Mas Amiel Maury Rouge 1980

Mas Amiel makes some of the most interesting wines you will ever taste. Similar to vintage port, but not as sweet or as boozy. Intensely layered, remarkably deep, and delightfully complex wines that truly are a singular experience. Think of what you were doing in 1980...if you were even born yet! This is a wine to transport you back in time and make the present that much sweeter, all at the same time!

Just think...a gallon of gas was $1.19. VHS tapes ruled the world. CNN was born. Pac-man was released. And MAS AMIEL in southern France made an absolutely head-spinning, skin-tingling sweet wine of 90% grenache, 5% carignan, and 5% maccabeu and put it in a glass demi-john bottle to oxidize outside for a year. This was followed by aging in 350 hl oak casks for the next 41 years until we found them a year back, and well...here we are! This is so off the rails good – you’ve never had anything like it (unless you got the 1969 or 1985 we sold some years back!!)...ultra-limited and certainly not to be missed! This is thought-provoking, serious, and supremely drinkable stuff – a digestif wine from one of the most extreme winemaking regions on earth...94 POINTS Wine Advocate is just scratching the surface...certified organic to boot these days, and long-time practicing, but organic certification wasn’t really a think back in 1980.

Maury is in a rocky, sun and wind-blistered region of southern France (Roussillon) and has a fascinating history. This property dates back some 200 years and is much loved among sommeliers around the world for its unique, Grenache-based, completely unique winemaking style. It's a fortified wine that will probably last another half CENTURY if you were so inclined, but whenever you drink it, prepare to be stunned. This rich, insanely nutty/fruity, and aromatic wine is utterly packed with wild and beguiling aromas and flavors...a true experience. The easy flavor description for us is chocolate-covered figs and/or fig jam. Then comes waves of roasted sweet walnuts, dates, raw almonds and hazelnuts, sweet Thai iced coffee, green cardamom, bittersweet cocoa nibs, spearmint, caramel, roasting coffee beans (or torrefaction, if you wanna get super dorky) – just some of what's going on...lightly sweet and a finish that goes on until you are climbing into bed, satisfied and glowing. So rockin’ cool...while it lasts!! Nearly 43 years old, 94 points, this silly price...just wow. While it lasts..!