Le Bâtonnier

view from top of Mont Royal

A Québec wine from the vintner Denis Paradis, bought from a vendor on the streets of Montréal  for the somewhat unaccustomed price of $20 CAD, Le Bâtonnier, or “president of the Bar” (i.e. lawyer) in French, is a depart from the usual. A tart North American wine, made from grapes grown in Québec, the fruits are young-tasting, with notes of cranberry, and fluffy…like the wine equivalent of angel food cake.

Normally, I prefer a more full-bodied red, but the cranberry tartness and the young sweetness make it a great summer wine. When you don’t want anything too dark. Goes well with goat cheese, a pear and nut salad, or other summery dishes.

The price was a bit steep for the quality – my one critique was that the “oak barreled finish” seemed like a cop out for not knowing what else to do with the wine. Then again, red wines are meant to be aged…thus, the problem if you are drinking a young one.