Definition: banyuls

Rimage (or rimatge, or vintage) is a selection of high-quality vintage wines. The maceration period is longer than usual. To preserve its freshness, this Banyuls is bottled relatively early, between 6 and 12 months after the harvest. It can be compared to a vintage port, which needs to be decanted.Rimage, bottled late, undergoes the same vinification process, but before bottling, it is aged for between 1 and 3 years in large casks or barrels. Grand cru must be made from at least 75% Grenache and aged for 30 months or more in casks. In general, it is a selection of the best batches from one year or several vintages. As they age, wines in this category develop secondary rancio aromas that are very characteristic of Banyuls grand cru. Hors d'âge, rancio, très vieux, ambré, etc. are terms that are not regulated by any regulations. They refer to a certain type of maturation. The wines are often stored in containers (casks, barrels, demijohns) that are not completely full, in attics or on flat roofs outside, where temperatures reach very high levels in summer, alternating with daily coolness at night. Blending according to the solera system, which is specific to the ageing of sherry, is also a tradition applied to this category of Banyuls.