WTN: `83 Mas Amiel Reserve Maury, Côtes du Roussillon.

I think I purchased this bottle around 1992 from La Vigneronne in London. Probably paid around twenty pounds or so.
90% Grenache, Macabeu and Carignan I think? 70-litre glass demijohns then into foudres. Fortified, has a short stopper. 16% alc, opened and double decanted right away. Tasted with the staff at DeVines winestore downtown, we usually open something different from time to time!! Some of their comments are in quotation marks.

Color. Rainbow of varying brown reflections, "looks like an aged tawny".
I thought pale orange-brown rim, medium depth in centre, no red at all. I think it could have a Madeira look about it?

Nose. Figs, burnt sugar, port-like, caramel, "toffee apple....nutty".

Palate. Initial entry thought was terrific acidity still, rich, caramel on finish. No way is this close to being dead!
I noted quite a lot of sediment during decanting. The finish goes on and on, candied maraschino cherries, quite port-like indeed. Very good with some walnuts, "madeira..molasses....best wine I have tasted in 6 months".
I thought quite thick and the burnt sugar reminded me of a cream caramel. I was able to take some home but hope it does not oxidize too quickly. Very proud to have opened with some excellent palates around me.

Wow, wonderful, but must have been sad to lose something you've been looking forward to for so long...

Yup, not too many wines like that left in the cellar. If I had lived in London, I would have stocked up. That is for sure!

Sounds like fun indeed. I was giving some of these older Mas Amiel Maurys as wedding gifts to my non-wine geek friends over the past few years because they had some age on them and I figured they would do a relatively good job of surviving in the Nyc apartments where my friends live.

Unfortunately they never opened their bottles with me but this one certainly sounds delightful.

If I had lived in London, I would have stocked up. That is for sure!

The ones I bought were from Nyc and they cost a bit more than 20GBP but they were relatively available and still under $100. Haven't checked recently.

Rahsaan, where were you buying these wines?

Thanks for the interest in my post.

Rahsaan, where were you buying these wines?

Thanks for the interest in my post.

Chambers St Wines. So their stash is long gone. But perhaps the wine will come around again.

Wine-searcher shows some 1989 available for about $20.

Wow, what a bargain. Guess these wines are sleepers to many buyers out there?

Wow, wonderful, but must have been sad to lose something you've been looking forward to for so long...

Well, at least I have some left for day 2. I chilled it down somewhat and it has softened up a little. Lots more nutty character and prunes.
If this does not qualify for WOTY, I am doing something wrong here!!

I do not have a lot of experience with Languedoc-Roussillon's wines, save for a few noteworthy vins doux naturels. I do favor Banyuls, though, ever since I had the '79 Domaine de Mas Blanc Banyuls Cuvée St-Martin; my last bottle opened during a dinner on the 23rd February 2007. I posted no notes on this, but my handwritten ones state:

'79 Domaine de Mas Blanc Banyuls Cuvée St-Martin. From the personal cellar of (IWFS-Philippines president) Bernie Sim, a generous gift - with Chocolate Marquis on a Bed of Port Macerated Cherries. Deep, complex flavors of kirsch, dried cranberry, fig, crème de cassis, cocoa, rancio notes, mocha, orange rind, toasty vanilla, nuttiness. Excellent condition bottle.

A good, reasonably-priced one I've had was the 1998 Domaine de la Soumade Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel (with the after-dinner cigars, 23rd November 2007):

1998 Domaine la Soumade Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel - Gratis et amore from yours truly, served with Cuban Montecristo cigars (the exact model of which escapes me at the moment).

Made up of 100% grenache from very old vines (around 80 years and up, if I'm not mistaken), this full-bodied, opulent VDN displays rich profiles of jammy strawberry and cherry, crème de cassis, dark chocolate and faint licorice and clove undertones with moderate sweetness. The Aussie shiraz fans liked this a lot, and I easily understand why they did.

I just found this update on the `07 Mas Amiel on Chris Kissicks website.

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/weekend/ma ... ry07.shtml