While curiously browsing and reading labels in the French wine aisle of my local liquor store, I was asked by an employee, Lauren, if I needed help finding anything. Come to find out, she is also a wine enthusiast and provided a lively and informative conversation about some of her go-to suggestions. She recommended a top selling, red blend from Southern France. Château Croix D’Aumèdes Cuvée Réserve was rated 97 points (out of 100) at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards in 2019, a prestigious accomplishment! This wine is a blend of 3 different grapes Carignan (care -in -yen), Syrah and Grenache, and was produced in the warm climate of Corbières, France.

Many of the aromas and flavors of this wine were signatures of the grapes used to make the wine. It was a smooth and inviting wine to drink because the subtle, easy to miss complexities kept me coming back for another sip. I noted aromas of aged plum, mossy earth, raspberry, blackberry jam and fresh cherry. There were also faint notes of oak and leather - which is a signature sign of aging for the Syrah and Grenache grapes. Ripe cherry flavors burst forward on the palate and eventually mellowed out with notes of leather, baking spices and blackberry jam. The ripe, red and black fruit are key indicators of the Syrah and Grenache grapes being grown in a warm/hot climate. Carignan is the signature wine grape in the Corbières red blends and has a similar flavor profile to warm climate Cabernet Sauvignon with lower intensity tannin. The raspberry and baking spice notes come from this grape in the blend. The tannin had an interesting, silky texture with a medium body and acid. The flavors were dynamic on my tongue and followed through on the medium, herbaceous finish. The alcohol content is higher than usual at 14.5%, but while I was tasting, it was not apparent which is a sign of a well balanced wine. Sometimes when the alcohol is this high, I can feel it on the finish in my chest or on my tongue.

Corbières is the largest AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée - a specific, regulated wine region in France) located in Languedoc-Roussillon which borders Spain on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Languedoc-Roussillon is known for making affordable, quality wines and is accountable for 25% of the wine production in France. Corbières is specifically known for having very old Carignan vines; the Carignan vines used to make this wine are over 70 years old. The wine was also aged in oak barrels for 6 months which adds multiple layers of complexity and power to the final product. For about $15, this is a perfect example of how fascinating, mysterious and complicated French wines can be. It was an excellent suggestion and I would highly recommend giving it a try!

If you are ever in the Binghamton, NY area and need wine, go to Johnson City Liquor & Wine! The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful about the vast selection available in the store. While you’re there, stop at Wegmans, located right next door. Their selection of local cheese and charcuterie supplies is astonishing and is a must stop for any food enthusiast. After going to college in Rochester, NY, where the Wegmans grocery store was founded, I am completely sold on the top quality and diversity of the products available.

Vintage: 2018

Alcohol: 14.5%

Producer/Winery: Joseph Castan / Château Croix D’Aumèdes

Region: Corbières, France (Languedoc-Roussillon)

Grapes: 40% Carignan (Old Vines), 30% Syrah, 30% Grenache

Price: $15