Baron Phillipe de Rothschild Vin de Pays d'Oc Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Not an Impressive French Wine

Baron Phillipe de Rothschild Vin de Pays d'Oc Cabernet Sauvignon 2006:

Year: 2006
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: France
Region: Languedoc Roussillon (Vin de Pays d'Oc)
Alcohol: 13%
Price: $10 USD; £ 6 GBP

Rating: 80 points
Between Bombastic and Not

One of the least expensive ways to try a more traditionally structured French wine is to go with a Vin De Pays. Directly translated, it simply means 'country wine' and, in this case, comes from the d'Oc titled Languedoc Roussillon region near the Mediterranean.
Add to this the Baron Phillipe de Rothschild label that simply commands attention. Producers of the famous Château Mouton Rothschild and the most popular red wine in the world, Mouton Cadet, this company is at the forefront of wine excellence internationally.

Armed with this knowledge, it was with reverence that I opened my first bottle of the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Vin de Pays d'Oc and it was with considerable disappointment that I admitted that a name alone cannot make a table wine great.

Notes of fragrant almond, black current and a cayenne tickle on the nose are enticing. The colour, a light plum with an almost earth brown hue, is also delightful. Get down to the palate, though, and its sharp, even angular flavours have surprisingly little depth. Chestnut and warm fruit are immediately blunted by heavy tannin and a strangely salty hit, followed by an abrupt finish that brings no reprieve. A touch of dark chocolate on the tongue cajoles out more of the fruit but, on the whole, the sensual pleasure of a good Cab Sauv is not to be found here.

For the price, it's a great way to introduce your palate to a highly constructed red wine. But given the choice between this bottle with its famous name or a $10 Cab Sauv from Australia, you bet I'd be going Aussie.

Wine Mama
www.wisforwine.blogspot.com


Read more of Angela's writings at her blog, W is for Wine

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