Al Tragou Rancio Très Vieux 1982

Wine: Al Tragou Rancio Très Vieux 1982

Winery: Domaine Vial Magnères
Appellation: A.O.C. Banyuls (France)
Varietals: 95% Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris, and Grenache Blanc; 5% Carignan
ABV: 20%

Winemaking
Hand-harvested from overripe grapes. The wine underwent an extensive aging period of at least 20 years in oak barrels. Limited production of 2,000 bottles.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Deep, dark amber; clean and bright with orange and golden highlights.

 

Nose: A profile of an old rancio, powerful and expressive. It presents a significant concentration of raisined fruit (macerated plums, Turkish figs) wrapped in a liqueur-like nuance, alongside dried fruits, toasted notes, and reminiscences of old soleras and wine-soaked staves. A balsamic-vegetal undertone emerges in the background, featuring notes of cigar tobacco leaf, cocoa, fig, sage, green tea, and mulberry leaves.

 

Palate: Ultra-classical on the palate. The entry is powerful, marked by high acidity and extraordinary concentration. Broad and slightly liqueur-like (bitter orange, sour cherry, arbutus berries), accompanied by dried fruits, raisins, and savory toasted notes of cocoa powder. Long finish with a potent retronasal passage—partially smoky and reminiscent of fruit in liqueur—showing an almost candied, creamy texture.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Score: 94

Tasting Notes (2012-04-03)

 

Appearance: Dark amber with copper and orange highlights; slightly cloudy with light sediment.

 

Nose: Deeply classical, displaying a full palette of dried fruits (hazelnuts, almonds) over a backdrop of coffee and cocoa powder, plums in liqueur, and sweet spices. Upon aeration, hints of green fig, tea leaf, cigar tobacco, and seasoned staves emerge.

 

Palate: Unctuous, powerful, and well-balanced. It shows a strong alcoholic concentration, yet it is seamless and without rough edges, intertwining perfectly with notes of walnuts, hazelnuts, cocoa, and bitter orange while maintaining its freshness. Extremely savory and long. An elegant expression of an ultra-classical style.

 

Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 91