Domaine Muré, Clos Saint Landelin, Grand Cru, Vorbourg, Pinot Gris, 2016, Alsace, France
At over £40 a bottle this is not a cheap bottle of cheap but it is amazing, so subtle and elegant that Domaine Muré clearly know their stuff. A medium body wine with long length and flavours of citrus, pineapple and hints of grapefruit and apricot it wants you to savour every drop. Its not an every day wine for most people but I would recommend trying it on a special occasion.
Domaines Schlumberger, Spiegel, Pinot Gris, Grand Cru, 2021, Alsace, France
Domaines Schlumberger are well known for excellent wines and this Spiegel, Pinot Gris, Grand Cru is very good, very good indeed. Dry with apricot and plum with blossom and honey, its texture is weighty with a creaminess that makes you just want another glass. At under £20 a bottle its very good value too.
Maison Roche de Bellene, Vieilles Vignes, Volnay, Burgundy, France
Good French Pinot Noir is very hard to beat and this one from Maison Roche de Bellene in the Volnay region is excellent. Dry, soft with excellent balance and flavours of cherry and raspberry with notes of oak and slight hints of earthiness. At £40 bottle its rather pricey but worth a try. Its like buying a second hand Rolls Royce, on my wish list 😉
Domaine des Brosses, Alain Girard et Fils, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Loire, France
Ah, french sauvignon Blanc is far more subtle than the usual New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. While this is not the greatest wine to come out of France it is a well made, on the drier side with flavours of citrus and softness that makes you happy to have another glass. At over £15 a bottle its a bit pricey but rather nice.
Rhonea, Notre Dames Des Vignes, 2022, Cotes Du Rhone, France
This dry white blend from Rhonea from the Cotes Du Rhone Villages has Grenache, Viognier and Clairette. It’s a dry white with lemon, grapefruit and peach notes. I really liked the freshness and clarity. Zesty salad or fish would lift this wine further.
It’s like a Fiat Panda 4×4, unexpectedly better when tried than you thought before.
This Muscat from Domaine Schlumberger in the Alsace, France is very good, very good indeed. Off dry but with flavours of pineapple, peach, mangoes it’s fresh and vibrant. Great on its own or with fish and curries it’s quite delightful. At £15 it’s cheap for the quality. Its like getting a 2nd hand electric car and realising it’s rather good and now pretty cheap.
Maison Fortant, Minervois, 2022, Languedoc, France
This blend of Syrah and Grenche is full of Blackcurrent and spice flavours with a note of chocolate and long length. Dry with tannins that are well integrated and you have a great wine. At £15 a bottle it show cases Languedoc’s excellent red wine perfectly, it’s like a Mercedes E class at Ford Puma prices.
Chartreuse de Bonpas, 2022, Cotes Du Rhone Villages, France
Chartreuse de Bonpas from the Cotes Du Rhone Villages area of France is a quality dry red wine that you won’t want to guzzle but sip. Long length with black and red fruit flavours, oak, tobacco and a little chocolate sit in the background. Firm but well integrated tannins and a softness that’s just rounds the package off. Delightful. At £12 a bottle it’s a bargain.
Famille Arnaud, Quart du Roi, 2021, Rhone, France
Made in the Rhone style, this Dry red wine from Famille Arnaud is a good quality red made to be just drunk. Sarah, Grenache and bit of Mourvedre and Counoise make up a classic blend with good length, grippy tannins and decent black and red fruit flavours. Its got a bronze at the Decanter World Wine awards 2024 which is a fair mark. Drink with a lump of red meat or tomato pasta.
I much prefer Crémant’s to Champagne for their easier and fresher drinking style and this Crémant D’alsace from Aldi is a rather good example. Dry, fresh with notes of strawberry and raspberry. Its £10 at Aldi which makes this an easy choice. A step up from the usual Prosecco.