The Good Year

As much as I enjoy wine, I am equally fanatical about good movie. Movie allows you to walk into someone's life, going through the experience, sharing all the emotions, and without needing to deal with the "real" ending. I admire work of such directors like Guiseppe Tornatore (Malèna, Cinema Paradiso), Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor, Stealing Beauty, The Dreamers), Richard Donner (16 Blocks, Lethal Weapon series, The Omen), Joel Schumacher (Phone Booth, The Client, Flatliners, The Lost Boys, St. Elmo's Fire), Oliver Stone (World Trade Centre, Any Given Sunday, Natural Born Killers, JFK, U-turn, Wall Street, The Doors, Platoon) Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich), Jonathan Demme (The Manchurian Candidate, Philadelphia, The Silence of the Lambs), Michael Mann (Miami Vice, Collateral, Heat, The Insider, The Last of the Mohicans), Woody Allen (Match Point), Martin Scorsese (The Age of Innocence, Cape Fear, Goodfellas, The Color of Money), Robert Redford (A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show) and the last, but not least, the brother Scotts - Tony Scott (Déjà Vu, Domino, Spy Game, Enemy of State, Crimson Tide) and Ridley Scott (Black Hawk Down, Hannibal, Gladiator, Thelma & Louise, Black Rain, Alien, Blade Runner). Yes, granted, is all over the place. Like wine, I love diversities in movies.

Ridley Scott latest movie, The Good Year will certainly produce another demand of the already famous holiday designation, the Mediterranean influence of Provence. The previous wine related movie, Sideways, which has already created such an impact on the sale for Pinot Noir in States, and responsible for the recent decreased in both sale and production for Merlot (the movie least favorite wine), even at their most flourish land of Washington State. Many vintners have uproot their previous Merlot vineyard and give way to the current more trendy grape varieties such as Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. All that, for the sake of one single movie (one should never undermined the influenced of motion picture).

The Good Year, which is the only drama/comedy movie to date for Scott that was previously known for his epic works of such masterpiece like Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven (ok, agreed, this movie was less successful in the box office due primary to the wrong selection of led actor - Orlando Bloom). This latest movie took set at the beauty countryside of Provence, which is also known for their production of excellent rosé. The merciless London banker, Max Skinner, which was played by Russell Crowe inherited a vineyard property in Provence by his late uncle Henry. He immediate intention was to sell off this property and get back to his ruthless, battlefield life. However, little did he expect that, ahead of him, was a romance waiting and as the story developed, Crowe was drawn by the beauty of the French lady, Fanny Chenal (play by Marion Cotillard). As he get involved with his new found relationship and daily life of South of France. His childhood memories of Château La Siroque, which he thought was long lost, were recollected, and later, he found a new appreciation of his uncle Henry's philosophy on life, more so, the life in Provence.

Southern France, which generally referred to area such as Provence (on the east) and Languedoc-Roussillon (on the west) are regions that skirt around the Mediterranean Sea. In the southern end of Côtes du Roussillon, Rivesaltes (famous for their sun-dried sweet Muscat) and Banyuls (world's famous sweet red wine), separated by Pyrenees Mountains, where the world's largest grape-vine planting country - Spain is located. The direct continuation from Vallée de la Rhône is Provence. After the station of Ville d'Orange, which is heart of all Côte du Rhône village vineyards, you will arrive in Avignon, the town that where the famous Pope Clement V reside (in 1309) and thus, the new pope castle, Châteauneuf du Pape name derives. This is where, Provence begin. Between Avignon and Marseille, the most famous wine village of Provence are Aix-en-Provence, where some of the French finest rosé, and definitely the most expensive are being made here. Among the most noticeable must be Château de Selle by Domaine Ott. Also, let don't forget, Domaine de Trevallon (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah) in Les Baux-de-Provence, where one of the region most innovative wine is from. Outside Marseille, just before Toulon, where Bandol is, some of the best Mourvèdre-grape France can offers are from here. Try Domaine Tempier or Mas de la Rouvière.

In the movie of The Good Year, a mysterious, legendary vin de garage, which fetched high-price, called, Le Coin Perdu (the lost corner) was mentioned, and that is exactly what was developed over the years in Languedoc-Roussillon. Many new emerging star producers such as Château de la Négly (consulted by oenologist Claude Gros, which clients also include Château La Fleur Morange (St.-Emilion), Bouscat (Bordeaux Supérieur)), Château Puech-Haut (made by Michel Rolland & Claude Gros), Bertrand-Berge (by Claude Gros) which are frequently demand for such a lofty price tag (often cost more than US$100), that I am always skeptical about those developments. Quality aside, the whole concept of those vin de garage look to be coming from the same franchise-joined of what Parker/Rolland did on those St.-Emilion's garagiste (extreme low-yield, limited production, using burgundy's winemaking technique - pigeage, malolactic in barrel, aging on it lees. What else is new?). I continue to look upon producer such as Mas de Daumas Gassac (L'Hérault) for reference, and recently, Jean-Luc Thunevin (Valandraud in St.-Emilion) and Jean-Roger Calvet has partnered and ventured into this area, releasing their Vin de Pays d'Oc red called, Les Dentelles. Made from old vine Grenache and Carignan from a steep hillside of Côte du Roussillon. The wine is intense and rich, with immensely sweet, mouth caressing texture. Also not to be miss is the debut released of Ron Laughton of Jasper Hill and Michel Chapoutier joint efforts Côte du Roussillon called, Agly Brothers (not to be mistaken as being referred to those two folks, but was in fact, the ugly duckling Carignan, pairing with Syrah and Grenache). To me, this has the charm and elegance that was missing in Calvet-Thunevin. Nonetheless, both wines are excellent in value and for practical consumption. Don't miss!