Featured Wine

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac

               This month I am featuring a hidden little “cherry” on our wine list.  The 2004 vintage of Roger Sabon Chapelle de Maillac, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac.  As a “varietal” or classification in the United States it is known more commonly by its appellation name Châteauneuf-du-Pape.   

                Châteauneuf-du-Pape, as an appellation, permits thirteen different varieties of grapes, and the blend is usually predominantly Grenache. Other red grapes include Cinsault, Counoise, Mourvèdre, Muscardin, Syrah, Terret Noir, and Vaccarèse.  White grapes include Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picardin, Roussanne, and Picpoul. In recent years the trend has been to include fewer, or even none, of the allowed white varieties, and rely heavily upon Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah. This is, most likely, a response to international wine-market trends and the desire to have this sometimes-rustic wine appeal to a broader commercial audience.

               Roger Sabon Chapelle de Maillac is following these same trends. This wine is a blend of 80% Grenache which provides the backbone with its sweet, dusty and rustic characteristics.  The 15% of Syrah adds some of my favorite things about this wine which are the spice of black pepper, tastes of leather, complexity and aromas of earthiness and mushrooms and cedar.  The 5% of Cinsault is added to finish off the balance with a little aroma of strawberry and musk.  This is a great food wine.  It pairs very well, without being overpowering, with wild game, lamb and beef.

               I remember the first time I tasted this wine.  It was in the wine selection process of one of our Chef’s Challenge wine dinners.  It was hands down the favorite red of the day.  At that time I made the decision to bring it to the restaurant and place it in our wine list.  I had the opportunity to taste it again a few days ago.  As with any good wine, it brought back the memories of a good day.  It also gave me the opportunity to make some new ones.  Wine is one of my passions.  I believe that it is intended to be shared between friends.  Somehow it makes the wine and the conversation much sweeter and memorable.   

Cheers,

Jess