70 cl bottle.
Ratafia de Champagne is made from grape juice blended with fine wine distillate. Ratafia is an ancestral method of preserving fruit juices in the same way as salting preserves meat. The origin of the word Ratafia comes from the Latin expression "Rata fiat": "Let the treaty be ratified". Sharing a glass of ratafia meant that the agreement had been sealed.
This ratafia from Maison Vilmart is made from Premier Cru Pinot Noir grapes from Rilly-la-Montagne vines, harvested in September 2009. It is aged for five years in 228-liter oak barrels.
The nose is fresh, with notes of cherry, candied citrus, gingerbread, rose jelly and bitter orange jam. Velvety, warm, full and round.
The palate expresses aromas of rose jelly and candied fruit, already felt on the nose. Gourmet, fresh and elegant, with incredible aromatic length and notes of fig, pineapple, mocha and blood orange.
The finish is concentrated, slightly heady and highly aromatic, with notes of almond, fig and hazelnut.
This Ratafia can be enjoyed with pan-fried foie gras or characterful cheeses such as Gorgonzola or Langres. It's also perfect as a dessert wine, with a hint of cinnamon in a tarte tatin or a chocolate moelleux.