Another trip to our favorite wine store turned up this inexpensive gem, Château Jouclary Cabardès 2005. Lots of fruitiness without being jammy or sweet, very approachable, good with steak. Cabardes require a blending of wines, and the wine shows it by being very even in flavor and a smooth finish. The wine retails at just under $10 at the store.
I couldn't find a Château Jouclary website, but this French wine site had the background on Cabardès: "the only French appellation to associate 40% minimum of atlantic grape varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Cot and Fer Servadou) with 40% minimum of mediterranean grape varieties (Syrah and Grenache), completion of blends possible with 20% of Cot and Fer Servadou."
I believe the wine distributor told us this wine was predominently Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah, but we tasted six wines and I could be mixing things up a bit. (This U.S. wine distributor, turned up via google, mentions Merlot, Grenache and Syrah.)
