Château d'Oupia Minervois 2005 Tasting Notes

The proprietor of Château d'Oupia, André Iché, inherited the property but avoided the winemaking aspect for many years, selling his grapes to local négociants. Fifteen years ago a visiting winemaker convinced Iché to go the full winemaking route, and Iché took the task seriously. His basic Minervois blend is 60% Carignan, 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache (Iché also produces two oak-aged Cuvées comprised of 60% Syrah and 40% Carignan). The wine is a deep purple, with solid notes of cherry, plum, prune and black pepper. Both tannins and acidity stay the course toward a satisfying finish. Behind the fruit, if you don't quaff it (and beware, this wine wants to be quaffed) you may be rewarded by some smoky bacon and a whiff of tobacco.

Food is a natural with this wine, though it is accessible alone. You want to enjoy it with all that red meat that some people don't eat (for joy, all the more for us). If I ran a restaurant (which I never will because members of my family would have me committed first), I would make this a mainstay for my red wine by the glass program; I feel it has a lot more flexibility than the usual Cabernets, and can hold its own against most any Aussie Shiraz in its price range, and even a notch above. Carignan is a grape that can often disappoint, but it is well-appointed in this wine.