2013 Domaine la Tour Vieille Banyuls Rimage, 500ml

Domaine de la Tour Vieille is north of Collioure, a French seaport just up the Mediterranean coast from Spain. The domaine is in the Cotes du Roussillon, France’s most southern region. It is part of the larger Languedoc-Roussillon appellation. Owned by the husband-and-wife team of Vincent Cantie and Christine Campadieu, Domaine la Tour Vieille was founded in 1981 when the couple took over two small domaines. The vineyards are on steep terraces overlooking the sea, and they are exposed to the strong winds that come off the Mediterranean. Vineyards are planted to Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Macabeo, Syrah and Carignan. The single-vineyard reds routinely earn complimentary reviews. The domaine also produces white and rose wines.

Languedoc-Roussillon is very large wine-producing region in south and southwestern France extending along the Mediterranean coast from northern Spain to the Rhone Valley. It includes more than 800,000 vineyard acres and numerous appellations, nearly all created since the mid-20th century. Languedoc-Roussillon produces one-third of all the wine made in France and it long had a reputation for quantity over quality. In the last few decades, however, outside investors and some long-time local producers have greatly improved vineyard practices and winemaking. The result is that Languedoc-Roussillon is now home to many entrepreneurially-minded producers highly focused on quality, and it enjoys a buzz among wine buyers looking for well-crafted, robust wines offered at excellent values. The most successfully grown red grapes are the traditional Rhone varietals of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah, though Carignan and Cinsault are also planted. The intense sun and dry weather makes it tougher to grow white grapes, though Chardonnay and some other white grapes are often successful. Chardonnay is used for the popular sparkling wine Crémant de Limoux, a Languedoc-Roussillon appellation created in 1990.