Fleur de Lise, Saint Mont Rosé, France
Marks and Spencer does have some good wine and this Fleur de Lise, Saint Mont Rosé, France af £8 a bottle is pretty good. A dry Rosé wine it’s a fairly simple wine with decent strawberry and raspberry flavours. It’s crisp and so easy to drink that it’s easy to finish the whole bottle in one go.
Paul Schneider, Pinot Gris, 2012, Alsace, France
I went to Eguisheim in Alsace and it was one of the most fabulous wine places I have been too. There are maybe 30 producers in a village that takes no more than 5 minutes to go from one side to the other and the people were so friendly with the wines so amazing. This 2012 shows how good they last, it has amazing ripe citrus fruits and a slightly thicker texture that makes you just want a sip rather than guzzle. At about £10 a bottle its super value.
Calvet, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2020, Southern Rhone, France
It’s hard to get a bad Châteauneuf-du-Pape and this one from Calvet is no exception. This good aromas and flavours of black fruits, oak, vanilla, with notes of licorice and coffee. At £10 a bottle it’s a good and well worth trying. Sure there are better ones but at £10 is very good value.
Cattier, Premier Cru, Champagne, France
Not all Champagnes are created equal Nd this Cattier, Premier Cru shows Champagne at its best. It’s not a yeasty or bready Champagne but it’s more fruit driven with freshness and softness which reminds me of a cremant, not a bad thing at all.
At £30 a bottle it’s a good price for such a lovely wine.
Grand Crès, Cuvée Majeure, Corbières, France
This Cuvee Majeure from Grand Cres is a typical south french red wine. Its dry, bold with decent length of tannins. There’s plenty of red, black fruit flavours with oak and spice in there.
Its a good blend of syrah and grenache that won’t disappoint but there is something missing that I can’t quite pinpoint. At £15 a bottle it’s a little bit to expensive.
Pinot Gris, Hengst, 2011, Alsace, France
Ooohhh was the general comment when this was brought out to drink followed shortly afterwards by aaahhh. A Grand Cru is not to be rushed and one by Albert Mann should have extra care. Aromas and flavours of ripe citrus, pineapple, a solid body and a creamy undernote makes this a wine to sip and take pleasure in. Prices for earlier vintages start at £35 and are recommended, getting 2011 vintage is harder, buy later ones and age yourself is my recommendation.
Loire Rosé is pretty good and this one from Majestic is a bit sweeter than the dry Rosé you normally come across. There’s enough red fruit flavours and aromas to stop it from being lack luster but there is something just not there, maybe the sweetness throws you, the price of £7.99 on a mix six price is OK but not one I’ll try again.
Feu, Rosé d’Anjou, 2020/21, Loire, France
Chateau De Targe, Clos de Moulin, Cabernet Franc, 2017, Loire Valley, France
Tried at the 40th anniversary of the Colchester Cellar Club this is Chateau De Targe Clos de Moulin is a very grown up Cabernet Franc. There’s the usual red fruit, plum, with oak and vanilla but it’s all very smooth, dry and structurally tight. It’s very good but you need food to get the best out of it and at £35 a bottle it’s not cheap. The cuvee Ferry Cabernet Franc that they do is better for me.
Albert Lucas, Chablis Premier Cru, 2018, Chablis, France
Here are a lot of cheap Chablis out there and sometimes you just need to spend a little more and drink and little less like is this one from Albert Lucas. It’s rich, luxurious with plenty of freshness. There are aromas of citrus and stone fruit with additional flavours of honey and apple with grass under notes and mineral hints.
Great with fish or zesty salad anc at £20 a bottle it’s about right for this quality.
Collard-Picard, Archives Millesime, 2012, Champagne, France
There are champagnes that are frankly overpriced and take more than just the biscuit as the English would say and this is where this Champagne from Collard Picard comes in. It’s a good Champagne as far as they go with good acidity and flavours of lime and citrus fruit but at about £240 a bottle it’s takes more than a bit of biscuit.