Domaine Danjou Banessy - Roboul 2024
Domaine Danjou-Banessy is one of the most distinctive estates in Roussillon, located in Espira-de-l’Agly, in a Catalan landscape marked by rolled pebbles, clays, schists, and Mediterranean influences. Benoît and Sébastien Danjou continue a family tradition by giving the terroirs of the Agly valley a precise, lively, and deeply artisanal interpretation. The estate is managed organically, aiming for sincere wines, minimally altered and driven by the quality of the fruit. Roboul holds a more immediate place in the range, with a red wine that maintains the estate's standards while offering a more accessible and spontaneous expression. The 2024 vintage highlights a generous, juicy, and fresh style, faithful to a contemporary reading of Roussillon. This cuvée shows that Mediterranean grape varieties can offer aromatic power without heaviness. Domaine Danjou-Banessy Roboul 2024 thus presents itself as a gourmand, spicy, and elegant Catalan red, designed as much for the table as for the pleasure of the fruit.
The Roboul 2024 cuvée is made from Mourvèdre and Grenache Noir, with proportions sometimes indicated as 60% Mourvèdre and 40% Grenache. Mourvèdre brings depth, black fruits, notes of olive, spices, and a serious structure, while Grenache provides roundness, ripe red fruit, and a sunnier sensation. The terroirs mentioned around rolled pebbles, red clays, and clay-limestone contribute to the balance between ripeness, freshness, and density. The vinification seems to remain in the spirit of the estate, with a low-intervention approach, gentle extraction by infusion, and a short maceration to preserve the fruit's brightness. Aging, indicated by some sources as 12 months in barrels, supports the material without imposing dominant oak. Roboul 2024 thus stands out with a generous, supple, and silky palate, where aromatic power is balanced by beautiful freshness. It is an expressive Roussillon cuvée, but always marked by the finesse sought by the Danjou brothers.
On tasting, Domaine Danjou-Banessy Roboul 2024 shows a deep, bright red color with deep ruby reflections. The nose can evoke blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, black olive, white pepper, garrigue, licorice, and a touch of pencil lead. On the palate, the wine is both generous and fluid, with ripe material, silky tannins, and beautiful Mediterranean energy. Mourvèdre brings a darker, spicier depth, while Grenache softens the whole with its fruit and roundness. The finish remains fresh, fruity, and slightly mentholated, with persistence on black fruits, dry herbs, and spices. This red will ideally accompany grilled dishes, roast lamb, a rib steak, poultry with olives, a tagine, confit vegetables, or Mediterranean herb cuisine. It can be enjoyed young after a short aeration, while also being able to evolve for a few years in the cellar.
Grape varieties: 60% Mourvèdre, 40% Grenache Noir