Written by Administrator | 08 September 2009

Bordeaux

The Gironde River is the spiritual home of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The red wines of the Bordeaux region are all derived from these two grapes (alongside a handful of lesser varieties). Bordeaux is also home to the very upper echelons of wine aristocracy, the great houses of Lafite, Latour, Margaux & Mouton Rothschild are all to be found here (although not on this site, mores the pity!)

Towards the end of the twentieth century, Bordeaux had a gained itself a reputation for austere, tannic, thin, vastly overpriced wine that appealed more to investors than imbibers. Fortunately a string of recent excellent vintages (2000, 2001, 2005) and the loss of custom to competition from the Southern hemisphere, have led the winemakers of Bordeaux to up their game. Modern Bordeaux is richer, weightier and more approachable when young. Prices have also become more realistic.

Chateau Garreau Bordeaux Superieur '07 £9

Youthful and fairly full bodied claret, with an aggressive nose of prunes, rosemary and sweet roast veg. Deep purple in colour with smooth, creamy plum notes on the palate, balanced by earthy flavours of pepper, tobacco and spice. Finishing with a gradual build up of mellow, grainy tannin.

 

Wine Name	Producer	Vintage	Price	Colour	Region
Les Fruits Rouge Du Chateau Bonange		2006	£17	Red	1er Cotes du Blaye
Chateau Belgrave		2003	£22	Red	5eme Cru Classe
Chateau Garreau		2007	£9	Red	Bordeaux Superieur
Chateau Lezongars		2005	£12	Red	1er Cotes du Bordeaux
Chateau Viramiere		2005	£17	Red	St Emillon
Chateau Petit Village		2002	£37	Red	Pomerol
Chateau Rahoul		2006	£20	Red	Graves
Chateau De Ricaud		2005	£11	Red
Chateau Teynac		2006	£21	Red	St Julien
Chateau le Boscq		2005	£30	Red	St Estephe
Chateau La Garde		2004	£27.30	Red	Pessac Leognan
Chateau David		2007	£13	Red	Medoc

Burgundy

If you ask most folk who work in the wine industry to name their desert island wine, the chances are most will name a Burgundy. The conundrum being that while we drink enough to know just how good this stuff is, we earn nowhere near enough to treat it as anything but an occasional indulgence.

Once you strip away the flim-flam and Gallic posturing, the wines of Burgundy are very easy to understand. Savoury, earthy, textured Pinot Noirs and clean, polished vibrant Chardonnay that is soft and approachable in the South, becoming drier and more austere as you head North towards Chablis.

Wine Name	Producer	Vintage	Price	Colour	Region
Bourgogne Rouge	Chateau de la Charriere	2007	£12	Red
Bourgogne Rouge	Domaine Boursan	2010	£12	Red
Santenay	Louis Latour	2006	£15.20	Red
Vosne-Romanee	Domaine Forey	2004	£26	Red
Nuits St George	Charles Pierre	2007	£17.30	Red
Beaujolais Villages	Domaine de Gry Sablon	2007	£9.50	Red
Fleurie	Domaine de Gry Sablon	2007	£10	Red
Hautes cote du Beaune	Domaine Ferrand	2007	£14	Red
Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot 1er Cru	Pillot	2009	£24.50	Red
Auxey Duresses Blanc	Dupont Fahn	2005	£17	White
Chablis	Patrick Puize	2009	£14	White
Chablis Domaine St Martin	Laroche	2009	£14.50	White
Chablis 1er Cru Montmain	Laroche	2007	£17.20	White
Rully 1er Cru Gresigny	Albert Sounit	2006	£22	White
Bourgogne Aligote		2009	£12	White
Macon Villages	Domaine Perraud	2009	£11	White
Macon Fuisse	Domaine Fussicus	2010	£10	White
Macon Ige	Boisset	2009	£15	White
Meursault	Charles Pierre	2005	£20.10	White
Montagny 1er Cru	Stephane Aladame	2009	£17.70	White
Saint-Veran	Fussicus	2009	£14	White
Monthelie	Boisset	2009	£22.50	White

Loire

Although chiefly famous for the great Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, the Loire Valley has a great deal more to offer. Lesser known appelations, can provide superb value, especially when compared to New Zealand. Even the deeply unfashionable Muscadet can provide a crisp refreshingly dry partner to any seafood dish.

Wine Name	Producer	Vintage	Price	Colour	Region
Champalou		2008	£11.60	White	Vouvray
Domaine Des Cassiers		2009	£15	White	Pouilly Fume
Domaine Fouassier		2009	£15	White	Sancerre
Les Vignes Blanches		2007	£8.50	White	Muscadet Sevre Et Maine Sur Lie
Val De Valancay Sauvignon		2009	£7.30	White	Valencay
Chateau De Mauny		2007	£7.40	Rose	Cabernet D'Anjou
Les Cabrioles		2009	£8.20	Red	Saumur

Rhone

The warmer climate and a change in the national palate has given the producers of the Rhone a commercial edge, somewhat lacking in the rest of France. Here you can find some of the worlds greatest medium-to-full bodied reds blended from Grenache and Shiraz. Cracking wines that manage to be both easy & classy.

