Sounding a tad venereal, La Clape came to me via a “South by South West” mixed case from the Wine Society. Like all retailers who think we are firmly in a W shaped recession (as I do), the Wine Society is looking for wines at the cheaper end of the spectrum on the grounds that people are much more likely to drink cheaper than drink less.
After a Spring 2009 visit to an architectural gem of the highest order, and possibly the most erotique et fantastique et en meme-temps grotesque bâtiment du 20eme siècle, la Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, I dropped down the hill to the arty farty and over-rated Bohemian 18e arondissement.
Paris is a loveable city, and one of my favourites, although a bit up itself. All the historical République monuments are interesting and important, but one senses that the French are clinging to an identity that expired with the proof that all men could be created equal under a monarchy.
I am always looking for awkward wine/food matches like boiled eggs, beans on toast, and chicken massalla. I’ve just hit the jackpot with the latter having grabbed this Tannat based wine on a rare visit to Nicolas.
Think of a long, lazy, boozy summer lunch in the south of France and you think of rosé. Well I do.
Exploring the South of France is a profitable pastime right now and it is hard not to fancy it at least a little. The art of seduction has not passed le Med by. In fact every online wine merchant seems to have stocked up with credit crunch specials from this erstwhile unfashionable zone.
But there are uncomfortable price points too amongst the care free lovers. For example, this Pic St Loup from the Wine Society was part of a price driven marketing drop, yet cost me a not insubstantial £12.95.
Marketing null points! The sign makes it look like a Hungry Hippo All-U-Can-Eat Sunday lunch with foam balls and cheap beer. But step inside and nothing could be further from the truth. Fine seafood, fine wine list, fine (but relaxed) service and with just enough quirkiness and kitsch to make you smile.
I think I may be a wine magpie. I keep buying so much more wine than I could possibly drink. It’s the explorer in me – I just want to keep trying new things.
But enough is enough, so I made time to do a little sorting through my wine rack (I didn’t dare unpack the combine harvester – that’s a week’s work). I was surprised to realise how much French wine I have in store – about 70% of my entire collection is French. Quelle horreur! Why oh why when it is so expensive?
Three reasons:
Childhood memories. Good and bad. Ahhhh.
I am not sure whether I was more phlegmatic than other kids of my generation but this wine reminded me of Tixylix.
Paul Mas Estate, Marsanne, La Forge Vineyard did also taste of apricot and honey and as it happens I liked the taste of Tixylix. I have little experience of the Marsanne grape and to be honest I picked the bottle up as an experiment. And I am glad I did.
Another Vin de Pays D’Oc – the southern French region that I am starting to explore more thoroughly, mainly as a result of wallet shrinkage. At £7.99 from Majestic, I think this is another example of why you should be exploring it too.
Jo le taxi (aka wine delivery driver) this week brought me a small but intriguing parcel I ordered en primeur over a year ago.
The reason I was interested in this wine was threefold…
1) it was by Paul Jaboulet Ainé
2) it was from Beaumes-de-Venise, a well known sweet white wine area but this was a red Grenache/Syrah
3) it was pretty cheap!
In the race to taste the latest “holy grail” Bordeaux vintage, or “super-domaine” from Burgundy it’s easy to overlook other wine regions of France that can offer much better value. For example Languedoc.
After experimenting with some Fitou several years ago I was left with the impression that wines from this most Mediterranean of French régions, were thick heavy, spicy and coarse. Clearly this was because I was drinking the cheapest possible produce. But then I tried a cracking 2003 Corbières that got my juices flowing, both in the brain and elsewhere…
This Château Vaugelas 2004 came from Costco at £6.75 plus VAT. That is either £7.93 or £7.76 depending on whether you bought it before or after 1 December 2008. I am proud to have made the marginal contribution of 17 pence to help my government sort out the banking crisis.
Stumble It!
