Grande Vieux Chateau Du Roi

By Phinder Dulai

This old world French-style wine is much like the name; roughly translated this “great old house of the king” is a deep and complex wine that pays humble homage to the great founder of the modernized French appellation of wine growing.

The Grande Vieux Chateau Du Roi utilizes eight varietals and offers a bounty of flavors that begin with a bouquet of stoney mineral notes that linger with red liquorice and blackberry ambience. It is a rich full bodied red without the oak that has legs that travel down the glass bowl slow enough to appreciate the fine structure and consistency. The wine’s uniform deep crimson color tells you this wine is good to drink once bottled and better if you give it a few months. On the tongue that deep consistency in structure is matched with an equally intense plum and tannin burst that quickly transforms into mix of ripe cherries, blackberries and bell peppers while you contemplate a dinner pairing. There are plenty of subtle notes that include spices and hints of dark chocolate.

Food and Wine Pairings

The Grande Vieux Chateau du Roi offers a taste that pairs with many foods. A good roast beef or game hen works while those chicken lovers may want to try chicken in mushroom and red wine sauce, or a coq au vin, or chicken cacciatore; all are good eating ideas for this ‘king of wines’. For lighter fare consider cold cuts such as pancetta, prosciutto or salami with some fresh bread. On the cheese front the best cheese combinations are veined cheeses and intensely creamy French cheeses such as camembert, or aged cheddar or gouda. Enjoy! >> more about the Cellar Classic Series