Wine
|
Appellation |
Grape
|
Supplier
|
Price
|
Comments
|
Ranking 1-3 and Best Value
|
| Château Val Joanis (rosé) 2008 13% |
Luberon |
Syrah, Grenache |
Nicholas |
10.49 |
"Creamy, rich, slightly oily". "Spicy, quite dry, if not as dry as Tavel". "Lots of flowers, if nothing specific; fruit - strawberries - comes through in the aftertaste". Similarities on the nose with the reds from the same grapes. |
|
| La Vieille Ferme (blanc) 2009 13% |
Côtes de Luberon |
Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Ugni Blanc |
Waitrose |
6.39 |
"Citrusy, delicious, refreshing". "Remarkable value". "White Luberon is difficult to find but well worth seeking out". |
|
| Chateauneuf-du-Pape (blanc) Domaine Chante-Perdrix 2007 15% |
Chateauneuf-du-Pape |
Grenache blanc, Clairette |
Bought from the vineyard |
14 euros |
"Delicious". "Aromatic, with a nose reminiscent of the flor yeast of a fino sherry". "On the palate also reminiscent of Spanish whites, like Rioja". "Chocolatey/vanilla at the end". A rarity, as so little Chateauneuf is white, and this domaine is best known for its reds. Sing on, sweet partridge. |
SECOND BEST OVERALL BEST WHITE |
| Chat-en-Oeuf 2007 13.5% |
Côtes de Ventoux |
Syrah, Grenache |
Waitrose |
4.99 |
"Similar nose as the rosé from the same grapes". "Spicy; soft tannins, which give it more structure than the rosé". "Not a big wine compared to many Rhône wines. Would be great with fish such as brill poached in it" (advised our guest chef). Price was 2 or 3 times lower than predicted. |
BEST VALUE |
| Cairanne Peyre Blanche 2007 13.5% |
Côtes de Rhône Villages |
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre |
Majestic |
8.99
|
This was disappointing, and in view of the host a rogue bottle not comparable with the normally high standard of this delicate Perrin Cairanne with a touch of Mourvèdre softness. |
|
| Château Val Joanis 2006 14% |
Luberon |
Syrah, Grenache |
Nicholas |
10.49 |
"Lovely deep colour". "Best nose - cherries - up to this point". "Lots of fruit and smooth tannins - the most tannic so far, reflecting Syrah in the lead and the cooler upland climate of the Luberon". "Austere, long finish, without conflicting tastes". Vive la Luberon. |
|
| Rasteau La Ponce Domaine des Escaravailles 2004 15% |
Côtes de Rhône Villages |
Grenache |
Wine Society |
11.95 |
"Some similarities to the previous wine, with lots of fruit, no spice, and oak reflected in vanilla at the end". "Getting close - and 15% - to a New World style". "Hmm...too close to a dessert wine". "What value!". "Beginning to oxidise a bit, giving it the pleasant nose of brown apples". "Wonderful!" Perhaps no surprise that Rasteau - like Cairanne - is a candidate for upgrading to its own Appellation. |
|
| Vacqueras 2007 14% |
Vacqueras |
|
Lidl |
6.50 |
"Mature fruit, concentrated, quite tannic but less heavy than the Rasteau". But for several: "Compared to the Rasteau sharp, a bit thin and less flavour". Presumably bought from the Co-op. Remarkable price, but outshone by the competition. |
|
|
Gigondas Tardieu Laurent 2000 14.5% |
Gigondas |
80% Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre |
Raeburn Fine Wines |
20.99 |
Generally very well received (but with one member strongly dissenting). "Fabulous bouquet, lot of vanilla reflecting good oak". "Very smooth, no spice given small Syrah content, but short finish". "Surprisingly tannic for ten years old". "This is the biz". |
THIRD BEST OVERALL |
| Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vin di Felibre Domaine Matthieu 2004 14% |
Chateauneuf-du-Pape |
80% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache, 5% Syrah. |
Bought in Chateauneuf-du-Pape |
35 euros |
Very unusual in having such a high proportion of, Mourvèdre - only Bandol is comparable. "Less acidic - like ripe plums with the flesh coming off." "Good balance of tannins (not aggressive), plum fruit and spices". "Complex (but not conflicting) tastes". "Could define complex as identifying a different taste with each sip, and here you find plums, then spices, then vanilla, then herbaceous, and hence beautifully balanced". Hands down winner - lots of happy smiles. Bien fait, Matthieu. |
BEST OVERALL |
|
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 15% |
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise |
Muscat |
Waitrose |
5.99 (for half bottle) |
"Superb". "Wonderful nose - honey/melony/cheese - you could happily smell it all day without even drinking it". "Not too sweet - an offsetting acidity". Price was so much lower than predicted it had them falling about (nothing to do with tasting 11 bottles - honest, guv). |
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