Down in the furthest corner of southern France, in the lee of the Pyrenees and close to the Spanish border, the town of Banyuls-sur-Mer (66 Pyrénées Orientales, Languedoc-Roussillon - see map) is about to celebrate the annual grape harvest with its Banyuls Vendanges weekend ( 14-15 October 2006). The highlight is a massive beach barbecue which sounds great fyn!
This and neighbouring Collioure are attractive little Mediterranean ports, but Banyuls is also known for its fortified sweet wines based on the Grenache grape.These are Vin Doux Naturels (VDN) which can mean alcohol levels up to about 17o without the use added spirit.
Matured in large oak casks, depending on age they can be richly coloured from golden through to mahogany or black coffee brown. With an extraordinary palette reminiscent of crystallized and dry fruits, nuts, liquorice, peel of orange and cocoa, they are probably closest to a rich oloroso sherry, although a little more viscous in body. The French may drink them as an aperitif, and for all that I have enjoyed tasting them, I really am at a bit of a loss to decide when to drink them, or with what.
For more info see the Banyuls website at www.banyuls-sur-mer.com
Available in the UK from The Secret Cellar in Tunbridge Wells
