Cuvee de Pena 2008 Red Grape(s): 40% Grenache, 38% Carignan, 12% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
Region: Vin de Pays des Pyrénées-Orientales, France
Style: Light-Medium – juicy and fruit forward
Alcohol: 14.1%
Price: $11.99 Reduced $7.99
This wine is a true steal, offering light, fresh, and appetizing fruit. Red and black cherries meld together on the nose with a subtle spice component and continue on in the mouth with good length and fine tannins.
Designated Vin de Pays des Pyrénées-Orientales, the wine comes from a cooperative winery in the charming little village of Cases de Pene, just 10 miles north west of Perpignan, in the most southerly part of France.
The quartet of grape varieties; Grenache, Carignan, Syrah and Mourvedre, typically grown in this part of the world are known for making some big and heavy long lasting wines, but as this example clearly demonstrates, they are also more than capable of producing interesting lighter versions without the need of any oak ageing. One of the huge advantages of stainless steel over oak is the big cut in the cost, allowing producers like Chateau de Pena to bottle high quality grapes at phenomenally low prices.
While I could imagine sitting down to one of the regions classics, such as duck cassoulet, it is also compatible with a wide range of food and great for quaffing on its own too. Enjoy!
Felix Milner
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