Domaine L’Argenteille, la Roche des Fees Terrasses Du Larzac, 2016, Languedoc, France

Posted on October 22, 2020 by richardgore1200

A silver medalist at the Decanter world wine awards in 2018 this Domaine L’Argenteille, la Roche des Fees Terrasses Du Larzac red with 40% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, 30% Cardigan and 10% Grenache is quite a mouthful.

Big hit of red cherry and redcurrant on the nose that follows through on the taste with a little spice. It’s very dry and pretty bold with a decent amount of finish. It’s the dry cherry finish that seems to take over. Have with food, pizza or meat dishes and its good or wait a day for it to open up and become smoother to have on its own. £12 a bottle it’s decent value.

Domaine de l’Argenteille, Terrasses du Larzac, 2016, Languedoc, France

Domains Du Sacre Coeur, Alsace, France

Posted on October 16, 2020 by richardgore1200

Shiny lemon is best described the color sparkling in the light. The aromas are of petroleum but but with a smokiness and flint note. Dry on the taste with grass, green apple and hints of citrus. There’s acidity but it’s subtle. Get past the smell and it’s a good wine.

Domains Du Sacre Coeur, Alsace, France

Chateau De Fesles, rosé d’Anjou, La Capelle, 2018, Loire, France

Posted on October 16, 2020 by richardgore1200

Deep strawberry color with an orange note this is quite an aromic wine with notes of strawberry, redcurrant, orange and hints of grass which feed into the taste. It’s a sweeter wine on the taste buds but it’s quite dry and acidic. It’s a bigger rose wine in some ways, heavier and more complex than you may think, it’s not a drink and guzzle wine, more a sit and sip with food. A wine for cheese and biscuits certainly.

At about £12 a bottle it’s reasonable value for something that is a bit different.

Hugues Valrasque, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2017, Rhone Valley, France

Posted on September 29, 2020 by richardgore1200

General the rule of Chateauneuf du Pape is that you spend a lot more than usual to get a good one and £18 a bottle for this Hugues Valrasque one is not quite enough. Its decent but what if you spent another £5 or £7, could you get a better one? probably.

Very dry, bold and reasonable smooth with a chuck of red and black fruits, cherry (lots of cherry on the nose), blackberry, fig, spice with an earthy, oaky undertone. The issue I have is that’s a little unbalanced and not quite “there”. It fails to elevate itself to a great Rhone red, decent but spend more.

Hugues Valrasque, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2017, Rhone Valley, France

Albert Mann, Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurztraminer, Vieilles Vignes, 2011, Alsace, France

Posted on September 21, 2020 by richardgore1200

Albert Mann is a top Alsace producer and this Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurztraminer Vieilles Vignes shows why. its a soft, bold, semi sweet wine. There are aromas of lychee, apricot, blossom and pear.

There are flavours of tropical fruits, ripe pineapple, honey, apple and stone fruits. its a weighty wine in some respects but not as much as you may expect. There’s an elegance to this wine that you can’t help be grateful for because this may make those that won’t normally touch a Gertz actually like it. Pair this with asian foods, pork dishes or mild cheeses and this shines even more. Fantastic.

Albert Mann, Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurztraminer, Vieilles Vignes, 2011, Alsace, France

Château La Sauvageonne, Rosé 2018, Côteaux du Languedoc, France

Posted on September 3, 2020 by richardgore1200

From Gerard Bertrand, this Château La Sauvageonne rose from the Côteaux du Languedoc is a staple Majestic shop rose. I can see why, its a beautiful colour, bronze, orange hints, its nice and light with a dry crisp finish.

There’s not a great deal of aroma or taste for that matter, everything is subtle. Maybe that’s the strength of this wine?. There’s strawberry, rose petal and redcurrant with a bit of vanilla and I did like this wine very much, I think I had a faulty bottle as the level dropped very quickly in the bottle, could have been evaporation!. At £17 a single bottle is way over priced, at £11 a bottle on a mix 6 basis its expensive but no one who drinks it will complain.

