French Bistrot Ô Batignolles was kind enough to invite me to a wine tasting event a while back, where they introduced some wonderful French wines from the south-west region of France.
They had 4 wines lined up for me, all from a very special vineyard called Domaine du Moulin which is situated in a wine-producing region of Gaillac. The good people from Ô Batignolles explained to me that these Domaine du Moulin wines were really special as the grapes used for these wines could only be found in that region. The vineyard itself is a multi-generational family business, so everyone at Domaine du Moulin has a stake in making the best wines.
The vineyard’s storied history stretches all the way back to Roman times. The area of Gaillac was used as a vitivultural area during that era, so it’s actually one of France’s (and the world’s) oldest wine producing places. The vineyard is situated on both sides on a river, so the grapes absorb some of the best nutrients for the best taste.
You won’t find the typical Cabernet Franc grapes in Domaine Du Moulin wines. Instead, I was exposed to very unique wines like Duras, Syrah, raicol and Loi de l’oeil. Never heard of them? Neither have I!
Here’s what I thought about the 4 different wines:
- White Old Vines (90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Loin de l’oeil):
Very light, pleasant aftertaste. It’s very aromatic, and you can make out notes of apples and pears. It’s something you can drink as a light pre-meal tipple and would go well at the table with a cheese board and a bunch of friends. - Red Réserve (50% Duras, 50% Syrah):
This is where the Domaine du Moulin wines get very interesting. I can really just drink this red wine all day. It’s fine tannins and aroma give this wine a very solid balance. It’s fruity, and goes down easily. I love that it doesn’t come on too strong, and has a great aftertaste that lingers for a bit. - Red Old Vines (50% Braucol, 50% Merlot):
This is slightly stronger than the Red Réserve in flavour, with very ripe red fruit. It’s definitely richer and they tempered it with some suggestions of citrus. It’s a very full-bodied wine, rich and juicy in the mouth. While some people might want it to come paired with meats, my dinner table told me that they would drink it on its own, so there’s merit to just having a bottle of this in your cellar! - Cuvée Florentin (100% Braucol):
The Cuvée Florentin is powerful. It’s a ultra dark and rich wine, with an intense flavour with notes of dark plum, cassis and blackberry. This wine is fruity, rich and has depth. I recommend a good red meat to go along with this wine to really, really bring out the flavour as this is one of those wines which just taste better and better as the evening goes on.
I had a great time at Ô Batignolles and I would go back again for the wonderful cheese boards, wines and cold cuts. I have yet to return for their brunch, but I understand that weekend brunches with champagne free flow are $89++ (or $29++ without champagne) so I’m definitely going back for that!
If you love a good tipple and a great ambience, I think Ô Batignolles and its sister establishment Ô Comptoir would be perfect for a good time with a group of friends.
More details on Ô Batignolles:
Location: 2 Gemmil Lane, Singapore 069247
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OBatignolles/
Mon – Fri: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
Sat: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
For Reservations, call: +65 64383913
