Château Viranel, Gourmandise, Nv - 50cl
Château Viranel, Gourmandise, Nv - 50cl
- Dessert
- 50CL
- 17.5%
- Alicante Bouschet
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Château Viranel Gourmandise is a rare and fascinating Cartagène, showing an expressive nose of blackcurrant, cherry, prune, sweet spice and rose petals. The palate mirrors these notes with a delicate sweetness, beautifully balanced by freshness and finesse. Aromas of liqueur cherries and baking spice mingle with the fine integration of aged spirit, creating a harmonious and distinctive profile.
Made from the must of Alicante Bouschet blended with Languedoc eau-de-vie, Gourmandise is aged for 20 years in oak using a solera system begun in 1987. With only around 500 bottles released annually, it’s a true rarity - perfect as an aperitif, with dessert, or simply savoured on its own.
As a solera-aged wine, Gourmandise is already at optimal drinking condition when released, showing perfect integration of all components. The wine's sweetness and spirit content provide excellent preservation qualities, allowing it to maintain its character for many years. Over the next decade, expect subtle development of tertiary flavours with increased nuttiness and deeper spice complexity. The wine's fundamental fruit character will remain intact, though it may gradually become more oxidative and complex with extended cellaring.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceDeep ruby-garnet with brilliant clarity and attractive legs.
NoseImmediately expressive with blackcurrant and cherry liqueur leading the aromatics. Sweet baking spices emerge alongside dried rose petals and subtle prune richness. The aged spirit integration is seamless, adding depth without overwhelming the fruit.
PalateElegant sweetness balanced by surprising freshness and fine acidity. Concentrated cherry and blackcurrant flavours develop into more complex territory with liquorice, cinnamon, and gentle oak influence. The 20-year solera ageing shows in the wine's remarkable harmony and sophisticated layering of flavours.
FinishLong and warming with persistent cherry liqueur character and gentle spice that lingers beautifully.
Overall impressionA masterfully crafted Cartagène that demonstrates the potential of this rare style when made with patience and skill.
Food Pairings
In the Languedoc, Cartagène traditionally accompanies the local dessert of figs stuffed with almonds and honey, or is served alongside aged Roquefort cheese from nearby Aveyron. Locals often enjoy it with cassoulet as a digestif, or paired with regional specialities like crème catalane and honey-sweetened pastries. The wine's versatility makes it equally at home with charcuterie platters featuring local saucisson and pâtés, or simply sipped on its own as an evening aperitif while watching the Mediterranean sunset.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve lightly chilled at 12-14°C to showcase the wine's aromatic complexity whilst maintaining its elegant sweetness. No decanting required as the wine is already perfectly integrated after its long solera ageing. Use small wine glasses or tulip-shaped port glasses to concentrate the aromatics. Once opened, the wine will maintain its quality for several weeks if stored in the refrigerator.
The Languedoc's Mediterranean climate provides ideal conditions for ripening Alicante Bouschet to optimal sugar levels essential for Cartagène production. The region's diverse soils and warm, dry summers concentrate the grape's natural colour and flavour compounds. The combination of sea breezes and inland heat creates the perfect environment for producing the intensely flavoured grape must that forms the foundation of this fortified wine.
Cartagène is a traditional French fortified wine made by adding grape spirit to fresh grape must, halting fermentation and preserving natural sweetness. This ancient technique, dating back centuries in southern France, creates wines with distinctive character quite different from port or sherry. The style requires precise timing and skill, as the spirit must be added at exactly the right moment to achieve proper balance between sweetness, alcohol, and fruit character.
FAQs
What exactly is Cartagène and how is it made?
Cartagène is a traditional French fortified wine made by adding grape eau-de-vie to fresh grape must before fermentation begins. This stops the fermentation process, preserving the natural grape sugars and creating a sweet, fortified wine typically around 16-17% alcohol. The technique dates back centuries in southern France.
How does the solera system work at Château Viranel?
The solera system, borrowed from sherry production, involves blending wines of different ages to maintain consistency. Château Viranel's system, begun in 1987, means each bottle contains wine spanning multiple decades, creating exceptional complexity and ensuring each release maintains the house style.
Why is Alicante Bouschet used for this wine?
Alicante Bouschet is one of the few grape varieties with red flesh as well as red skin, providing intense colour and flavour concentration essential for quality Cartagène. Its thick skins and high sugar potential make it ideal for this style of fortified wine production.
How should I store opened bottles?
Once opened, Cartagène maintains its quality much longer than regular wine due to its fortified nature. Store in the refrigerator with the cork replaced, and the wine will remain excellent for several weeks to months. The high alcohol and residual sugar act as natural preservatives.
Is this wine suitable for cellaring?
While already perfectly mature when released, Gourmandise has excellent cellaring potential due to its fortified nature. Store bottles on their side in cool, stable conditions. The wine will develop additional complexity over time whilst maintaining its fundamental character for many years.
What makes this wine so rare?
Château Viranel produces only around 500 bottles annually, making this one of the rarest expressions of Cartagène available. The limited production reflects both the time-intensive solera process and the estate's commitment to quality over quantity, ensuring each bottle represents decades of careful maturation.
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