The village of Cairanne
Dear wine lovers,
Inside the diffrent Côtes du Rhône Villages and located near Gigondas, there is one that I particularly appreciate : Cairanne*.
**The typicity of this village appellation mainly comes from its exposition where most of the vines are planted on rocky slopes**. Grenache, which is the king grape in this area, reaches its potential maturity up sometimes to 19% alcohol !. In the blend, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault will bring fruit and elegance to this powerful and spicy red wine. Cairanne also produces "muscled" white wines based on Grenache White, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussane, Bourboulenc and Viognier.
Cairanne is a beautiful village ideally located on touristic roads that lead to either Gigondas, Vaison la Romaine and Sainte Cécile les Vignes. Having this in mind, all the vineyard owners created 40 years ago the first cellar door union that to represent all the producers and this place still exists. If you travel there, have don't hesitate to stop at "Le Tourne Verre", a new "bistrot-bar à vins" in the Cairanne village where you can have lunch for 13 Euros and especially this hare recipe*** that will pair perfectly with this local and delicious wine.
26 producers compose this small appellation. The most famous is Marcel Richaud but his wines are quite expensive even if they are very good. Good quality / price are the village Coop, Domaine Brusset and my preffered of all is Domaine Rabasse Charavin (1,3 MB video which might take a while to download) where Corinne Couturier makes somes wines that resemble so much her strong but feminine character. If you go visit her, don't miss her famous Estevenas Cuvée which will regal you in white and red.
Cheers,
Jean-Marc Espinasse
Any comments, edits are very welcome at [email protected]
PODCASTS :
Listen to this whole edition in French (allow some delay depending on your speed internet connection)
Listen to this whole edition in English (allow some delay depending on your speed internet connection)
If, like me, you enjoy touring the Rhône, here is a good book :
See Cairanne on a French wine map
***Hare recipe
1 Hare
8oz 'smoked streaky bacon
½ bottle dry white wine
1 glass white wine vinegar
3 carrots
3 small onions
sprigs fresh parsley, thyme, tarragon
black pepper
olive oil
1oz dry mustard
1oz tomato puree
3oz flour
¼ pint fresh double cream
Wrap portions of rabbit / hare in bacon. Prepare the marinade with wine vinegar sliced carrots onions herbs and pepper. Marinade for approx 2 hours, drain well. Heat oil and brown meat on all sides. Add approx half marinade liquor, mustard, puree, and cook for 1 hour. When joints are cooked remove and keep hot. Add flour to gravy and boil remove from pan add cream, pour over joints.
