Vallon d'Arche, red (per 6); Bottle price €9.90

In some circles this wine would be a so-called “entry-level Bordeaux”, but that is not doing it justice. It is a very accessible Bordeaux, a wine for everyday use. Because let's face it, Bordeaux wines are less accessible. I once read in a book about “wine types” that Bordeaux drinkers are introverted, and so are thinkers. Definitely not party animals. Prefer to retreat to the library. Here is a good example of a kind of general characterization, but still fun to think about.

Price €9.90 per bottle and packed in boxes of 24. Just kidding, 6

Below more about the winemaker and his background:

Bordeaux

Perhaps the most famous wine region in the world. Is that because it is the largest area on the entire planet because of those 120,000 hectares or thereabouts? Or because the English put it on the map and developed it during 3 centuries of domination. Or perhaps the favorable location on the river in terms of transport/export.

Dutch people were there for water transport to the northern parts of Europe. They also did that in the Loire. So the dominance of the Netherlands was particularly striking since they drained part of the Médoc, a swamp area, just like in the Vendée.
Napoleon ensured that the area was of course back in French hands since 1453 and that there was an official qualification in the area in 1855. Production is mainly red. Grape varieties Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The surfaces are quite large in contrast to Burgundy, for example. It is therefore convenient that the Merlot ripens 3 weeks before the stiff Cabernet, which makes harvesting easier.

Grand Bateau Bordeaux

This Château works closely with the famous Château Beychevelle in the north of the Médoc. This means, among other things, that the winemaker of the latter, Philippe Blanc, uses his expertise on the wines of Grand Bateau. This collaboration has been going on since 1980.