| are looking for fine French wine and food, | | | | (Sherbert) and fresh fruit. |
| consider the Rhône Valley region of southeastern | | | | OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we |
| France. You may find a bargain, and I hope that | | | | taste and review are purchased at the full retail |
| you’ll have fun on this fact-filled wine | | | | price. |
| education tour in which we review a local red | | | | Wine Reviewed |
| Côtes du Rhône. | | | | Réserve Perrin Côtes du Rhône P2004 13% |
| Among France’s eleven wine-growing | | | | about $12 |
| regions the Rhône Valley ranks second in | | | | Let’s start by quoting the marketing |
| acreage. The region extends 125 miles (200 | | | | materials. Roaming Rhône. This wine will transport |
| kilometers) along the Rhône River. This region is | | | | you to the South of France. Five generations of |
| actually composed of two parts, the north and | | | | Perrin winemaking culminate here as you breathe |
| the south whose wines tend to be quite different. | | | | in aromas of candied cherries, plum, spice, and |
| The northern Rhône Valley is quite narrow. The | | | | earthy tones. There’s volumes of juicy |
| major red grape variety is Syrah, while the major | | | | cherry flavors surrounded by good ripe tannins on |
| white variety is Viognier. The southern Rhône | | | | the medium-bodied palate. Gourmets can savor it |
| Valley produces about 95% of the Rhône Valley | | | | with chicken or lamb tajine. |
| wines. This is the kingdom of grape blending. For | | | | Most of the wines that we have reviewed are |
| example the famous Châteauneuf-Du-Pape AOC | | | | made from a single grape variety. This wine, like |
| wine may be made from up to thirteen different | | | | most of the wines in the southern Rhône Valley, |
| grape varieties. The better wines are clearly | | | | is a blend, in this case 60% Grenache, 20% |
| defined as coming from the northern or the | | | | Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault. |
| southern part of the Rhône valley. We will be | | | | My first meal consisted of rib steak and fried |
| reviewing some of these wines in later articles. | | | | potatoes. The steak was marinated in a |
| The site of Avignon was probably settled by the | | | | homemade ketchup and horseradish mustard |
| Celts. It was a flourishing city in the time of the | | | | sauce. By accident too much mustard fell into the |
| Ancient Romans. But it is best known as the | | | | sauce, but I didn’t want to throw it out |
| home of seven popes between 1309 and 1377. | | | | and start over again. No problem, this wine rose |
| Who would have thought that when Pope | | | | to the challenge easily and wasn’t in the |
| Clement V chose this southern French city for | | | | least overwhelmed by all that horseradish. I still |
| the site of his Papacy, it was ruled by the King of | | | | tasted dark fruits and spices. |
| Sicily, albeit through the house of Anjou, in the | | | | My next meal involved slow cooked ribs and |
| opposite corner of France? Avignon and the | | | | potatoes. The wine was very round and full. While |
| surrounding area remained more or less papal | | | | it wasn’t complex it was quite pleasant. In |
| property until the French Revolution. The major | | | | addition to the above components I tasted a bit |
| tourist site is the Palais des Papes (Papal Palace), | | | | of tar. When the food was gone the wine tasted |
| which unfortunately is missing many of its original | | | | peppery. I liked it. |
| furnishings. But there is a lot more to see including | | | | Once again I went to beef, this time a slow |
| several churches and museums, the beautiful | | | | cooked beef stew. The wine was a bit chewy. It |
| hilltop garden Rocher des Doms (Rock of the | | | | was powerful and mouth-filling. |
| Domes), the opera house, the Clocktower | | | | The first cheese was a French Saint-Aubin, a soft |
| Square, and of course the Pont-St.-Bénézet | | | | cow’s milk cheese traditionally packed in a |
| (St.-Bénézet Bridge) made famous by a | | | | wooden box. This cheese has a creamy brie-like |
| children’s song Sur le pont | | | | texture and a stronger taste. Unlike many other |
| d’Avignon (On the Avignon bridge). Parts | | | | wines, this Côtes du Rhône retained its fruit |
| of this bridge are said to date back to the | | | | when paired with the Saint-Aubin. |
| Twelfth Century. And you’re only a little | | | | I next tried the wine with an Italian Bel Paese, a |
| more than ten miles (less than twenty kilometers) | | | | mild buttery cheese suggested to accompany |
| from the village of Châteauneuf-Du-Pape. | | | | fruity wines or to be eaten alone as a snack or a |
| Before reviewing the Côtes du Rhône wine and | | | | dessert. This combination was even better; the |
| imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to | | | | wine became rounder. There was a little wine left |
| purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian | | | | in the bottle. Instead of slicing off a bit more |
| food store, here are a few suggestions of what | | | | cheese, I tried it with a slice of mint chocolate |
| to eat with indigenous wines when touring this | | | | cake. Unfortunately the combination was no |
| beautiful region. | | | | success, the cake denatured the wine a bit. But, |
| Start with Fois Gras de Canard (Duck Liver | | | | as always, I don’t blame a wine for an |
| Pâté). | | | | unorthodox pairing choice that turns out to be a |
| For your second course savor Caillette (Pork-Liver | | | | mistake. |
| Meat Loaf). | | | | Final verdict. This wine is a definite winner, |
| And as dessert indulge yourself with Sorbet | | | | especially when you consider its price. |