The Banyuls Wine Region Of France (10 Best Bottles, Prices)

Banyuls is an AOC for delicious fortified dessert wine (or Vin Doux Naturel) in southeastern Roussillon in France. 

It’s the only sweet wine in France that can be labeled as a Grand Cru.

In this article, we’ll explore the delicious Banyuls wine styles, its 10 best bottles, food pairings, winemaking techniques, and investment potential.

The Delicious Banyuls Wine Styles

Banyuls wines are made predominantly from Grenache grapes with Grenache Noir being the most popular. 

Red wines need to contain at least 50% Grenache Noir while Grand Crus should contain at least 75%.

Other grape varieties like Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Macabeu and Tourbat are also used, but in smaller quantities.

Wine production in the Banyuls AOC mostly consists of red wines, but some producers also make white and Rose wines:

• Banyuls ‘Traditional’: A red wine made primarily from the Grenache grape. These wines are aged for at least 30 months.

• Banyuls Blanc: A white wine made with Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc.

• Banyuls Ambré: An amber-colored white blend with preserved fruit flavors. 

• Banyuls Rose: A young Rose wine made from Grenache Gris grapes of various colors.

• Banyuls ‘Rimage’: A special vintage red wine that goes through a 5-week long maceration process. These wines are aged for 4–20 months.

• Banyuls ‘Grand Cru’: Banyuls Grand Cru wines contain 75% Grenache Noir, are made from destemmed grapes, and have matured for at least 30 months in an oak barrel. 

The 10 Best Banyuls Wine Bottles To Buy In 2022

Here are the top Banyuls wines to try in 2022: 

1. 2002 M. Chapoutier Banyuls
2. 1980 L'Etoile Banyuls Grand Cru
3. 2016 Vinyer de la Ruca Banyuls
4. 2000 Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Rimage la Coume
5. 2004 Coume del Mas Banyuls Blanc
6. 1992 Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Blanc
7. 1989 Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Rimage
8. 2017 Bruno Duchêne Banyuls Rimage 'Le Banyuls de Moman en Amphore'
9. 1998 Domaine Vial-Magnères Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée André Magnères
10. 2018 Domaine La Tour Vieille Banyuls Rimage

1. 2002 M. Chapoutier Banyuls ($250)

This sweet wine opens with a fruity, herbal nose, followed by a textured palate of cocoa and chocolate and a long finish. 

2. 1980 L'Etoile Banyuls Grand Cru ($217) 

One of the finest Banyuls Grand Cru wines, this delicious tipple has a good length and medium tannins. The nose is filled with tobacco, plums, figs, and cloves, with tasting notes of caramel, nougat, and nuts.

3. 2016 Vinyer de la Ruca Banyuls ($194)

The 2016 vintage has dried fruit aromas on the nose, a medium body with balanced acidity and sweetness. The palate has notes of raisins, figs, cherry, and spice.

4. 2000 Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Rimage la Coume ($151)

Made with 100% Grenache Noir, this wine has medium tannins and refreshing acidity. It tastes like chocolate tart and vanilla ice cream and offers toffee and butterscotch aromas. 

5. 2004 Coume del Mas Banyuls Blanc ($92)

This fortified wine is beautifully balanced with subtle acidity and a fruity nose. The palate is filled with pineapple and marzipan notes.

6. 1992 Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Blanc ($90)

The 1992 vintage has a very bold palate, with notes of cherry, chocolate, coffee, and cinnamon, and a mineral finish. On the nose, you’ll notice sweet tobacco aromas. 

7. 1989 Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Rimage ($79)

This is a beautiful dessert wine with a seductive dark chocolate nose. The palate opens with a bouquet of raisins, figs, and dried fruit.

8. 2017 Bruno Duchêne Banyuls Rimage 'Le Banyuls de Moman en Amphore' ($62)

This sweet wine has a beautiful cherry aroma. The palate bursts open with powerful acidity, sweet tannins, and black pepper and oak tasting notes. 

