Tag Archives: France

E. Guigal, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2011, France

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Chateauneuf de pape is one of those classic red wines from the rhone valley France it’s a safe bet if you just don’t know what red wine to buy

Walking with decent hangings and buying dried and yet there are some soft this to it probably best for food it was a mistake as to source that sort of thing but there’s every some amount going on you do get earthy and leather notes with tobacco, vanilla from the Shiraz and plum, black fruits from the grenache.

It’s a nice wine I can’t say it’s the best but I did enjoy it. The biggest problem I have is with the price at around £35 a bottle there’s just better stuff out there. Think of this as the ultra high-end Porsche, do you really get much more than a normal Porsche?

E. Guigal, Chateauneuf du Pape, France

E. Guigal, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2011 France

Abbotts & Delaunay, Boréas Faugères, 2017, Languedoc, France

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This red from Languedoc is a pretty bold, tannic wine. Very dry with peppery notes and spice on the nose. You do get red fruit on the flavour front with reasonable fruit levels coming through but I would definitely recommend having this with food juicy steak or tomato pasta would be ideal.

At about £10 a bottle is decent value.

Château de Pez, 1998, Saint-Estèphe, France

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Château de Pez, 1998, Saint-Estèphe, France

Château de Pez, 1998, Saint-Estèphe, France

At 23 years old this wine from Chateau de Pez shows what excellent wine that France can produce, rather than the bulk wines that so many people only drink. At £50 a bottle its not cheap but excellent,

Its a bold, dry wine with decent well integrated tannins that make you want to sip and take your time when drinking. aromas and flavours of black fruits, oak, cedar, leather and a hint of smoke this is a grown ups wine. Trully excellent.

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Chateau Bonhomme, Mademoiselle, Minervois, 2017, France

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Chateau Bonhomme, Mademoiselle, Minervois, 2017, France

Chateau Bonhomme, Mademoiselle, Minervois, 2017, France

South West France produce lots of wine and this blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault from Chateau Bonhomme is half decent. Bold, dry and plenty of tannins. There’s spice, oak and lots of red fruit on the nose that come through on the flavour and are join with plum and pepper notes.

Its a good wine which needs food to really balance out some of the harshness. Steak or tomato based foods are the ones to go for with this red.

Albert Mann, Prinot Gris, 2013, Alsace, France

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Albert Mann, Prinot Gris, 2013, Alsace, France

Albert Mann, Prinot Gris, 2013, Alsace, France

Albert Mann is a quality producer, getting a bad bottle is very unlikely and this standard  Prinot Gris is no exception. There’s a slight kerosine undertone with lots of pear coming through on the nose. Its medium, on boldness, acidity and dryness. You get a creaminess, honey and fresh citrus flavours which make this easy to drink with a salad, white meats yet perfect to just sip throughout the evening in the garden on a summers day.

At about £20 its a little pricey but great quality.

Moet & Chandon, Brut, Champagne, France

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Moet & Chandon, Brut, Champagne, France

Moet & Chandon, Brut, Champagne, France

Its Champagne and with the Moet name behind it, its going to sell but is it any good?

Its Dry and acidic, made with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier it has a yeasty, toasty nose that follow through with hints of citrus on the flavour front. Ideally pair with shell fish or have watching a sunset. Its decant sparkling although I still favour Bouvet sparkling on a personal basis, esp with that costs a £10 when the Moet costs over £30 a bottle.

Maison Gutowski, M–G Rosé Grande Cuvée, 2019, Provence, France

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Maison Gutowski, M–G Rosé Grande Cuvée, 2019, Provence, France

Maison Gutowski, M–G Rosé Grande Cuvée, 2019, Provence, France

Provence normally screems rosé and this is typical of Provence, albeit this one from Maison Gutowski is a good rosé.

There’s not much on the nose but there are sublime flavours of redcurrants, citrus, watermelon and grapefruit. It’s dry, high in acidity and refreshing. It’s over £15 a bottle so not cheap, that’s the only fault in it.

 

Château de Bellevue, Fleurie, 2016, France

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Château de Bellevue, Fleurie, 2016, France

Château de Bellevue, Fleurie, 2016, France

Buy a good Beaujolais is my advice and this one from Fleurie from Château de Bellevue is one of them better examples and certainly one that you should start drinking so you know what to least benchmark against.

It’s dry, light with good acidity you get aromas of red fruit but when you taste it it there there flavours of raspberry strawberry but with hints of chocolate, liquorice and hints of caramel and oak but all nice to balanced.M

My biggest regret is only having one bottle of this as it’s a really good example and at around £10 Super value.

Saint Péray, Grain de Silex, 2015, Rhone, France

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Saint Péray, Grain de Silex, 2015, Rhone, France

Saint Péray, Grain de Silex, 2015, Rhone, France

I do like a Rhône valley white but this one from Saint Peray has passed its best though, which is a shame because you can still taste what was.

You get hints of ripe citrus, grapefruit with honey on the nose and with flavours that follow on with peach, almond, melon with buttery notes and a grown up feel. It’s a very acidic wine dry but with good body and I suspect if I had drank this after 2 or 3 years from bottling it would have been a really excellent wine. So lesson learnt, don’t save what you think is great wine too long.

Charles Joguet, Silènes Chinon, 2012, Loire, France

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Charles Joguet, Silènes Chinon, 2012, Loire, France

Charles Joguet, Silènes Chinon, 2012, Loire, France

Charles Joguet, Silènes Chinon, 2012, Loire, France

Charles Joguet, Silènes Chinon, 2012, Loire, France

Charles Joguet makes some wonderful wines and I have been to the vineyard twice and tasted some of them. This 2012 Silènes Chinon, 2012 though should have been drunk a fee years ago.its not aged as I had hoped/ expected from a top producer making cabernet Franc wine. Theres little aroma of the red fruit, plum, tobacco and leather that should be there, the flavours are washed out with only hints of what should be. The tannins are there and the dryness too.

It’s a lesson to drink on an occasion rather than waiting for the perfect occasion.