Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

Posted on August 4, 2020 by richardgore1200

Clos des Cazaux is a well establish and well regarded vineyards in Gigondas in the Rhone Valley. Made with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from vines averaging 50 years old. This is a bold, dry red wine with strong tannins, black fruits, leather, pepper and oak notes on the nose with red cherry, smokeyness, cigar flavours and an earth undertone when tasted.

Pair with game, grilled meats and strong cheeses otherwise the wine will over power your food. At Eur35 a bottle is a bit pricey for what you get but its Eur20+ bottle certainly.

Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

Chateau De Berne, Rouge 2014, Provence, France

Posted on July 12, 2020 by richardgore1200

We went to Chateau De Berne and carried this Rouge 2014 back from Provence.

Wine in a square bottle is a De Berne thing, thankfully it doesn’t adversely effect the wine. Made with mostly with Syrah and chunk of Cabernet Sauvignon this is a dry, medium red colour and reasonably light wine. You get a hit of black cherry and plum on the noise with a hint of herbacious in there. This follows through in the taste with medium tannings and a pretty smooth texture. This is a fruit driven wine more than big tannins that grip your mouth.

At about Eur20 a bottle its not cheap, its good but a little overpriced.

Chateau De Berne, Rouge 2014, Provence, France

Habsiger, Klevener de Heiligenstein, Alsace, France

Posted on July 8, 2020 by richardgore1200

Made with the Klevener, of which there is only 4.5 ha of grapes in the region, this is not you typical wine from Alsace but Habsiger have done a good job. Its a mellow, soft wine, aromas of melon and Lychee with a taste of lemon poking through. Its not yu usual cheap, crisp, highly acidic, white wine.

Pesonnally I would have this on its own so the subtle flavours can be tasted. At Eur7 or 8 a bottle its an interesting wine that’s well worth trying.

Habsiger, Klevener de Heiligenstein, Alsace, France

Le Clos Château Isenbourg, Comtes d’Isenbourg, Crémant d’Alsace, Brut, France

Posted on July 3, 2020 by richardgore1200

This Crémant d’Alsace from Le Clos Château Isenbourg, is great example of a sparking regional wine. This has aromas of green apple and grass and additional flavours of lime and melon. Theres an underlying bready flavour that is very subtle and with the fine bubbles make a refreshing change to the overhyped and full on bread flavours champagnes.

With the high acidity pair with seafood, creamy cheeses or enjoy in the garden on a summers day. At Eur10 a bottle great value, great wine.

Le Clos Château Isenbourg, Comtes d’Isenbourg, Crémant d’Alsace, Brut, France

Domaine Zinck, Terroir Pinot Gris 2011, Alsace, France

Posted on June 22, 2020 by richardgore1200

Alsace make some amazing wines and this Pinot Gris from Domaine Zinck is a very good example, Zinck produce a fantastic range of wines by the way. Even though this is 9 years old its pretty good on all levels, reasonabe critus fruit aromas and a wonderfall deep yellow colour, very seductive.

This is a bold wine, not quite full bodied but rich in flavour with ripe flavours of pineapple, lemon and minerality. In reality it should have been drunk within 5 years but its still very drinkerable and at wat under £10 a bargin.

Domaine Zinck, Terroir Pinot Gris 2011, Alsace, France

Richou, L’ R Osé, Loire, France

Posted on June 7, 2020 by richardgore1200

Richou, L’ R Osé, Loire, France

Loire rose often comes second to Provence rose but it does it a disservice, Richou shows what a great rose region the Loire is. Its made with Gamay and Cabernet Sauvignon and you get a darker rose in colour because of these grapes used. This is a not a cheap rose but at £10 a bottle feels priced correctly. This is an off dry, fruit driven rose with just the right amount of acidity. You get strawberries on the nose with redcurrant under notes.

The smell is more noticeable than the taste, you get the flavours but they are down a notch on the smell. In many ways that’s a provence style wine, a bit more flavour would have been nice, buts its great summer wine.

Château Grand Billard, Bordeaux 2010, France

Posted on June 4, 2020 by richardgore1200

Made with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot its a good blend. 10 years old you may feel that this red is ready for drinking, esp as its a “Grand” Bordeaux. Its just part of the name, its not a grand vin. That said there is much to commend this wine.

Its still got a dark purple colour but the aromas and flavours are quite light for a Bordeaux. You get blackberries and cherries on the nose and in the taste, some oaky notes and smooth tannins but its the lightness that I’m liking. In reality it should have been drunk 2 or 3 years ago to get a bolder hit of flavours and aromas.

At about £10 a bottle its reasonable value for a lighter red but if you want a full Bordeaux you will be disappointed.

Château Grand Billard, Bordeaux 2010, France

Gérard Bertrand, Joa Rosé, Languedoc, France

Posted on June 2, 2020 by richardgore1200

Languedoc, France make some of the most wonderful Rose wine in the world and this Joa, from Gérard Bertrand shows off what you can expect. Its made with shiraz, Grenache and Cinsault grapes.

Its very dry, light, a little acidic, crisp and has subtle aromas and flavours of wild strawberry, redcurrant, melon and floral hints in there.

At £13 a bottle its a little overpriced, but it a bio wine and therefore expect to pay that little bit more.

Gérard Bertrand, JoaRosé, Languedoc, France

Château de Camensac, La Closerie de Camensac 2009, Bordeaux, France

Posted on May 13, 2020 by richardgore1200

2009 Bordeaux from Chateau de Camensac is almost a typical Bordeaux.

Almost! its over 10 years old and this wine has fine characteristics. Its very dry, pretty bold, smoothish tannins, they are definitely there. On the nose you get vanilla, cherry, blackcurrant, a bit of tobacco comes through. these feed into the taste but you then get red fruits and spice notes popping up and hints of earth.

This should have been drunk 2 or 3 years ago but it is very nice, at £16 a bottle it would have been good value 2 or 3 years ago, now a little bit over and a bit overpriced, my fault not the producers.

Château de Camensac, La Closerie de Camensac 2009, Bordeaux, France

Domaine de Rocheville, Le Prince, Saumur-Champigny, Loire, France

Posted on May 5, 2020 by richardgore1200

Made with Cabernet Franc this is a typical Loire red wine, pretty good too getting a bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Its not got the most intense aromas, you get cherry, plum and undertones of pepper and tobacco. Its dry, a decent hit of acidity and firm but not overpowering tannins. You get red and black fruits flavours adding to the aromas.

We had it with and without food and found it equally good. At £16 a bottle its not cheap and a little over priced but its nice.

Domaine de Rocheville, Le Prince, Saumur-Champigny, Loire, France

The accidental drinker

Wine talk and reviews by an accidental drinker

Tag Archives: France

Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

Chateau De Berne, Rouge 2014, Provence, France

Habsiger, Klevener de Heiligenstein, Alsace, France

Le Clos Château Isenbourg, Comtes d’Isenbourg, Crémant d’Alsace, Brut, France

Domaine Zinck, Terroir Pinot Gris 2011, Alsace, France

Richou, L’ R Osé, Loire, France

Château Grand Billard, Bordeaux 2010, France

Gérard Bertrand, Joa Rosé, Languedoc, France

Château de Camensac, La Closerie de Camensac 2009, Bordeaux, France

Domaine de Rocheville, Le Prince, Saumur-Champigny, Loire, France