WTN: Boutinot Cuvée Jean-Paul Méditerranée Rouge

[Robin Garr]

Can you expect to find decent wine for $8? Nothing cellarworthy, for sure. Don't expect to hear flights of angels sing. But troll for this kind of deep QPR in familiar territory like Southern France or Northern Italy, and you can get a thoroughly enjoyable table wine that will do the job with a meal today. Here's one.

Boutinot 2021 Cuvée Jean-Paul Méditerranée Rouge ($14.99)

A clear, dark reddish-purple blend of Grenache (70%) and Syrah (30%), Cuvée Jean-Paul Rouge breathes fresh raspberry aromas and whiffs of brown spice. Good red-berry fruit flavors start softly on the first taste, but fresh-fruit acidity and soft tannins build structure on the palate. Lingering fruit and tannic astringency linger in a long finish. This isn't a fancy wine, but it offers significant value in the $10 (or less) range. 13.5% alcohol. U.S. importer: Boutinot USA Inc., Sanford, Florida. (Sept. 4, 2024)

FOOD MATCH: The back label suggests barbecued meats and grilled vegetables. The importer also suggests grilled meats, casseroles, BLTs, pizzas and mature, hard cheeses.

WHEN TO DRINK: The screw cap is protective, but the wine isn't meant for aging. Drink up over the next year or two.

VALUE:
At my $8 local price it's a no-brainer for an everyday evening meal. It still qualifies as a decent value at Wine-Searcher.com's $11 average U.S. retail.

WEB LINK:
Here's a detailed tech sheet from Regal Wines, a New Jersey distributor.

FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Cuvée Jean-Paul Rouge on Wine-Searcher.com.

Click this Wine-Searcher link to learn about the broad Méditerranée IGP region and browse many of its wines.

Read more about Grenache-Syrah blends and find more offerings and vendors at this Wine-Searcher link.

Explore Boutinot Wines' portfolio at this Wine-Searcher link.