WINE OF THE WEEK - 2016 Gabriel Meffre La Chasse Grande Reserve Vacqueyras

Aug 24

Oh boy, I’m behind. Like, not a little bit behind but a lot behind! And it’s across just about everything, including posting on the blog.

As such, this is a late breaking post about my Wine of the Week/Wine Wednesday pick from last week. Eeep! It’s a good thing that I don’t do this (i.e. writing on this blog) for a pay cheque because if I did, I’d undoubtedly be fired lol! Or maybe, I would just be more timely! Haha!

If you’re new to this blog, or haven’t read about these weekly picks that I feature before, be sure to read this blog post where I outline my approach to my weekly Wine Wednesday picks. The focus of this weekly feature is generally to share delicious and affordable wines that are widely available and generally within the reach of most consumers.

And with that, let’s get into this week’s pick!

2016 Gabriel Meffre La Chasse Grande Reserve

This week’s wine comes from the Southern Rhone Valley. This is an area that has always fascinated me because it is the home of the famed Chateauneuf-du-Pape. But, in spite of all of the fame that this appellation attracts, there are other very cool and delicious wines being made here that carry a similar frame (if not necessarily an entirely similar flavour profile) and intensity but are available at a fraction of the price. This wine happens to be a great example of this!

What does this wine cost?

$19.95/bottle. A very fair price indeed!

What in the (wine) world is…..Vacqueyras?

Pronounced “vah-cay-ras”, Vacqueyras is an appellation in the eastern side of the Southern Rhone Valley. Read on to learn a bit more about both the Rhone Valley and Vacqueyras, below.

Where does this wine come from?

The Rhone Valley, which is split into a North and South part, is sandwiched between the cities of Lyon and Avignon in France, along the Rhone River. The Rhone Valley, especially the Southern part, is incredibly close to the Mediterranean Sea, separated from it by only about 60 kms.

As a result, the climate here is warm and sunny, the days are long and the grapes are robust! Wines from the Rhone Valley are known for being rich, intense and full of gamey, meaty flavours due to the unique soils found in the region.

More specifically, Vacqueyras is an appellation in the Southern Rhone, located right behind Gigondas and not all that far away from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. However, this should not be taken to mean that the wines from this appellation are the same as CdP…..not at all. They carry their own unique flavour profile, though it is fair to say that the weight, general essence and body of the wines are similar. All this to say that if you like CdP, you should certainly give Vacqueyras serious consideration in my view!

Why is this wine unique?

Vacqueyras is not a large appellation, nor is it very well known by the average wine drinker. So, knowing a little bit more about these wines bodes well if you are serious about learning more about French wine.

Who makes this wine?

Gabriel Meffre is a very large negotiant-wine producer in the region, with a long and storied history of pioneering new innovations and growing in exponential scale. They have several labels and a large portfolio of wines under their belt. Click here to learn more about Gabriel Meffre.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Variety - 75% Grenache, 25% Syrah/Cinsault/Mouvedre

Vinification - aged for 12 months in vats

ABV - 14%

Residual Sugar - 2 g/L

Vegan wine

My tasting notes:

This is an intense wine that at times feels a little bit disjointed. A deep garnet red in the glass, with bright red fruit and garrigue aromas on the nose, the palate is firm. Notes of red fruit, blueberries, olive pits, and a meaty quality are available on the palate. There is a very high level of minerality in the wine, which is rather brilliant and the tannins are smooth, while the acidity is high. This is a reasonable wine for the price.

Aging potential:

5+ years.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Pair this wine with spicy, stewed or braised dark meat curries and stews.

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 89 points

Not a bad midweek wine. I wouldn’t be pulling it out for special occasions or special meals, but it is definitely a reasonable quaffing wine.

If you’re located in Ontario, you can find this wine at the LCBO under Product #15455.

FINAL VERDICT:

Try this wine and try something new. You cannot go wrong at this price point and who knows - you might just discover a new go-to wine region in the process! :)

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine! :)

Cheers!

XOXO