It’s always great to see an odd duo play out in a big way like the ‘straight-man’ and the eccentric along the lines of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, Lemmon and Matthau, Aykroyd and Belushi, or Seth Rogan and James Franco. It’s a long list. This also happens in the wine world. Pinot Noir and Syrah are definitely an odd combination, but in this week’s wine, C’est La Vie Rouge from Albert Bichot, they are a charming pair of grapes just looking to have a good time together. C’est La Vie!
Tasting Notes: A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Syrah, C’est La Vie red sports juicy red cherry and berry fruit notes with liquorice and a spicy, peppery kick from the addition of Syrah.
Enjoy With: Mildly spiced meats and sauces like sausages in tomato sauce, or on its own.
Style: Dry, medium-bodied, fruity red wine.
Terroir/Region: The grapes for C’est La Vie red come from the Vin de Pays d’Oc region of southern France along the Mediterranean Sea. Here the intensity of the sun helps grapes ripen quickly so one of the challenges is to maintain the bright acidity needed to keep this wine refreshing. For this, the Pinot Noir is grown at a higher elevation, maintaining the freshness in the grapes and the wine they become.
Producer: It takes guts to blend these two grapes, especially when you are a Burgundy winery and you dare to blend your region’s darling grape, Pinot Noir, and arguably the most important grape in the nearby Rhone Valley, Syrah. If the wine had not tasted so good, the neighbours of Maison Albert Bichot likely would have protested in the streets. Luckily, they were probably too busy enjoying a glass!
Availability: C’est La Vie red is available year-round in the France section of your local LCBO. To really celebrate this odd pair, you should probably pick up a pair of bottles!
Price: $12.95
LCBO#: 166934
Size: 750mL
Alcoholic Content: 13.0% alc./vol.