Château La Sauvageonne, Rosé 2018, Côteaux du Languedoc, France

Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, Grès de Montpellier, 2012, France

Posted on September 2, 2020 by richardgore1200

Sitting in the Languedoc Roussillon in the south of France this blend of Mourvedre, Syrah and Grenache Noir is typical of the area and Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue make a very good job of blending.

Dry, bold and a good chunk of tannins makes this like many other reds from the Languedoc. There’s a fair bit going on here, spice, leather, plum and black fruits on the nose with underlying tobacco and oak notes, these following in the taste with prunes, chocolate hints and herbs. The tannins are a little much for me, if you have it with food, such as beef than you won’t notice the tannins. At £12 a bottle it’s great value.

Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, Grès de Montpellier, 2012, France

Château de Plaisance, Coteaux du Layon, Premier Cru Chaume, France

Posted on September 1, 2020 by richardgore1200

Made from local Chenin grapes from the Coteaux du Layon, Chaume area, this Premier Cru from Château de Plaisance is excellent, read on if you want, but this is excellent.

A lightish, medium wine with a fantastic dark orange colour this has aromas and flavours of citrus pineapple, lime, mango, apricot and an underlying honey note that has hints of orange, not so much rich in flavour or texture but nicely balanced. I’m tempted to say drink on its own but it went well with fresh fruit and the cheese board at the end of the meal.

At £20 a bottle is on the nose for value and has a long shelf life, we probably drank ours 5 or 6 years to early but is was wonderful.

Château de Plaisance, Coteaux du Layon, Premier Cru Chaume, France

Domaine de la Prevote, Touraine, Brut, Loire Valley, France

Posted on August 31, 2020 by richardgore1200

Purchase on holiday when we visit the Loire Valley, this Sparkling wine is made with 100% Chenin and in the traditional method. Thats the plus points.

Its far more acidic and green than I remember it on holiday, lots of citrus and green apple in there but it was too much on its own, with a bit of smoked salmon it was better. Its not undrinkable but compared to the Luxembourg Sparkling we had first it was no where near that in quality.

At Eur6 a bottle its best left or make it the 3rd or 4th bottle to open at a party.

la Prevote, Touraine, Brut, Loire Valley, France

Calmel & Joseph, Ams Tram Gram, Ceres, Rose, Languedoc, France

Posted on August 20, 2020 by richardgore1200

I love Languedoc rose wine, easy drinking and perfect for the summer and this is what this Calmel & Joseph, Ams Tram Gram, Ceres rose wine is like.

Made with 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, 30% Grenache noir this is a wonderful pale pink in colour with light fruity notes of wild strawberry and pink grapefruit. Its a fresh, crisp wine with light flavours of grapefruit and raspberry with a hint lemon. Its acidic and dry but the freshness brings these into line.

Pair this with a chicken or prawn salad for the perfect summer lunch and at about Eur7 a bottle it won’t break the bank.

The accidental drinker

Wine talk and reviews by an accidental drinker

Tag Archives: France

Domaine L’Argenteille, la Roche des Fees Terrasses Du Larzac, 2016, Languedoc, France

Domains Du Sacre Coeur, Alsace, France

Chateau De Fesles, rosé d’Anjou, La Capelle, 2018, Loire, France

Hugues Valrasque, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2017, Rhone Valley, France

Albert Mann, Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurztraminer, Vieilles Vignes, 2011, Alsace, France

Château La Sauvageonne, Rosé 2018, Côteaux du Languedoc, France

Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, Grès de Montpellier, 2012, France

Château de Plaisance, Coteaux du Layon, Premier Cru Chaume, France

Domaine de la Prevote, Touraine, Brut, Loire Valley, France

Calmel & Joseph, Ams Tram Gram, Ceres, Rose, Languedoc, France