History

An exceptional vintage, the Banyuls Traditionnel 1949 has surpassed 75 years of oxidative aging. Born on the steep schist slopes overlooking the Mediterranean, it is the result of the heroic work of the winemakers of the Cave de l’Étoile, a pioneering estate founded in 1921. A true collector’s item, this bottle embodies the living history of Roussillon and the timeless nobility of aged natural sweet wines.

Vinification

This Banyuls is made primarily from Grenache noir, complemented by Grenache gris and Carignan. The winemaking follows tradition: hand-harvested grapes, destemmed and crushed, mutage on the skins to preserve natural sugars, long maceration, then vertical pressing. Oxidative aging in old casks and century-old barrels over decades has crafted an unparalleled aromatic complexity.

Tasting Notes

The deep mahogany color gives way to a bouquet of rare intensity: walnut, leather, toasted dried fruits, cocoa, mocha, and noble rancio. On the palate, the velvety richness is balanced by preserved freshness, offering an endless, contemplative finish. This 1949 Banyuls is an oenological treasure, to be savored alone to fully appreciate its depth or paired with an aged blue cheese, a bitter chocolate dessert, or caramelized dried fruits.