France


Another of the catch-up-on-tasting-notes posts (see intro HERE if that doesn’t make sense) Franck Bonville Cuvée Prestige Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne NV, France (£28.50 Plus de Bulles) Supple, toasty style, nicely developed pineapple and apple charlotte, flavours, with the richness and spice balanced by freshness and grip. S Jacques Chaput […]

Five Champagnes


No videos for the next fortnight – I’m doing a catch-up of wines I’ve tasted in the last few months but which for some reason didn’t make it onto film (or SD card). So here goes… Chateau Tayac Margaux 2007, Bordeaux, France (£14.99 31dover.com) Gentle and juicy, now mature, but there’s […]

Some Bordeaux-inspired reds


Three very different rosés Arndorfer Rosa Marie 2014, Austria (£17.99 Caves de Pyrene) On the red wine side of rosé, with plump strawberry flavour – fresh and cooked – alongside the peppery Parma violet character from the Grüner Veltliner, and with a bite of tannin on the finish. Fascinating. S- […]

Rosés from Austria, Greece & France



…even though neither of them is labelled St Chinian. And they say Domaine de Viranel rather than Château Viranel on the label… Domaine de Viranel Trilogie Cessenon Rouge 2014, Languedoc, France (£10.05 Bancroft Wines, Cambridge Wine Merchants) Bouncy young red, with jolly, juicy blackberry, plum and blackcurrant flavours tinged with […]

Two reds from St Chinian estate Château Viranel…


Spring in a glass Joseph Mellot Menetou-Salon Les Thureaux 2013, Loire, France (£17.65 North & South Wines, Kingsgate Wines, Noble Green Wines, Village Wines (Amersham), Village Wines (Ware), Evingtons, DeFine, Partridges, Amps Fine Wines, Halifax Wine Company, Sunninghill Wine Merchant, Thomas Peatling, Harrisons Fine Wines, Taylors Fine Wines, BJT Hanby, […]

Joseph Mellot Menetou-Salon Les Thureaux 2013, Loire, France


Of course I’ll be able to tell which is which… The two wines are:- Champagne Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial NV, France (£35 widely available) and Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV, Hampshire, England (£28.50 Berry Brothers & Rudd, Fareham Wine Cellars, The General Wine Company) Left Hand Glass (my left hand) Aromas of […]

An English Sparkling Wine & a famous Champagne – but ...