Domaine de la Rectorie Banyuls Cuvée Léon Parcé 2019
Domaine de la Rectorie · Domaine de la Rectorie
Domaine de la Rectorie's Léon Parcé bottling demonstrates that Banyuls — one of France's most underappreciated appellations — can produce wines of extraordinary complexity and restraint. The Mediterranean heat that bakes these coastal terraces is the same heat that concentrates the Grenache to an almost raisined intensity, which the Parcé brothers then harness with precision. This is a wine that bridges the worlds of wine and spirits.
Nose
Rich cherry and dried fig fill the glass, layered with toasted almond and a warm marzipan sweetness. Beneath the fruit sits a subtle violet perfume and a cocoa-dusted quality. There is a faint savory undertone — almost gamey — that adds depth.
Palate
Luscious and medium-sweet, with blackcurrant and cherry compote supported by firm tannins and a cedar-like structure. The fortification is seamlessly integrated, carrying flavors of vanilla and toasted hazelnuts. A floral lift of rose emerges at midpalate, preventing the wine from feeling heavy.
Finish
Long and warming, with lingering cherry, marzipan, and a woody spice. The sweetness never cloys, thanks to a backbone of acidity that keeps everything in balance.
- Varietal
- Grenache Noir
- Blend
- Grenache Noir with small amounts of Grenache Gris and Carignan
- Vineyards
- Cosprons Levants and other steep schist terraces overlooking the Mediterranean
- Alcohol
- 18.0%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Flourless dark chocolate torte with a sprinkle of fleur de sel, served alongside fresh raspberries and a dollop of crème fraîche.
The Parcé brothers, Marc and Thierry, farm precipitous schist terraces above the Mediterranean in Banyuls-sur-Mer, where their grandfather Léon established the domaine and the vine rows are so steep that everything must be done by hand.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Jura
Jura 10 is an island malt that sidesteps the peat-bomb stereotype entirely. Its restraint is its strength — a whisky shaped by geography rather than process, tasting of the rain and wind that batter its remote island home. Ideal as a gateway to island Scotch.
Noah's Mill Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
Noah's Mill
Noah's Mill is barrel-proof bourbon without apology. Its intensity rewards patience — a splash of water opens the caramel and softens the leather into something rich and contemplative. A serious sipper for those who want their bourbon to push back.
Crossbill Highland Dry Gin
Crossbill
Crossbill is a gin that refuses to compromise on juniper. Using only Scottish juniper berries and rosehip, it delivers one of the most juniper-forward profiles available — a gin built for G&T purists and Martini devotees who want the pine to sing. It tastes like the Scottish Highlands in a glass.
Rhum Clément Select Barrel Rhum Agricole
Clément
Clément Select Barrel is an excellent entry point into aged agricole rhum. The barrel aging tames the raw grassy intensity without erasing it, creating a spirit that bridges the gap between agricole purists and aged rum lovers. At its price, it's one of the best values in the category.
Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Pic Saint-Loup 2020
Domaine de l'Hortus
Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée is a masterful expression of Pic Saint-Loup — a region where the altitude and dramatic temperature swings between day and night produce wines of remarkable freshness despite the Mediterranean heat. This is serious Languedoc red at a fraction of Rhône Valley prices.
Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Estates 2021
Domaine de la Côte
Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman's estate-wide blend offers a window into their meticulous Sta. Rita Hills farming without the single-vineyard price tag. It drinks like Burgundy in its restraint and transparency, proving that California Pinot Noir can whisper rather than shout.
Domaine de la Bouïssière Gigondas Les Olivets 2021
Domaine de la Bouïssière
The Faravel family farms old-vine Grenache and Mourvèdre on Gigondas's rocky Dentelles de Montmirail slopes, where low yields and extreme diurnal temperature swings build concentration naturally. Les Olivets is their flagship — a wine of real substance that never sacrifices drinkability for power. Give it thirty minutes in a decanter and it opens beautifully.
Pietradolce Etna Rosso DOC 2021
Pietradolce
Pietradolce farms some of the highest vineyards on Etna's north slope, and this entry-level Rosso punches well above its price. Nerello Mascalese shows its best here — transparent, mineral-driven, alive with tension. It's a red wine that feels like it was drawn from the rock itself.