[quote]A Wine Spectator survey asked : What is the biggest problem with French wine? The answer : an overwhelming 51 % said that price was the biggest problem![/quote]
The Bordeaux and Burgundy regions are responsible for this unfavourable image. In the eighties the culprit was Burgundy, reaching record high prices with the 1988 vintage. Then, Bordeaux took over in the nineties, establishing new highs with the 95 and 96 vintages. Not satisfied and wanting to take advantage of new developing markets, Bordeaux set new record highs in 2000, 2005 and again recently with the 2009 and 2010 harvests. Now at ridiculously high prices, these elite French wines are out of reach of the average consumer. Only the wealthy can afford the “Crus Classés” of Bordeaux or the “Grands Crus” of Burgundy. So where does the French wine enthusiast turn to find high quality wines at affordable prices?
The solution to this enigma is in the Rhône Valley. Regardless that the elite wines of Côtes-du-Rhône (Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Condrieu and some Châteauneuf-du-Pape) have now reached similar pricing; this region offers many great wines at affordable prices. The Côtes-du-Rhône-villages appellation leads the way with wines of great character and potential that are offered at prices that vary from $15 to $25 a bottle. How could one resist such value?
Some might worry about availability, but there’s no need to panic since this appellation produces close to 300,000 hectoliters of wine every year. The CDR-Villages wines that bear the name of one of the eighteen higher quality producing villages, can often impress (in good years) with great concentration and drinkability. Oh they might not age as well as those $500 bottles from Bordeaux, but luckily you don’t have to wait ten years before popping the cork. The appellations of St-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas can produce well structured charming reds from the Syrah grape. While the Grenache based wines of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Châteauneuf-du-Pape offer superb ripe reds with surprising aging potential (5 to 10 years).
The fact is that Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages wines offer better quality, more pleasure and better value than the simple Bordeaux or Burgundy entry level appellations. In other words, if you plan on spending $15 to $25 for a bottle of French wine, you should invest in the Rhône appellations. I guarantee more bang for your buck!
Many consumers have contributed to this trend in the last decade; Rhône Valley wines sales have more than doubled in Canada since 2000 and are showing no signs of slowing down. Canada is now the fourth export market for Rhône Valley wines and because of our open minded curiosity its market share should continue to grow. On its own, the province of Quebec, accounts for 67% of all Canadian sales.
Thanks to Rhône Valley we can still enjoy fine French wines at affordable prices. Bye Bye Bordeaux, hello Rhône!
Tavel Rosé 2011 Domaine du Vieil Aven 19,95 $, SAQ : 640193
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Les Meysonniers 2009 Crozes-Hermitage, M. Chapoutier 26,55 $, SAQ : 0259876
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Cuvée Terra Amata 2009 Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Chusclan, Château Signac 22,30 $, SAQ : 917815
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Cuvée Syrah 2009 Costières de Nîmes, Michel Gassier 16,20 $, SAQ : 11253759
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Clos de Sixte 2007 Lirac, Domaine Grand Veneur 23,25 $, SAQ : 10919070
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Cuvée Les Champauvins 2009 Côtes du Rhône, Domaine Grand Veneur 19,95 $, SAQ : 10935774
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Les 2 Monardes 2009 Vacqueyras, Domaine de la Monardière, France 25,70 $, SAQ : 11682932
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