I absolutely love Banyuls. First encountered it en vrac when staying just outside Perpignan in the years before I properly discovered wine. We got quite hammered without knowing why. Much later on, I stayed in the town itself - so lovely, so quiet & good value compared to Collioure, and excellent snorkelling to be had in the marine reserve. It's time I went back.
NB, if you don't already know, Thomas Cochrane was the lunatic inspiration for Aubrey. He's buried in Westminster Abbey after a lifetime of infuriating the Royal Navy, and fighting on behalf of all & sundry. Any biography of him will be worth your time.
I absolutely love Banyuls. First encountered it en vrac when staying just outside Perpignan in the years before I properly discovered wine. We got quite hammered without knowing why. Much later on, I stayed in the town itself - so lovely, so quiet & good value compared to Collioure, and excellent snorkelling to be had in the marine reserve. It's time I went back.
NB, if you don't already know, Thomas Cochrane was the lunatic inspiration for Aubrey. He's buried in Westminster Abbey after a lifetime of infuriating the Royal Navy, and fighting on behalf of all & sundry. Any biography of him will be worth your time.
Banyuls en vrac sounds lethal. I'll have to find out more about this Thomas Cochran fellow.
Peerless as ever Mr J. Your piece has inspired me to explore more of O'Brian's cannon, hopefully whilst sipping a Banyuls or Rivesaltes
Thank you Mike, I have to say that after the first four, I got rather bogged down but should resume my O' Brian odyssey soon.
Great article! I recently read Master and Commander for the first time - which, to my mind at least, sat nicely with the Ledaig I was drinking at the time https://malt-review.com/2023/02/20/ledaig-sinclair-series-rioja-cask-finish/ - and thoroughly enjoyed it
I’ll be moving on to Post Captain soon, perhaps by way of Lobscouse & Spotted Dog!
Ledaig is truly a whisky for all seasons and all weathers.