A Wine Discovered — And Then Discovered Again
Last May, I was visiting one of my favorite places … Red Lodge, Montana. It is a classic western town situated at the beginning of the Beartooth Highway, which crosses from Montana to Wyoming and is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Red Lodge is the “new old west” with a picturesque Main Street about a mile long that has been painstakingly restored. While wandering around town you will come across craft shops, art galleries, a museum and some very fine restaurants and saloons. You can’t be hungry or thirsty in Red Lodge for long. I happened to have been in town for a wine tasting evening at the Bridge Creek Restaurant and Wine bar. After sampling a half dozen reds, I picked one out of the group that definitely was above the rest in aroma, tannin and taste — but not price. This fine bottle of French red was $15.00 and I couldn’t believe my luck. Chateau Romanin from Le Baux de Provence — I scooped up a case and couldn’t wait to get it back home.
Why am I telling you all this??? Because 8 weeks later I found myself driving to St Remy de Provence, in the south of France, when I passed the signs for Chateau Romanin. What a thrill to pull into the winery of this fabulous red I had tasted and purchased in Red Lodge, Montana just a few months ago. And the proprietor was quite pleased to hear my story. This Chateau sits at the base of a mountain in the Alpilles region — 50+ acres of vines primarily Cabernet, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes all guarded by the ruins of a medieval castle. It is a stunning location, rugged and windy. You can certainly understand why the wines are so rich with texture and depth. The 2003 and 2005 French Reds are as good as any I’ve had in France — I bought 6 bottles and transported them all home safely in my suitcase. And each bottle I open will bring back two memories — Red Lodge Montana and Provence.
Related posts:
[...] Passport Online Just another WordPress weblog « A Wine Discovered — And Then Discovered Again [...]