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TN: inexpensive French wines (Bdx Sup. & VdP Orange)

Saturday Betsy was working a double; I spent day at benefit concert, then grabbed a small ribeye at grocery store. Sauteed some mushrooms in butter, then the steak in same pan, then deglazed with the 2001 Ch. des Vallees (Bordeaux Superieur). Had the wine with dinner, the plummy Merlot fruit had a little edge of earth and spice. Just a hint of oak, better acidity than some modern inexpensive Bordeaux. A longer finish and more structure would have moved grade up a bit, but as is a decent QPR ($9) and a B/B-.

After Betsy's matinee Sunday we headed towards Boston; David had college visits scheduled Monday at Emerson and BU. We spent the night in Concord with friends. They brought out some wine and cheese. The wine was the 2004 Secret de Campane (VDP de la Principaute d'Orange, a new appelation to me). Lighter Rhone-style wine, raspberry and cherry fruit. Bright acidity, nice flavors, the big problem is that there's a hint of sweetness on the finish, and the finish is a bit short. B-

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Reply to
DaleW
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As you may already know, Dale, the city of Orange is very near to Chateauneuf in the S. Rhone, though the name implies that this wine comes from somewhere in the former principality of Orange in the S. Rhone Valley.

Some hysterical trivia: William of Orange, the stadtholder of Holland etc. who became Wm. III of England was also a Prince of Orange-Nassau. IIRC, it is because of this historical connection of the Dutch to this Holy Roman Empire fiefdom that Dutch national sports teams to this day display the orange colors.

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

Courinne Couturier of Dom Rabasse-Charavin (Cairanne) makes some excellent Principauté d'Orange, and I believe André Romero at La Soumade (Rasteau) has done so too. Couturier explained to me that it was the only way she could make a 100% syrah.

Little known appellation, and well worth seeking out! Although those that I've had have been far from light. I wonder if yours suggests young vines.

-E

Reply to
Emery Davis

Thanks for info Emery and Mark. I had a vague feeling Orange was in Provence. At least correct end of the country :) I'd be surprised if this was Syrah, I would have guessed Carignan or maybe Grenache.

Reply to
DaleW

Sadly National Front country, as it happens. They had a NF mayor for a long time.

Sorry, didn't mean to suggest it was. I think there's a pretty open playing field for what cepages go into a VDP, which is of course why vintners go this way in order to experiment or do a special cuvée. Your description didn't imply syrah, either.

-E

Reply to
Emery Davis

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