Wine Pick: 2007 Abel Clement Grenache

2007 Abel Clement Grenache (Rhone, FR) $6
Now here's a wine you can drink while watching the financial news network without feeling guilty. Of course a bargain is more than price, so even a $6 wine has to have merit, which begs the question; How good can a wine be for this price? I have to admit that while I've been a fan of this producer for many years and have written about its wines in this column, I was at first a bit skeptical about the price.

Until very recently the euro has been hammering the dollar so badly that European wine imports have become very expensive. I find very few really good deals, especially from France, which is loathe to lower prices even if it has to distill some wine to control supply. But the proof is in the glass and this wine delivers.

The producer, Abel Clement, is a cooperative winery in the sunny south of France in a department (a political entity much like a U.S. county) called the Vaucluse. The Vaucluse is the viticultural (and tourist) sweet spot of the area, where famous wines such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape are produced, as well as more generic popular wines such as Cotes du Rhone. The climate is dry and hot and, while a dozen different grapes are grown here, the grenache is the dominant varietal. It loves the heat and the sunshine and can produce wines rich and redolent yet earthy and even gamy.

This '07 Grenache from Abel Clement will not be confused with a Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but it still shows to be a nicely balanced, plump and fruity, fairly complex red that retains its sense of place. I like the aromas and flavors of red fruit such as cherries and plums. You can't ask for much more than that for six bucks. Don't be afraid to put the wine through its paces. Try it with a good hearty soup or pasta with a red sauce or an herb-roasted chicken. To find the wine contact Grape Expectations at 206-763-4632.

-- Richard Kinssies