Think you can’t get a good Bordeaux for under $100?
OK, how about one under $20?
Egalitarian pricing like that might have stopped the storming of the Bastille. But that price on a fabulous Bordeaux really does exist.
It’s the Mouton Cadet.
Sure, the price point is almost unheard of for a Bordeaux. But you’ll find that the Mouton Cadet is one of the most versatile wines you’ll want in your home.
It is available in almost any wine shop or grocery store that carries wine.
The blend is classic: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Merlot; with a compound flavor profile of strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry.
Because it is made by the iconic Rothschild family, the wine has nuance and complexity that will please both the Bordeaux snob and the novice.
If you’re just starting to dip your palate into reds, then this is a good beginning. The tannins are smoother and less prominent so the wine is not as dry or astringent tasting – which are the most difficult tastes for new red wine drinkers to overcome.
It pairs well with so many dishes that it might be easier to list what it doesn’t complement.
We suggest full-bodied and tangy cheeses like Goat, Camembert, and Brie, plus hearty French dishes like Beef Bourguignon, Italian dishes like Bolognese, plus steak, salmon, and even chicken. Think about pairing it with a beautiful roast chicken, seasoned with Herbs de Provence. We even paired it with a St. Paddy’s Day Shepherd’s Pie. I/we recorded a short video showing some other pairing ideas, which you can find here.
Because it’s inexpensive and versatile, it is perfect for a dinner party. We suggest a food and wine celebration for Bastille Day or maybe the Paris Olympics.
That’s why Mouton Cadet is one of the most widely sold Bordeaux worldwide.
However, some snobs – like the host of a travel show with the initials UCJS – admit to not trying it because the price was so low he/she didn’t think it would be any good.
The Mouton Cadet was always a stepchild. Baron Philippe de Rothschild was not pleased with the grapes back in the late 1920s that didn’t live up to his vastly more expensive vintages.
So the Baron blended them into the Mouton Cadet – with
Cadet meaning the youngest son in the family which is what he was.
From the late 1920s until the start of World War II, Mouton Cadet thrived. Production stopped during the war and then resumed in 1947 when it received the Bordeaux AOC classification. Wines with this classification are primarily produced in the Right Bank region and they are fruity and easy to drink.
Mouton Cadet hit a slump thanks to politics in 2004. American wine drinkers, angry at France’s lack of help during the Iraq War, protested everything French.
But the American boycott proved short-lived and, before long, Mouton Cadet was back to enjoying great success.
Pick up a bottle and enjoy it tonight. This Bordeaux does not need cellaring and is drinkable immediately.
As you will see here in this segment we did for you. Yes, we sacrificed while drinking wine. You may have to endure one of the hosts butchering French like Inspector Clouseau too.
John Daly and Susan Anzalone are wine snobs. They are also the creators and hosts of Undercover Jetsetter, a streaming TV show on Wingding TV that covers travel, food, wine, mixology, and golf – all shot off the iPhone. Susan’s expertise in food and wine started when she traveled the world with her parents who worked at Pan Am Airlines. John used his news career to get educated in mixology that included training at the Harvard Bartending School – something John extolls way too often. Make sure to check out the Wingding Food and Travel Channels for all of their segments.