9. 1998 Domaine Vial-Magnères Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée André Magnères ($57)

This is a well-aged fortified wine with a powerful pistachio aroma. The palate offers a beautiful bouquet of nutty flavors and hints of oak, brown sugar, and blackberry. 

10. 2018 Domaine La Tour Vieille Banyuls Rimage ($50)

This is a pleasantly acidic wine with a delicate floral aroma and dark chocolate and plum notes. You’ll notice that the palate has a balanced structure and a sweet aftertaste.

Banyuls Wine Food Pairings And Serving Recommendations 

While Banyuls wines make excellent aperitifs, they also pair well with various dishes:

• Red Banyuls: Dark chocolate, coffee cake, cookies, trail mixes, and chocolate brownies
• White Banyuls: Chicken, pork, beef teriyaki, and blue cheese
• Rose Banyuls: Fruits, sweet and sour pork, and Thai food
• Banyuls Blanc: Mixed dried fruits, Indian dishes, and tapas
• Banyuls Ambre: Fruits and nuts, cheeses like Roquefort and Stilton
• Banyuls Rimage: Red meats, venison stew, or bitter chocolate
• Banyuls Grand Cru: Asian cuisine or desserts like chocolate fondant 

Banyuls wines have a high alcohol content and are best enjoyed in small quantities. As a result, you should serve it in small dessert wine glasses at 60–68°F. 

Next, let’s find out how Banyuls is made. 

The Banyuls AOC: Winemaking And Regulations 

The wines in the Banyuls Appellation d'origine Contrôlée (AOC) are made from grape vines that are grown in over 1,000 hectares of vineyards. H

Here’s how these great wines are made:

• Harvest: The grapes are harvested in early fall when they’re at their sweetest.

• Pressing: Red grapes are pressed as whole berries while the white and Rose wine grapes are juiced without the pulp, seeds, or skins. 

• Maceration: The juice goes through a long maceration period in oak barrels. This can last between 2-5 weeks.

• Fermentation: Producers halt the fermentation process when the wine’s alcohol level is at approximately 6% by adding pure alcohol (grape spirit) to the wine. This process also gives Banyuls wines their high ABV (15-19%). 

• Aging: Producers either use oak casks for aging (12-30 months) or they rely on traditional Demijohns (a narrow-necked bottle) to expose the wine to direct sunlight for about 30 months, bringing out Banyuls’ complex flavors.

The Banyuls appellation has been following strict appellation laws since 1936 to ensure quality production. 

Some of these include:

• No irrigation is permitted throughout the entire year.
• No fruit trees are allowed to be grown or harvested.
• No grape names can appear on the labels of AOC Banyuls wines unless it’s a single varietal wine.
• Winemakers can’t include the Muscat grape on wine labels under any circumstances.
• Only the Grenache grape can be used to make a Banyuls AOC single varietal wine.

But are these investment-grade wines?

Let’s find out.

Should You Invest In A Banyuls Vintage?

If you want to invest in fine Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay wines, or any other great wines, it’s best to do it using a reliable wine investment platform like Vinovest,

Vinovest can help you buy,store, sell, and authenticate any high quality wine with ease.

Now, Banyuls Grand Cru and Rimage wines have fantastic aging potential. In fact, these superior wines can be stored in your wine cellar for 50–100 years! 

Additionally, the best vintage Banyuls bottles show brilliant price appreciation. For example, the 2000 Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Rimage la Coume price went up by 178% from $55 in 2020 to $153 in 2022. 

To top it off, they do well at auctions as well. For instance, 12 bottles of Banyuls, Domaine du Mas Blanc, Cuvée de la Saint Martin--Vintage 1979 were sold for $378 at a Christie’s auction in 2007.

Get Yourself A Vibrant Bottle Of Banyuls Wine!

Banyuls wines are the perfect addition to any celebratory occasion and extravagant dinner.  

Additionally, these wines offer a versatile flavor profile and pair exquisitely with a wide range of foods.  

You can invest in the finest Banyuls wines or other investment-worthy wines from Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, and other parts of the world through Vinovest!