Tasting Notes:

93 points Wine Advocate

I was astonished by the freshness and lack of any oxidation in both the 1932 and 1925. Both wines exhibit light amber/rust colors, with no pink or ruby hues remaining. Both possess astonishing level of sweet, jammy strawberry/cherry fruit intertwined with plenty of spice. They are full-bodied, fleshy and expansive on the palate, with heady alcohol present but not intrusive. Considering their ages, these rarities are reasonably priced. This estate holds stocks of wine that are aged in foudre and tank for decades before being bottled. Vintages currently on the market range from 1922 to 1979. I tasted the 1925, 1932, and 1979. These wines, which come from the Languedoc-Roussillon appellation of Maury, are vins doux naturels. Made from very late harvested Grenache, these wines tip the scale at about 17%-18% alcohol. There is nothing quite like them, although there is an obvious tendency to compare them to a tawny port, but only youthful tawnies have this amount of fruit remaining.

Cult Wines International Notes:

La Coume du Roy is one of the oldest estates in the Maury appellation of Roussillon, South of France, established in 1850 and renowned for its premium Vin Doux Naturel (VDN)—a fortified sweet wine primarily made from Grenache Noir. Grown on the region’s black schist and slate soils, the classic Maury VDN is produced by stopping fermentation with alcohol (mutage) to retain natural sugar. The wine’s character depends on its aging: younger ‘Grenat’ styles are rich in dark cherry and plum, while older ‘Tuilé’ and ‘Hors d’Âge’ versions undergo oxidative aging, developing complex rancio notes of dried fruit, caramel, cocoa, and nuts. This powerful, long-lived dessert wine is classically paired with chocolate or blue cheese. The winery also produces a dry red table wine, Maury Sec, though the fortified VDN remains its historic and flagship product.

Bottle Size:

500 mL

Storage History:

Always stored properly in a climate controlled cellar.

Condition:

Perfect.