Chateau des Alouettes 2002 Costières de Nîmes Rouge
For this week’s wine adventure, I decided to try one of those bag-in-a-box deals. Apparently, Americans are late to the game when it comes to embracing innovative wine packaging, and the bag-in-a-box is one of the more promising, if somewhat unlikely, methods. 50% of all wine consumed in Australia comes in a box and has for years according to this Seattle Post-Intelligencer article, and premium wines are getting “bagged” — it’s the bag, not the box, that keeps the wine fresh for weeks after opening — rather than bottled at increasing rates.
While shopping at the PCC a couple of weeks ago, I took notice of a display of 3L wine boxes from two French wineries. The tasting notes were interesting, but the packaging and overall value was what captured my attention. 3L is the equivalent of four bottles yet the box is the size of a short, plump cereal box. The 2002 Costières de Nîmes Rouge was $22, equal to $5.50 a bottle, perfect for an everyday table wine in my book. It looked small, cheap, and innovative. I bought it without hesitation.
I haven’t been able to dig up anything in English on Chateau des Alouettes. The Costières de Nîmes appellation is in Southern France along the Mediterranean and tends to produce fruity red wines. There ends my knowledge of this vintage. But I do know that it’s rather yummy. Fruity is definitely the choice descriptor. The color is slightly purplish and the nose is so-so, but for a table wine it’s more than serviceable. In fact, because of the packaging, it’s extraordinarily useful. Allow me to elaborate.
The bag inside the box has a valve at the bottom. This valve allows you to serve the wine without the wine inside the bag becoming exposed to air. Also, the bag shrinks like a bladder to keep air out. This keeps the wine fresh for weeks. After two weeks of drinking the 2002 Costières de Nîmes Rouge, I can attest to the efficacy of the bag and valve. It’s still yummy. However, there is a technique to serving wine from such a container. Your first draw will come out very fast if you open the valve fully. Bubbles will form on top like a light head. A carafe comes in handy so the wine may settle and breathe prior to drinking. Also, a carafe can be brought to the table and passed around, unlike the box. The pressure inside the bag seems to lessen as it empties, so the more you drink the less careful you need be pouring. This is where having three liters of wine “on tap” becomes dangerous. It’s just too easy to “top off” another glass while running about the kitchen. I found myself consuming a good deal more than usual.
Given my expectation of mediocrity, I was pleasantly surprised by this wine. A found it highly drinkable for an everyday, nothing-special table wine. The packaging is excellent and I plan to try other bag-in-a-box wines soon. If you have any recommendations for me, please leave them in the comments.