|
|
|
ONLINE FEATURES
Book Reviews
BW Video
Columnists
Interactive Gallery
Newsletters
Past Covers
Philanthropy
Podcasts
Special Reports
BLOGS
Auto Beat
Bangalore Tigers
Blogspotting
Brand New Day
Byte of the Apple
Economics Unbound
Eye on Asia
Fine On Media
Green Biz
Hot Property
Investing Insights
Management IQ
NEXT: Innovation
NussbaumOnDesign
Tech Beat
Working Parents
TECHNOLOGY
J.D. Power Ratings
Product Reviews
Tech Stats
Wildstrom: Tech Maven
AUTOS
Home Page
Auto Reviews
Classic Cars
Car Care & Safety
Hybrids
INNOVATION
& DESIGN Home Page Architecture Brand Equity Auto Design Game Room SMALLBIZ Smart Answers Success Stories Today's Tip INVESTING Investing: Europe Annual Reports BW 50 S&P Picks & Pans Stock Screeners Free S&P Stock Report SCOREBOARDS Hot Growth 100 Mutual Funds Info Tech 100 S&P 500 B-SCHOOLS Undergrad Programs MBA Blogs MBA Profiles MBA Rankings Who's Hiring Grads |  |
FEBRUARY 5, 2007
Great Deals From Provence Many wine lovers feared that A Good Year, the recent film starring Russell Crowe and based on Peter Mayle's book about living at a vineyard in Provence, would cause a surge in demand for wines from that region. They can relax: The movie bombed, so there still are plenty of great deals on wines known as Côtes du Rhône or Côtes du Rhône-Villages. These are usually blends of grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre grapes. Here are some domaines that make fine red Côtes du Rhônes selling for less than $25 a bottle. The vintage of choice is 2005, followed by 2004. All should be enjoyed in their first three to six years of release. Les Aphillanthes This superstar estate run by the highly talented Daniel Boulle produces a number of Côtes du Rhône cuvées that are serious, filled with character, and sell for a song. Imported by Weygandt-Metzler (610 486-0800). Domaine du Caillou Known for its exquisite Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which sells for $75 to $100 a bottle, Domaine du Caillou also produces bargain-priced Côtes du Rhône, Reserve Côtes du Rhône-Villages, and Côtes du Rhône-Villages Très Vieilles Vignes that taste like most others' Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The 2005s are beauties. Caillou's wines are available through various American importers, including Michael Skurnik (516 677-9300) and Diamond Wine Merchants (510 567-9887). Domaine Fondrèche Adjacent to the Côtes du Rhône is the sun-swept Côtes du Ventoux appellation, and Fondrèche is its top property. There, Sebastien Vincenti, one of France's finest young winemakers, produces a bevy of grenache and syrah-based gems. Fondrèche is also a good source for terrific whites. Imported by Robert Kacher Selections (202 832-9083). GAEC Charvin This tiny artisanal producer is well-known among insiders for its old-style yet glorious Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its seductive Côtes du Rhône Le Poutet is a food-friendly effort that pleases the senses, the intellect, and the pocketbook. Imported by Weygandt-Metzler (610 486-0800). Guigal This superb domaine is renowned the world over for single-vineyard Côte Rôties, Hermitages, and Condrieus. By volume produced, Guigal's biggest wine is the Côtes du Rhône. It's usually a blend of equal parts syrah and grenache, with a touch of mourvèdre. This offering is always delicious and a great bargain. Imported by Ex Cellars Wine Agencies (805 686-9153). Patrick Lesec Selections Lesec, a négociant working in southern France, selects top wines from some of the region's better cooperatives and bottles them under such names as Marquis, Pérrilière, and Peradon. Imported by Chemin des Vins (508 545-1532). For more on the domaines producing great Côtes du Rhône wines, go to businessweek.com/extras. Robert Parker is the world's most influential wine critic. Visit www.eRobertParker.com to see tens of thousands of tasting notes, buy his books, or subscribe to his newsletter, The Wine Advocate.  By Robert Parker
BW MALL
SPONSORED LINKS
Get BusinessWeek directly on your desktop with our RSS feeds.
Buy a link now! Add BusinessWeek news to your Web site with our headline feed. Click to buy an e-print or reprint of a BusinessWeek or BusinessWeek Online story or video. To subscribe online to BusinessWeek magazine, please click here. Learn more, go to the BusinessWeekOnline home page  | | |
 Copyright 2007, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of Use | Privacy Notice |
Printer-Friendly Version