Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/859549
{ SOMMjournal.com } 93 VIN DOUX NATUREL (VDN) M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut 2014 Occultum Lapidem, AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour- de-France ($17) A blend of Syrah, Black Grenache and Carignan. Hand- harvested; half vat-, half cask-aged. SERA WINES Domaine de Rancy 2001, AOP Rivesaltes Ambré ($32.99) 100% Macabeu aged 12 years in oak barrels that are left not full to oxidize and "rancio" the wine. PATRICK ALLEN SELECTIONS Château Planères 2013 La Romaine, AOP Côtes du Roussillon Les Aspres ($24.99) A blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Black Grenache. Whole-berry fermentation then aged in Burgundy barrels. THE WINE SOURCE INC Domaine de Mas Amiel 2013 Origine, AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages ($35) Black Grenache, Carignan and Syrah, each vinified separately in concrete (the Grenache) and oak casks (the Carignan and Syrah) before blending and bottling. MS WALKER – ADRIAN CHALK SELECTIONS Vignobles de Constance et du Terrassous Hors d'Age 6 Ans, AOP Rivesaltes Ambré ($19.99) Made from 100% Grenache Blanc. A wonderful aperitif style of Vin Doux Naturel. REGAL WINE IMPORTS, THE WINE SOURCE INC, EAGLE EYE Domaine La Coume du Roy Vieux Muscat Hors d'Age, AOP Muscat de Rivesaltes ($80) Aged by the solera method in 600-liter demi-muids for 60 years. Deep, rich, and concentrated. BRADLEY ALAN IMPORTS Infiniment Roussillon: Understanding the AOPs and IGPs The Eastern Pyrenees (Pyrénées-Orientales) department in Roussillon ranks ninth among French wine-producing departments, with two percent of national production by volume. Roussillon produces dry still wines and sweet, fortified Vin Doux Naturel, or VDN, which constitutes at least 80 percent of national production of fortified sweet wines. With 14 AOP and 3 IGP wines, mainly from 25 different grape varieties, Roussillon offers a diverse range of wines, each with its own particular character, hence the region's slogan: Infiniment Roussillon—Infinitely Roussillon. Roussillon's Nine AOP Dry Wines Collioure (white, rosé, red) Côtes du Roussillon (white, rosé, red) Côtes du Roussillon les Aspres (red) which this year became Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres Côtes du Roussillon Villages (red) Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany (red) Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France (red) Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde (red) Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel (red) Maury Sec (red) Roussillon's Three IGP Dry Wines Côtes Catalanes (white, rosé, red and Rancio) Côte Vermeille (white, rosé, red and Rancio) IGP d'Oc (white, rosé, red) Roussillon's Five AOP Fortified Sweet Wines (VDN) Rivesaltes (Ambré = amber, Grenat = garnet, Tuilé = tawny, Rosé, Hors d'Age *, Rancio) Maury (Blanc = white, Ambré, Grenat, Tuilé, Hors d'Age, Rancio) Banyuls (Blanc = white, Rosé, Rimage**, amber, tawny, Hors d'Age, Rancio) Banyuls Grand Cru (tuilé) Muscat de Rivesaltes (white) *= very aged, a blend of vintages with the youngest aged a minimum of five years. ** = same style as a Grenat.