Châteauneuf-du-Pape: 3 Kings & a Christmas Cake

Digi says he understands things better when there's a visual analogy and I know he's not alone! So, here comes a belated Christmas-themed post...

Châteauneuf-du-Pape means The Pope's New Castle, so imagine the 3 kings of the nativity here, making the Pope a lovely house-warming Christmas cake.

In the Pope's kitchen, The King's gifts of Gold, Frankincense & Myrr become Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre grapes as the key ingredients in this full-bodied blend. There's also a rack with a further 10 spices on it should the Kings feel the need to add them. They know however, that their own gifts are pretty darn good, so they'll probably not need anything else!

The comforting, Christmas cake-esque flavours of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are much loved: yummy, sweet spice and dried figgy flavours combine deliciously with a rich and warming, full-body. The 10 'spices' mentioned above are the other 10 grape varieties legally allowed in the blend (some of them, white!) In practice however, they often don't make it in.

Named after the town (not the grapes) in France's Southern Rhône Valley, this area has a long vinous history dating back to when the Papacy was based in Avignon - hence the name. Pope John XXII in particular was apparently an avid wine drinker, and helped improve the area's winemaking practices no end. He even built the famous Chateau that has since become the symbol of Châteauneuf's winey gift to the world!

So there you go, Châteauneuf-du-Pape = 3 Kings making Christmas cake for the Pope! A vinous adventure with a bit of history thrown in....

Winebird x

Shiraz, Syrah or Shakespeare?

“Come, Sirrah. Crush a cup of wine!”

Who best to play the lead in one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, hmm? A comedian, that’s who! Lenny Henry has proved to us all of late that he is not just the funny-guy-with-the-red-nose. Oh, no. While we all enjoy his lighter side, this full-bodied, hulk of a man with his brooding, dark tones and spicy sense of humour is capable of much more serious and meaningful things too. Yes, Lenny Henry is a Shiraz who occasionally puts on a serious face to become his alter ego – Syrah.

The Shiraz that most of us know and love is that full-on, full-bodied red with its obvious dark plum and spicy, jammy flavours. This is Lenny in his sketch-show format: simple humour, but familiar, fun and easy. You tune in because you want a reliable, big personality.

And just as this very same man can highlight the plight of the third world to millions and churn out some incredible straight-up acting talent, so can Shiraz switch its style to ‘serious’ and call itself Syrah.

Yes, Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape variety. It’s just called different things in different places! Syrah’s heartland is France’s Northern Rhône. Here, it’s all about violets and dried herb aromas with savory, well hung game flavours (I’m not alluding to Lenny here – honest!) and a peppery aftertaste. When a wine is called Syrah elsewhere in the world, this is the style that they are often aiming for. Enter, the Rhône Rangers!

Shiraz is not trying to be such a complex, meaty style. For Shiraz, think hot blackberry jam tarts versus Syrah’s gastronomic feast!

Wine Language Tasting Tour:
Head for Australia’s Barossa Valley for straight-talking, in your face Shiraz.

Compare this to France’s Rhône Valley and the village of ‘Saint-Joseph’ for the violet and dried herb kick!

For something in between the two, I find that Argentina’s Mendoza province is capturing some glorious concentration at really fantastic value.

Forsooth, I must away! Parting is such sweet sorrow…

Winebird