Vin Doux Naturel

It has been over two decades since Farr Vintners first introduced Vin Doux Naturel to our customers. These old, rare wines have offered exceptional value for money given their age, reliably delivering outstanding quality in the glass for collectors and on special occasions. As Neal Martin writes, "VdN is ostensibly a libation from a bygone age. Nothing like these wines is produced anymore. One day, they will all be just a memory." 

The method remains as we have described before - fermenting juice is fortified through mutage to 16 or 17 degrees alcohol, leaving some sweetness. The wine is then aged in glass demi-johns in a warm - sometimes outdoor - environment for up to two years. Finally there is a long barrel ageing which can last for decades before bottling. Producers rarely ever work or even live long enough to see the wines they make reach the market. The wines are increasingly rare as they make no financial logic, and they will soon disappear for good.

Though these wines are ever harder to source, we have an incredible selection of 58 vintages available going all the way back to 1874. Of particular interest should be the big anniversary or birthday bottlings - 1955, 1965, 1975 and 1985 - highlighted below. These wines are all not only superb value for their vintages but are also guaranteed to be very good, something hard to find particularly in 1975 and 1965.

Martin has also now released his scores on our latest releases, which focus on a relatively new name, Domaine Saint Michel. These wines were made by Henri Rius at a domaine he started and ran from the 1950s until his recent passing at the age of 98. Several vintages get high ratings, including the 95-point 1964: "Rivesaltes does not get better than this", the 94-point 1972: "one of the most elegant Rivesaltes from Domaine St Michel" and the 93-point 1980: "This is absolutely delicious".

Our vast selection of vintages are all of excellent quality and can be bought by the bottle, rather than the case. Noble Rot currently list 40 vintages by the glass at their two London restaurants; those curious to sample the wines should make a reservation now and look forward to finishing their meal with a birth-year vintage. 

We have relaxed our minimum order rules so that customers can try odd bottles of these amazing wines. Most can be bought by the single bottle as long as at least 3 are purchased at any one time.