2018 Vieux Clocher Maison Arnoux & Fils
The French fold a lot of stuff together. Here’s another “red wine”; it’s a blend. The bottle showed off well with etchings of a castle and signature. The good feeling ended when a very cheap plastic cork popped out. That’s when my mind snapped back to Pigalle in Paris. Pigalle began in the 18th Century as an artist and entertainment district. As the French like to do, the rich, middle class, and tourists flocked to the area & Moulin Rouge. Following World War II, the area’s focus blended into less upscale. America’s G.I.’s referred to it as “Pig Alley”, an oxymoron. Parisian elegance, arts and entertainment gave way to a raunchy reputation. Vieux Clocher puts three top-flight varietals together: Grenache, Mourvèdre & Syrah. The wine drinks as a GMS blend with medium structure & feel. It has a good dark ruby color. I liked its cherry taste; later blackberry as well licorice. The glass emptied with soft tannins. I would not recommend this Vieux Clocher for a wine cellar. The “tell”, its plastic cork, allerets the buyer about short shelf-life. In WWII, those allied soldiers were not too worried about what clothes the lady wore; they didn’t plan on bringing her home to mom. This is a “drink it now” bottle. Serve it with red meat. & Be wary of inexpensive French wines.
