FRENCH RED

 

Le Vin de Pays de Fontarèche Rouge 2008, Aude                                   £6.70

Carignan, Grenache, Malbec., Alicante,Caladoc.  screw-cap   12.5%

Friendly southern wine with spice and some complexity.

The Times Top 100 Wines July 2009. “With half the estate producing Corbieres and the other a hotch-potch of grapes, including alicante,carignan and calidoc that go into this juicy, velvety, violet and blackberry-charged red, this is an estate to watch”

 

Domaine La Prade 2007, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue               £6.99

Merlot      screw-cap 13%

A smooth, spicy Merlot with aromas of plums, berries and tobacco. The palate is medium-full and packed with both fruit and savoury flavours.

 

Les Templiers Shiraz-Viognier 2007, V de P des Côtes de Thongue    £6.99

90% Syrah, 10% Viognier   screw-cap 13%

Delicious and uncomplicated with the white Viognier giving the Syrah (or Shiraz)

a pleasing suppleness.

 

Les Templiers Pinot Noir 2008, Vin de Pays d’Oc                                  £7.46

Pinot Noir. screw-cap  12.5%

A remarkably good Pinot Noir for the price. It has a gentle yet well structured fruit.

 

Domaine de Negly 2007, Cuvée Josephine, V de P  de l’Hérault          £7.61

Carignan  13%

Chateau Negly has long be a favourite and now this little wine from the

property shows all the signs of their great wine making at a reasonable price.

 

Château Fontarèche 2007, Corbières                                                        £7.99

Carignan, Grenache, Mouvèdre    13.5%

Distinctively Corbières with a certain minerality thanks to old vines and comforted by warm pepper and soft tannins.

 

Domaine La Fourmente 2007, Visan, Côte du Rhône Villages            £10.45

Grenache, Syrah . Organic  14.5%

Very clean, fulsome, a lovely mouthful of elegant firm flavours.
The Times, 4 April 2009: Impressive top-dog organic Rhône red from the Pouizin family from the acclaimed 2007 vintage, which, despite its humble appellation, heaves with vibrant, spicy, grenache and syrah fruit. This would be delicious now with roasted red meats but really needs time to fill out and come into its own. Drink now until 2012.