De Muller Aureo 1954 Seco

De Muller, founded in Tarragona in 1851, make Aureo 1954 Seco in the Catalan rancio tradition, a Mediterranean style of long oxidative ageing, from Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo. Rancio wines are aged for many years in old wood with deliberate exposure to air and warmth, often in part outdoors, so that oxidation drives the flavour rather than fresh fruit. Over decades this slow contact with oxygen converts the wine, deepening its colour to amber, concentrating it through evaporation and developing the characteristic nutty, toasted, slightly resinous rancio character. This bottling draws on a 1954 base, the product of patient ageing across the generations. The colour is deep amber with coppery highlights. The nose is complex, with walnut and hazelnut, sweet spice such as nutmeg, toasted notes and a hint of honey over aged wood. The palate is dry, concentrated and savoury, with persistent nutty length, a warming texture from the higher alcohol and a very long finish. Serve cool in a small white-wine glass. It suits hard mature cheese, cured meats, mushrooms and rich savoury dishes.