Walking by the wine aisle and see a big 'sale' sign with a number that would be cheap for a six-pack of beer. look closer and it is a Cote du Ventoux CdP blend with 50% Grenache, and a smattering of syrah, mouvedre, carrignan and cinsault. And, it is made by/for the Perrin family, which owns Beaucastel. All this for a rousing sale price of $5.47/bottle. I think to myself that this can't possibly count as buying a bottle of wine, so I slip one into the cart.

On opening, nice tart cherry and almost cdp spiciness comes through on a pretty nice nose. Color is middling, not light, but not pitch black, dark red, and you can see the light through it if you hold up your glass. First taste is 'wow, pretty good for a $5.00 bottle of wine." Medium bodied, with darker fruits and funk on the mid-palate. Finish is a bit short, but this is a quaffer with dinner (I had grilled chicken, peppers and onions last night and it was a wonderful pairing with the char).

I am going to send my wife back to pick up a couple of cases (I can't because I am on a wine buying moratorium until September 1), but this, at less than $70.00 a case, is definitely a great find and something that I would not be embarrassed to either drink myself or to serve to friends, both wino and not.

[EDITED TO ADD SCORE(S)- Wine Spectator rated this at 87 points and I would agree, and maybe one more point. This is definately, in my opinion, an 87-88 point wine.]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dale451,

What store, Dale?

Plum Market in Birmingham.

Beware, this wine is subject to serious bottle variation.

'The chicken wine', is a a serious bargain for the price. This is my prefered cooking wine. If I only need a cup or two to cook with, the rest is perfectly gulpable.

I would bet there is some lot variation, I think they make some outrageous number of cases, like 60,000+.

Spencer and Paul - thanks for the heads up. At this price, a case is $66.00, so even if a few don't pan out, it is still a pretty good wine.

And I noticed that on the bottle last night, and while your guesstimate at the production is technically correct as you added the '+' after the 60,000, the bottle says 120,000 cases made!
wow, that is a lot of wine and makes you wonder how much the winery sells the wine for, $2.00/bottle?

This store also has the Rose for the same price. Has anyone tried this one?

thanks, Dale

I've tried all three. The Rose is also a good bargain and usually in the 84-86 point range, which for $6 and a rose, is pretty good in my book. The white is less impressive year to year, but worth trying out at the price.

I don't know how the Perrins are making this wine, but I'd think it's a good fit to round out their Beaucastel investments. The biggest percentage cost in something like this is actually bottling, and if they had to invest in modern bottling to do the 30,000-40,000 case of Beaucastel they make every year, then it's really just a matter of having the line run year round, which from an economic stand point is much more efficeint than how most of us have to do bottling. My bottling costs are probably around $4 a bottle. I bet they are down in the 50-60 cent range.

Wow I never would have guessed $4 a bottle. How many cases do you think you will produce from the 2008 vintage?

cool, thanks, Paul. Always interesting to get the glimpse behind the curtain. For smaller producers/productions, this must be a rather significant percentage of costs.

The Perrin & Fils and La Vielle Ferme operations are separate from Beaucastel. The facility is on the opposite side of the autoroute, about 10 minutes drive from Beaucastel...very modern/warehouse like with a large bottling line.

The values they are cranking out at La Vieille Ferme (red, white and rosé) are terrific, and many of the Perrin & Fils wines are outstanding. The Gigondas cuvées in particular, where the Perrins are making a strong commitment to the appellation...

James - thanks for the info. I picked up one a bottle of the Rose to give it try, and actually enjoyed the red very much. I will look for the Gigondas as well and see how that does, thanks.

Dale

Cool info James, figured there would have to be a top of the line bottling plant to crank this stuff out at $6 SRP.

The red La Vieille Ferme rocks year after year, 2004 and 2005 where very good as well. Easily the best QPR in my cellar.

I noticed in the Insider that just came out that the La Vieille Ferme Rose got named and got 86 points at $9/bottle.

Also, I believe that the Perrin et Fils Gigondas that James was mentioning got a nod as well. 93 points at $27/bottle for the Syrah/Grenache. Will have to seek that out as well.

Dale

Dale it sounds like you're raring to go 13 days from now. Look out!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: snipes,

snipes - funny, but true. Although, I can buy a case of the Ferme for $60 and pick up a 6 of the Gigondas for $162 that is 222 for 18 bottles of wine. If those were my purchases on a regular basis this would never have been an issue!!