01 Mar Please The Palate Wine of the Week: André Brunel 2020 Vin de Pays de Méditerranée Grenache, Rhône Valley 

It is often thought that you have to spend a lot of money on good wine. But, in the world of wine, there are many wines that are value wines. These are wines that overdeliver for their price. And one wine that over-delivered was the André Brunel 2020 Vin de Pays de Méditerranée Grenache, Rhône Valley. I enjoyed this wine at the start of a dinner with Fabrice Brunel of Domaine André Brunel. After being welcomed with a fresh glass of white wine, a glass of the Grenache was poured with the first course. And, wow! This wine was so friendly, drinkable, and enjoyable! We all wanted more, especially when we found out that it was a $14 bottle of wine. When it comes to quality, price, and enjoyability factor, the André Brunel 2020 Vin de Pays de Méditerranée Grenache from the Rhône Valley is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About André Brunel

Based in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in France, André Brunel is a family-owned winery that dates back to the 18th century. They have been making wine for eight generations. André Brunel took over the family business in 1971 and extended the business beyond Châteauneuf-du-Pape by purchasing properties in Côtes du Rhône and Vins de Pays. He was also one of the first in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to eliminate chemicals in the vineyard and to use ground coverings. Since 2012, his son, Fabrice Brunel, eighth generation in the family, is at the helm of the family winery. In the commune of Travaillan in the north of the Vaucluse, André Brunel has 74 acres of Vins de Pays. Vin de pays was a French wine classification that was above the vin de table classification, but below the appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC). Today it is a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

Tasting Notes

The André Brunel 2020 Vin de Pays de Méditerranée Grenache, Rhône Valley is made with 90% old-vine Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre grown in clay-limestone soils. The grapes are picked, destemmed, and fermented in concrete tanks. The wine is held in tanks for six months before bottling and release. The result is a vibrant, fresh wine with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and pomegranate. The red fruit continues on the palate and the wine finishes with bright acidity and soft, round tannins. This is a super drinkable wine!

Food Pairing

The André Brunel 2020 Vin de Pays de Méditerranée Grenache, Rhône Valley is thoroughly enjoyed on its own. And it can be paired with red meats and charcuterie. I enjoyed this wine with Wagyu Tartare with Whiskey Barrel Aged Fish Sauce, Mushroom Escabeche, and Lavash, a dish served at Gwen Restaurant in LA. I am not sure which my friends and I were oohing over more….the wine or the dish…probably both!

Where to Purchase

This incredibly vibrant, fresh, food-friendly wine retails for just $14 and is available around the country. To find a local retailer near you, go to Wine-Searcher.com.