So, I decided to get fancy for the day after Easter and go full French with the wine pairing—because nothing says “celebrating resurrection” like eating a rabbit your neighbor cooked and drinking something with “Côtes du Rhône” on the label. Enter the 2020 Les Capistelles, a wine that actually tells you what’s in it (thank you, label gods): 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah. I didn’t even have to Google it while pretending I knew what I was doing. At 14% ABV, this bottle came to play, but not in a “knock-you-out-and-steal-your-wallet” kind of way—more like a friendly game of bocce that gets slightly more aggressive after the third glass.
The wine? Medium dry, medium fruit, and totally mellow. It’s the kind of wine that says, “Hey, I’m here for a good time, not to overpower your food or your feelings.” It went surprisingly well with the spicy rabbit stew—even if it spent the whole dinner trying to keep up. Not bad, just… polite. A little light in body, which is great if you don’t want your wine punching you in the taste buds while Bugs Bunny’s cousin fights for dominance on your plate.
Honestly, I appreciated the chill vibe of this bottle. It didn’t scream “I’m French!” or demand I wear a scarf while sipping it—it just kinda showed up, hung out, and let the stew do the talking. Smooth, easy to drink, and not trying to impress anyone with a giant oak club or a fruit salad explosion.
Price-wise, it was a stealth win: $6.99, supposedly down from $14, which means I now feel like a savvy international investor with a very tiny portfolio of affordable red blends. Would I drink it again? Sure. Would I pair it with spicy rabbit stew again? Maybe. Depends how many Looney Tunes references I feel like making. (Duck Season! Wabbit Season! Wine Season!)
In conclusion, the 2020 Les Capistelles is a solid Côtes du Rhône that’s not trying too hard—which is refreshing in a world where wine often shows up wearing a tuxedo and a superiority complex. This one just wants to hang out, be drinkable, and make you feel slightly more sophisticated while devouring woodland creatures. Santé!
Types of Grapes: French ones used in Cotes du Rhone…80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
ABV % / Fun Juice Level: 14%
Origin: Rhone region of France
Grocery Outlet Price: $7.99 and a 20% discount
