Les Foulards Rouge "Octobre" and Lionel Richie's Can't Slow Down
A lifted, refreshing Syrah blend and a feel-good R&B-pop record is a rebellious winter combination. They both evoke the free-wheeling spirit of spring and summer, so there’s something liberating about indulging in these particular styles of wine and music in the winter. Especially if you feel trapped in the unforgiving grips of short days and cold weather.
A modern Languedoc wine trailblazer
The mere concept of a light, bright, and quaffable Syrah/Grenache from Southern France challenges the status quo. Jean Francois Nicq intentionally achieved that effect with the Les Foulards Rouge “Octobre,” an even more impressive feat given the location of his vineyards. Les Foulards Rouge sits at the southern end of the Languedoc region in the Montesquieu-des-Albères village, just a few miles away from the Spanish border and the Mediterranean Sea.
Due to the warm climate and popular styles of the region, wines here tend to lean on the heavier, extracted side. But not Octobre. This 50/50 Syrah/Grenache blend is made in the Beaujolais Nouveau style, fermented using carbonic maceration, and bottled after minimal aging.
The result is unexpected and strange compared to a typical red blend from Languedoc. It’s not just the style of this particular wine that’s subversive. Nicq’s entire approach to winemaking in this region shook the whole place up. He started Les Foulards Rouge with his friend Bijan Mohamadi in 2002, a time when bush and bramble took over the hillside slopes. These same sites looked a lot different before they were sold to a local cooperative in the 1980s.
Where other winemakers saw steep vineyards in disrepair and a challenge not worth the cost, Nicq saw an opportunity. He bought the Les Foulards Rouge property for a very low price, and brought a strict minimal intervention, natural winemaking approach to a region previously tied to industrial farming practices.
A boy from Alabama turned international superstar
Another man who forged his own path and defined his own style is none other than Lionel Richie. Richie’s humble beginnings began in Tuskegee, Alabama, where he was raised by his father, a U.S. Army System Analyst, and his mother, who was a teacher. As a young tennis star who developed priesthood aspirations, he ultimately abandoned his early ambitions to launch his music career.
He had early success as a member of the funk band Commodores, with hits like “Easy,” “Sail On,” and “Three Times A Lady.” Then, he broke out on his own. With his second solo album released on Motown, “Can’t Slow Down,” Richie made one of the best-selling albums of all time that produced two #1 singles and a Grammy Award.
Richie’s unstoppable momentum led to more records, more chart-topping hits, collaborations including the likes of Michael Jackson, and his current post as a host on American Idol. He’s a fixture of the American music canon, and made his own name among formidable contemporaries like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross.
“Can’t Slow Down” and Octobre: Bangers only
When “Can’t Slow Down” starts, you instantly know you’re in the 80s. The album opener and title track is a funky R&B song you can hold hands to while roller skating. It’s groovy and super earnest, almost to a silly degree. It’s a feel-good dance ballad you don’t have to think about.
The wine is meant to be enjoyed in the same care-free way. Octobre has a beautiful ripe and fruity nose, showcasing blueberry, blackberry, and currant. Some earthy floral and irony notes come through, too, reflecting the terroir. The Syrah shows its undeniable spicey, gamey character, but modestly so.
Prickly acidity contrasts with the dark fruit notes, a result of the carbonic maceration. It’s light, juicy and tart. All the different components are in harmony, a sign of a very well-made wine. It’s a standout for Languedoc—a region known for its bargain wines—much like the exquisite wines of Domaine de Courbissac.
This red wine is best with a chill, which is a little thrill to sip in the winter. And for a musical complement, there’s nothing more exciting than blasting “All Night Long (All Night),” one of the record’s #1 hits. “All Night Long” brings the party, whether you’re with a group, your lover, or just yourself. Indeed, as Lionel sings, you can “lose yourself in wild romance” with this song.
This, the ultimate banger of “Can’t Slow Down,” is an invitation you simply can’t deny: “Come join the fun it’s a merry-go-round/Everyone’s dancing their troubles away/Come join our party, see how we play!” The steel drum sets the island vibe, the sax sets the song ablaze, and the message is pure joy. Richie’s inspiration for the song was simply to channel the feeling of being on vacation. Incredible.
With “Penny Lover,” we head into sentimental ballad territory, and “Stuck on You” really drives it home. It’s got soul, it’s got passion, it’s got desire. Then you have sweet, twinkly, 80s nostalgia tracks like “The Only You” and then “Running With the Night” hits you with an edgy swagger. There’s a vulnerability and an openness to “Can’t Slow Down” that’s ever so charming.
Richie closes the record on an epic, dramatic note with “Hello,” a song so dramatic, it’s been the ironic soundtrack to a number of different pop culture moments.
“Can’t Slow Down” is a record for lovers, for loners, and everyone in between. Likewise, Octobre is natural without being too weird or funky. It has great fruit, it’s low tannin, and so well made. It could please wine veterans and novices alike.
