Domaine DU Grapillion D’Or 1806 2020
This wine is a red blend with 80% Grenache & 20% Syrah. The stuff is really good. I know very little about French wines. Their labels primarily some Chateau where famous royalty lived, peed in the ground, or signed a legal proclamation.
The French label is quite striking because of its1806! First, 1806 is the office date of the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire… another story at another time. For France, 1806 marks the start of the Napoleonic wars. Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte issued his “Berlin Decree'', which banned trade with Great Britain. The English responded by blockading French ports. Their ships seized any block age runners. 1806 was the beginning of the Neophonic wars.
This label is an example of how I get confused over French wines. Here is a good, drinkable, and desirable wine. History shows that the Neophonic wars didn’t end favorably for France. But this French vineyard stuck on a label that says, “Hey! Let’s celebrate how Napoleon Bonaparte got his balls cut off.”
Taste: This smooth baby has dark raisin, spices, a hint of gunpowder, and liquorish without grit. T=3
Looks: It has that deep red crimson color like the English’ St. George flag. There are nice legs; both English and Frenchmen appreciate nice legs. The bottle is heavy, a dark red, even has embossing. The winemaker used a genuine cork for a longer shelf life. L=3
Cost The price point is very nominal, around $ 40. This was a pleasant surprise, because the French are very proud of their product & expect consumers to dole out the bucks. C=2.
Dashboard rating: T=3, L=3, C=2. My decision was to buy more bottles. 1806 has the ability to store over a long period of time. At this price, having bottles at hand makes sense. Plus, it’s a red you can casually serve to guests without fretting.
“un verre de vin, s'il vous plaît”