Producer	Vintage	Price	Colour	Region
Chateau De Combebelle Organic	2006	£10.70	Red	St Chinian
Chateau De Vaudieu	2003	£18.20	Red	Chateauneuf Du Papes
PJA Cornas	2005	£45	Red	Cornas
Pierre Aiguille PJA	2007	£16.10	Red	Gigondas
Cuilleron	2004	£30	Red	Cote Rotie
Cuvee de Belvedere	2009	£8.90	Red	Cairainne
Jerome Quoit	2007	£9	Red	Cotes Du Rhone
Chapoutier Belleruche	2009	£10	Red	Cotes Du Rhone
David Reynaud	2009	£17	Red	Crozes Hermitage
Mas de Mas	2007	£11	Red	St Chinian
La Ferme St Pierre Cuvee Veronique	2006	£9.90	Red	Cotes Du Ventoux
Le Clos De Caveau Organic	2004	£12	Red	Vacqueyras
Richaud	2008	£18.70	Red	Cairrainne
Ricahud Terre de Galets	2007	£13	Red	Cotes Du Rhone
Domaine Mule Blanche Paul Jaboulet Aine	2006	£21	White	Crozes Hermitage
Vidal Fleury Viognier	2006	£8.50	White	Cotes Du Rhone
Cuilleron Les Chaillets	2009	£51	White	Condrieu

Alsace

The wines of central Europe are dominated by Riesling. In a myriad of styles, from the bracingly dry to the enticingly rich. These are the worlds greatest aromatic whites and sit brilliantly alongside Asian food (especially Thai). Also worthy of your attention are the complex, floral flavours of Alsace Gewurztraminer and the light, crisp, refreshing Gruner-Veltliners of Austria; Wines that are a lot easier to drink than spell

Wine Name	Producer	Vintage	Price	Colour	Region
Rosacker Riesling Grand Cru	Cave Vinacole A Hunawihr	2007	£16	White
Reserve Gewutztraminer	Cave Vinacole A Hunawihr	2009	£11	White
Reserve Riesling	Cave Vinacole A Hunawihr	2005	£9.50	White
Riesling Cuvee Emile	Trimbach	2005	£32	White
Gewurztraminer Seigneurs de Ribeauville	Trimbach	2004	£23	White
Pinot Blanc	Trimbach	2007	£11	White
Reserve Pinot Gris	Trimbach	2004	£23	White
Reserve Gewurztraminer	Trimbach	2006	£19	White

Other French

The South is so vast and the wines so diverse, that any synopsis would be next to useless. Suffice to say that the broad range of grapes and climates available to winemakers allow for greater experimentation than to be found in the grander appellations of France. Of particular note is the fantastic value to be found amongst the whites. Very interesting wines that are definitely worth a punt.

Wine Name	Producer	Vintage	Price	Colour	Region
Chateau De Champart		2007	£14	Red	Cahors
Chateau Montouliers		2008	£6.50	Red	Minervois
Maris Organic Syrah		2008	£11	Red	Minervois
Clos De Romains		2008	£8.50	Red	Cabardes
Mas St Martin		2007	£8.50	Red	Cotes du Roussillon
Domaine Capmartin		2007	£12	Red	Madiran
Carignan Vielles Vignes Les Archeres		2008	£6.50	Red	Vin De Pays d'Oc
Belle Vignes Syrah		2010	£6	Red	IGP
La Croix		2009	£5.80	Red	Vin De Pays d'Herault
Laurent Miquel Syrah Grenache		2009	£7	Red	IGP
La Pompadour Corbieres		2007	£11	Red	Corbieres
Mont Rocher Viognier		2009	£6.50	White	IGP
Jabourtie Organic		2009	£8.50	White	Bergerac Sec
La Croix Gratiot Picpoul De Pinet		2008	£7.90	White	Coteaux Du Languedoc
LA Croix Gratiot Roussanne		2010	£8.50	White	IGP
Le Saint-Lannes		2007	£7	White	Coteaux De Gascogne
La Cadence Ugni Blanc		2010	£6	White	Vin De France
Laurent Miquel Verite Viognier		2007	£17	White	Languedoc
Les Vignes de L'Eglise Vermintino		2010	£6.50	White	IGP Pay's d'Oc
Laurent Miquel Cinsault Syrah		2009	£7	Pink	Vin De pays D'oc
Chateau d'Esclans Whispering Angel		2009	£15	Pink	Cotes De Provence