Wine
|
Grapes |
Region
|
Supplier
|
Price |
Comments
|
Ranking 1-3 and Best Value
|
|
Berry’s Extra Dry Cremant de Limoux
|
Chardonnay 55% Chenin Blanc 35% Pinot Noir 10% |
Western Languedoc |
Berry Brothers & Rudd |
10.45 Case 9.40 |
Soft, delicate mousse. Floral nose with suggestion of honey, nougat and lime. Great substitute for Champagne at a fraction of the price. |
Third 10 pts |
|
La Belle Aude 2009 Domaine Borie de Maurel |
Marsanne 90% Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains 10% |
Minervois |
Berry Brothers & Rudd |
12.20 |
Aromas of peach and pear skin. Creamy mouthfeel. Sufficient weight for duck’s breast! |
0 pts |
|
Tremadoc 2008 |
Grenache Gris 80% Vermentino 20% |
Collioure |
Berry Brothers & Rudd |
16.65 |
Perfumed, honeyed and rich but with distinctive minerality combined with earthy and citric notes. |
Best White 8 pts |
|
Le Chant des Cigales 2008 Domaine La
Linquiere
|
Syrah 70% |
St Chinian |
Berry Brothers & Rudd |
13.75 |
Aromas of violets, black olives and fennel. Palate rich with black fruits and savoury backdrop and notes of soisbois(?) and dark chocolate. |
Best
Value |
|
La Deveze 2007 |
Grenache 50% |
Cotes du Roussillon |
Berry Brothers & Rudd |
18.35 |
Bedrock of tar, laurel and resinous fruit. Notes of cassis and eucalypt. Ideal for leg of lamb. Included in Observer’s 20 French wines < £20. |
3 pts |
|
La Tour Grand Moulin 2006 Cru Boutenac |
Mourvedre 60% |
Corbieres |
Berry Brothers & Rudd |
18.75 |
Tar and liquorice with intimations of roses and redemption(!) Still young – patience will be rewarded. |
Second |
|
Las Flors de la Peira 2007
|
Syrah 40% |
Coteax du Languedoc Eastern Languedoc |
Berry Brothers & Rudd |
28.55 |
Coconut, lily, marzipan and black raspberries pour from the glass. Dark fruits, undergrowth(!), hints of tar and roses. |
|
|
Massamier La Mignarde Domus Maximus 2007 |
Syrah 80% |
Minervois La Liviniere |
Berry Brothers & Rudd |
24.50 |
Heady scent of violet, tempered by something of liquorice and Asia(!). Voted best French red in International Wine Challenge. |
7 pts |