Nearly a very good wine but… Château Lacombe Noaillac Médoc 2009, Bordeaux, France (contact Le Verre Gourmand, Supertravel Ski) Young, vigorous style, plenty of gutsy dark fruit, and quite a strong roasted character, but with that savoury note of brett found in so much Bordeaux drying out the finish. With […]
France
Four very different Sauvignons, all with something to say for themselves Sancerre Chêne Saint Louis 2012, Loire, France (£11.99 Spar) I like the herb, citrus and ripe green apple flavours and the touch of gunflint, but just about visible in the background is that slightly dirty/dusty tang of grey rot. […]
Sauvignon Blanc from France & New Zealand
A different style of St Chinian from yesterday’s wine – this is more like good traditional Corbières/Fitou in style, largely due to the hefty dollop (25%) of Carignan Domaine de Montplo ‘Louise’ Saint Chinian* 2008, Languedoc, France (£9.51-£16.99 TheDrinkShop.com, All About Wine, Bibendum) Good old-fashioned rustic style, full and fleshy with […]
Domaine de Montplo ‘Louise’ Saint Chinian 2008, Languedoc, France
Excellent blend of 60% Syrah with 20% each of Mourvèdre & Grenache Mas de Cynanque ‘Acutum’ Saint Chinian 2010, Languedoc, France (£14.99 Cambridge Wine Merchants) It’s that Côte-Rôtie-like roasted character of Syrah that you notice first, but then other flavours get to have their say – plums, blackcurrants, strawberries and […]
Mas de Cynanque ‘Acutum’ Saint Chinian 2010, Languedoc, France
The label may be jokey, but the wine is seriously good – why buy £10 Bordeaux when you can have this? Paul Mas Striking French! Merlot Pays d’Oc 2012, France (£9.99 Majestic) Still on the youthful side, with toasty oak quite prominent, but the main attraction is the wealth of […]
Paul Mas Striking French! Merlot Pays d’Oc 2012
The second of a couple of 2013 rosés from Yves Grassa’s Domaine du Tariquet – the, first, Rosé de Pressée, is HERE Domaine du Tariquet Marselan Rosé Côtes de Gascogne 2013, South West France (£9.40 Wineservice, Old Butcher’s Wine Cellar) Gentle red berry aromas with a touch of spice – cinnamon? […]