| If you are looking for fine French wine and food, | | | | with Fougassette (Sweet Bread with Orange |
| consider the Rhône Valley region of | | | | Flower Water). |
| southeastern France. You may find a bargain, and | | | | OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we |
| I hope that you'll have fun on this fact-filled wine | | | | taste and review are purchased at the full retail |
| education tour in which we review one the area's | | | | price. |
| best-known wines, a white | | | | Wine Reviewed |
| Châteauneu-du-Pape that comes from some | | | | Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Fiole Blanc 13% |
| of the stoniest vineyards you'll ever see. | | | | about $22.50 |
| The Rhône Valley ranks second in acreage | | | | Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. |
| among France's eleven wine-growing regions. | | | | Tasting Note: Pale gold; aromas of mineral and |
| Really we are talking about two separate areas | | | | grapefruit, crisp and dry with a mineral flavor. |
| whose wines tend to be quite different. The | | | | Serving Suggestion: Serve with fish or seafood. |
| narrow northern Rhône Valley produces only | | | | In the first sips I tasted honey and minerals. The |
| a small fraction of the Rhône wines. Its | | | | wine was mildly sweet. The first pairing was with |
| major red grape is Syrah, and its major white | | | | a Middle-Eastern dish called kube (or kibbe) |
| variety is Viognier. Traditionally wines in the | | | | consisting of ground beef in jackets made of |
| southern Rhône Valley are blended. For | | | | crushed wheat, slow-cooked in a peppery tomato |
| example, both the red and the white | | | | sauce. The wine tasted of grapefruit. It was nicely |
| Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC wine may include | | | | long and fairly powerful. |
| over a dozen different grape varieties. The white | | | | My next meal centered around a barbecued |
| Châteauneuf-du-Pape reviewed below | | | | chicken breast in a caramelized sauce |
| includes four varieties, White Grenache, | | | | accompanied by potato salad and a Moroccan |
| Rousssane, Bourbuolenc, and Clairette. With the | | | | style tomato salsa with garlic that wasn't very |
| exception of Roussane, these are not considered | | | | spicy. The wine was sweet like many a Riesling. It |
| particularly high-quality grapes. Many of the other | | | | went well with the chicken's sweetness. The |
| permitted varieties are also pedestrian grapes. | | | | acidity was light but increased as the meal went |
| And yet Châteauneuf-du-Pape is considered | | | | on. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape's predominant |
| a fine wine. You will never see it on a $10 wine | | | | flavor was grapefruit. In the presence of a sweet |
| list. Only once in a while you will see it on a $15 | | | | but acidic, high-quality French style lemon pie the |
| wine list. | | | | wine was round but weak. |
| The village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is home | | | | The final meal was broiled salmon filet in a soy |
| to about two thousand people and some very | | | | and honey sauce with brown rice and zucchini |
| well-known French wines. during the Fourteenth | | | | cooked in tomatoes. The soft acidity of the wine |
| Century seven French Popes made their home in | | | | was a great compliment to the softness of the |
| nearby Avignon and they got their table wine | | | | fish. Once again grapefruit came out with the rice |
| from the town named new castle of the pope. | | | | and zucchini combo. The wine's acidity paired well |
| You may want to visit the Musée des | | | | with the acidity of the tomatoes. |
| Outils de Vignerons Père Anselme (The | | | | The first cheese was a Mozzarella. The wine was |
| Father Anselm Museum of Winemakers Tools) or | | | | round, forceful, and frankly wasted. With a yellow |
| the ruins of the Château. The nearby city of | | | | Cheddar the wine was fairly tasteless. It just |
| Orange has a great Roman theatre and even an | | | | didn't hold up to this fairly weak cheese. |
| Arc de Triomphe, much less visited than its | | | | Final verdict. I would buy this wine again but |
| Parisian namesake. | | | | carefully watch what I pair it with. Never again |
| Before reviewing the Châteauneuf-du-Pape | | | | would it be wasted with a pedestrian cheese. My |
| wine here are a few suggestions of what to eat | | | | idea of a great wine evening might be this white |
| with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful | | | | Châteauneuf-du-Pape with salmon fillet |
| region. Start with Soupe de Lentilles | | | | followed by a red Châteauneuf-du-Pape with |
| Provençale (Provencale Lentil Soup). For | | | | a leg of lamb or roast duck. And live a bit like |
| your second course savor Pates aux Coquillages | | | | those French Popes almost seven hundred years |
| (Seafood Pasta). And as dessert indulge yourself | | | | ago. |