Yellow Fabiola Period 1970-1973
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Fully mature and drinking spectacularly now. Due to its high proof and sugar content, this historic liqueur is virtually immortal and will continue to hold its peak complexity indefinitely.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Dark chocolate, blue cheese, almond biscotti
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The 'Fabiola' period of Chartreuse represents one of the most collectible eras of the Carthusian Monks' production during their historic exile in Tarragona, Spain. Named in honor of the Spanish-born Queen Fabiola of Belgium, this specific bottling window from 1970 to 1973 yielded a Yellow Chartreuse of legendary status. Distilled at the Tarragona facility, this expression benefits from the unique Spanish spirits and Mediterranean ambient conditions of the era. Unlike its French counterpart, Tarragona Yellow Chartreuse from this epoch is celebrated for its remarkably rich, honeyed texture, softer herbaceousness, and a distinct warmth. Decades of bottle aging have transformed the secret recipe of 130 botanicals into a sublime, velvety elixir of saffron, anise, preserved citrus, and sweet mountain herbs.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Dating back to 1605 when the Carthusian Monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery received a manuscript containing the recipe for an 'Elixir of Long Life,' Chartreuse is one of the world's most storied and enigmatic spirits. Handcrafted by the Monks of the Order of the Chartreux, production historically centered in Voiron, France, with a significant period of exile in Tarragona, Spain, before moving to the modern Aiguenoire distillery in Entre-Deux-Guiers. The production process remains a closely guarded secret known to only two monks, involving the maceration of 130 botanicals in grape-based alcohol followed by extensive aging in oak casks. Renowned for its complex herb-forward profile, the house is celebrated for its iconic Green (Verte) and Yellow (Jaune) expressions, alongside highly coveted V.E.P. (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé) and historic Tarragona bottlings. This legendary producer continues to bridge centuries of monastic tradition with unmatched artisanal excellence in the world of fine spirits and liqueurs.