Tasting Notes
"Smoky. Very, very smoky! (When I comment on this, Danjou says, ‘we find a lot of smoke in slate/schist soils – always mineral and smoky’.) A wine with a soaring architectural structure, skyscraper, iron and mettle, something dauntless, a jaw-clenched vitality. And yet, under that taut gantry of cordite and citric peel, there is honey. There is a cusp of the most delicate white peach, like the white pearl of a new moon, slim sickle silver in the charcoal sky. A wine with what I can only describe as brutal honesty. It shocks, stops, clarifies, magnifies, illuminates, sharpens the beauty. Like a pane of glass, it shows what is. Like a pane of glass, it has unsparing edges. Like a pane of glass, it is strong; it is fragile." - 18 points, Tamlyn Currin for JancisRobinson.com
Domaine Danjou-Banessy is a small, family estate in Roussillon, based near Espira-de-l’Agly, run by brothers Benoît and Sébastien Danjou. The domaine has been in the family since the late 19th century, but it was the brothers who transformed it into one of the region’s most respected artisanal producers, farming organically and biodynamically across old-vine parcels rooted in schist, marl and clay-limestone soils.
Their vineyards include rare old plantings of Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre, along with Macabeu and Muscat for whites. In the cellar, the approach is thoughtful and restrained: hand harvesting, native fermentations, long élevage in neutral vessels, and minimal additions. The brothers also maintain a tradition of oxidative winemaking inherited from their grandfather, producing remarkable old-vine Rivesaltes and other fortified wines alongside their still cuvées.
The wines of Danjou-Banessy are known for their purity, energy and depth, capturing the rugged beauty of Roussillon while balancing freshness with complexity. They stand as one of the leading lights of the region’s new generation, bridging tradition and innovation with authenticity.
| Product Type | Wine White Other Varietals & Blends |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Languedoc |
| Sub Region | Agly |
| Winemaking Practices | Natural |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |