Chateau Tire Pe's DieM and Tracy Chapman
In our capitalist culture, what sells is superior. But artistic integrity is just more interesting, and turns out, also sells. Tracy Chapman and Chateau Tire Pe show us how it’s done.
Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut came out when glitzy New Wave dance music dominated the airwaves. Merlot, whose character Paul Giamatti famously assassinated in “Sideways,” makes up 100% of Chateau Tire Pe’s “DieM” Bordeaux. In an age when serious, acoustic folk music and merlot weren’t popular, both artists kept it real. Their authentic crafts spoke to the everywoman unconcerned with status and trends.
And it worked: “Tracy Chapman” turned platinum and earned three Grammy Awards. Top natural wine importer Jenny and Francois represents Chateau Tire Pe and the “DieM” is arguably the best Bordeaux on the market for $20.
Chateau Tire Pe makes quality Bordeaux—a mostly upscale, luxury wine category—accessible to us everyday folks. Tracy Chapman speaks to the struggle of the working class and Black community with her incredible voice, music and lyrics—making “Tracy Chapman,” released in 1988, resoundingly relevant today. This Bordeaux and Tracy Chapman’s freshman folk record command attention, no matter what preconceived notions they might elicit.
Chateau Tire Pe is a small family winery, taking up a mere 13 hectares in the Entre Deux Mers region of Bordeaux. Owner and winemaker David Barrault organically farms the land that he shares with his wife, three children, and free-roaming animals. In a region known for extravagant domains and exclusive price tags, Barrault’s operation is humble and generous.
Chateau Tire Pe and Tracy Chapman are both storytellers. The “DieM” tells the story of the winery, the Barrault family, their minimalist approach to winemaking, and the earth that grows their grapes. “Tracy Chapman” pulls from the marginalized environment the artist grew up in. She gives a voice to the injustices of her community—like the negligence and violence caused by systemic racism—while galvanizing a revolutionary response.
Unlike many Bordeaux wines, the “DieM” is unoaked, and instead aged 8-10 months in concrete. This combined with the young vine merlot makes it more fresh, unfussy and ready to drink, while still distinctly Bordeaux. It’s lush with ripe blackberry and black currant fruit, and notes of lavender, cedar and a touch of black olive. It has a long, irony finish. It’s full and rich but juicy. It’s a great red wine for winter, to have with a hefty meal, and to sit with by a fire.
“Tracy Chapman” begins with a powerful and poignant call to arms: “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution.” Her voice did not come to play. It is as soulful as this bottle of Bordeaux. She sings of the poor “standing in welfare lines,” “wasting time in the unemployment lines” and “sitting around waiting for a promotion.”
It sounds a lot like today, over 30 years later, as so many struggle for income and access, while so few are actually secure. You have to love her optimism though, as she declares “finally the tables are starting to turn.” It’s a hope we can hang on to and use as fuel to manifest in a floundering society.
This theme of oppression carries through the record, contrasted with bold beauty and determination—like “Fast Car” puts on display. This hit maker is essentially about how complicated love and life are. It’s about picking up the slack, carrying the load, and ultimately self-respect. When that chorus hits, it strikes a chord with anyone who has ever felt the same kind of desperate, exhilarating hope: “And I had a feeling that I belonged/ I had a feeling I could be someone.”
It’s a testament to this record—and how broken the system is—how well it still holds up and how timely it continues to be. “Across the Lines,” about riots in response to racially-charged violence, could have easily been written today. Tracy Chapman’s a capella on “Behind the Wall” is chilling. Here, she targets the failure of the police department in an underserved area: “It won't do no good to call/ The police/ Always come late/ If they come at all.”
Considering the subject matter, this record could have been a real bummer. However, while it’s a reminder of the harsh realities we face, it’s also an opportunity to reflect and get swept up in Tracy Chapman’s gorgeous voice and songwriting. It’s art for change—something very welcome and necessary for right now and always.
There are moments on “Tracy Chapman” where her emotional soul searching is all-consuming, like on the heartbreaking and magical “For My Lover” and “For You.”
“Tracy Chapman” and Chateau Tire Pe’s “DieM” Bordeaux show the real appeal and longevity of socially-conscious folk music and merlot, if done well. And these two in particular are done with such honesty, care and skill, that they’ll enlighten any naysayers.
