Benjamin Darnault Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2011, France (£10.99 Naked Wines) Soft, sweet and ripe, with hints of liquorice and black pepper, but it needs a little more freshness, and the fruit’s too jammy and baked for real class. B Virgile Joly Languedoc Saint Saturnin Paradise 2009, France (£15.99 Naked […]
Carignan
Les Grands Chemins Old Vine Carignan Pays de l’Hérault 2011, Languedoc, France (£8.49 Virgin Wines) Just too smooth and bland, with hardly any of the spice of the south, and a rather sickly vanilla overlay. I’ve noticed that others have made far more positive comments on this wine – I […]
Wine Tasting Video: Spicy Reds from the Languedoc, Rhone, Priorat, ...
Alain Grignon Carignan Vieilles Vignes IGP Pays d’Hérault 2011, Languedoc, France (£7.49 Majestic) Starts off well with a fresh spicy edge, fruit is OK but veering towards the jammy dodger/baked spectrum, and there’s also a muddy vanilla softness. Can we have more spikes please Mr G? B- Miguel Torres Cordillera […]
Wine Tasting Video: Carignan, Carmenere & Malbec
Cien Y Pico ‘Doble Pasta’ Tintorera 2009, Manchuela (£11.99 Liberty Wines) Really can’t work out whether I like this wine. I can’t fault its richness – it’s full throttle, deep inky wine packed with slightly baked/jammy dark berry fruit, backed up by notes of herbs, cold ash and a stony […]
Wine Tasting Video: Spanish Reds – Manchuela, Yecla & Priorat
Bordière Nord Syrah/Grenache IGP Pays d’Oc 2010, France (£6.99 Majestic) Reasonable sweet plummy fruit with some darker berry flesh and a touch of spice, but there’s also a rubbery (reduction) character that spoils the party. C+ Paul Mas Estate Carignan Pays de l‘Hérault 2010, Languedoc (£8.99 Majestic) Another one with […]
Wine Tasting Video: Six Languedoc reds
Sacha Lichine Le Coq Rouge Vin de France 2010 (£9.95 Wine Hound, Last Try Wines, Wine Reserve, Living In Store, E. H. Booths, Clear Black Wine Shop, Zoran’s) Fresh, sappy style, reasonably berry and blackcurrant, but slightly bubblegum-y and simple, and finishes a little too dry. C- Domaine Andre Brunel […]