice cake and cocoa powder; tobacco leaf, bitter orange and rose pepper. With lightly drying tannins balancing the wine’s inherent richness, expect a continued graceful evolution in the bottle. Enjoy with creamy blue-veined cow’s milk cheeses, with nuts and dark chocolates. Serve slightly chilled or at cellar temperature. Full details
Domaine du Dernier Bastion Maury Rancio 2008
France ➜ Roussillon ➜ Maury AOP
16% Alc/Vol • Fortified, Oxidative
Produced only in exceptional vintages, the Domaine du Dernier Bastion Maury Rancio is pure Grenache noir, selected from the estate’s oldest vines. Fermented in a 200-year-old concrete tank, the wine was aged in a 1,000-liter tonneau for eight years, then placed on the rooftop under glass and exposed to the elements for a final year prior to bottling. The resulting wine exhibits warming complexity and reverberative depth, its mellow rancio character embroidered on flavors of spiced cherry, caramelized orange, fruit cake, fig, walnut, coffee and cocoa. Full details
Domaine du Dernier Bastion Maury Rancio 2007
France ➜ Roussillon ➜ Maury AOP
16% Alc/Vol • Fortified, Oxidative
Produced only in exceptional vintages, the Domaine du Dernier Bastion Maury Rancio is pure Grenache noir, selected from the estate’s oldest vines. Fermented in a 200-year-old concrete tank, the wine was aged in a 1,000-liter tonneau for nine years, then placed on the rooftop under glass and exposed to the elements for a final year prior to bottling. The resulting wine exhibits warming complexity and reverberative depth, its mellow rancio character embroidered on flavors of spiced cherry, caramelized orange, fruit cake, fig, walnut, coffee and cocoa. Full details
Banyuls
Domaine du Mas Blanc
Garnatxa d’Empordà
Espodol Solera Garnatxa d’Empordà NV
Spain ➜ Catalunya ➜ Empordà DO
15.5% Alc/Vol • Fortified, Oxidative
The Celler Espolla’s Solera Garnatxa is considered amongst the finest and most prominent of its tradition in Catalunya. Ripe, passerillé Garnatxa blanca and rosat grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with native yeasts in concrete tank. The fermentation is arrested via mutage, and the wine begins a lengthy, oxidative odyssey through a six-tier solera that was inaugerated in 1931. Dark amber, seamless and layered, it shows dried apricot and cherry, roasted hazelnut and sweet/smoky baking spices. Enjoy with a wide variety of cheeses and desserts. Once opened, it will keep well for 6-8 weeks. Full details
Carcavelos
Madeira
Belem’s
Portugal ➜ Madeira DOC
17% Alc/Vol • Fortified, Fully Oxidized, Oxidative
Saveiro
Portugal ➜ Madeira DOC
19% Alc/Vol • Fortified, Fully Oxidized, Oxidative
Henriques & Henriques
Portugal ➜ Madeira DOC
19.0-20.0% Alc/Vol • Fortified, Fully Oxidized, Oxidative
