Dom Brial Rivesaltes Grand Reserve 1989

Crafted in the sun-drenched Roussillon region of Southern France, Dom Brial Rivesaltes Grande Réserve 1989 is a magnificent, vintage-dated Vin Doux Naturel produced by the historic Dom Brial winery. Founded in 1923 in Baixas, Dom Brial is renowned as one of the preeminent champions of traditional oxidative winemaking in Rivesaltes. Sourced from ancient vines grown on low-yielding, stony limestone and schist terraces, this fortified dessert wine is predominantly composed of Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, and Macabeu. The winemaking process follows centuries-old Catalan tradition: fermentation is arrested mid-process by the addition of neutral grape spirit (mutage), retaining natural grape sugars. The wine is then subjected to decades of slow, controlled oxidative aging in oak casks and demijohns, exposed to seasonal temperature shifts. Decades of wood aging have transformed this 1989 vintage into an extraordinarily complex, tawny treasure with supreme longevity and velvety richness.

Food Pairing: Blue cheeses like Roquefort or Gorgonzola, dark chocolate desserts, pecan pie, roasted figs with honey, fruit tarts, foie gras terrine, or enjoyed as a refined standalone digestif.