Tasting Notes:

When I was at university our local off licence sold a terrible, cheap red called ‘Cellier du Dauphins’, which we bought occasionally and laughed at the idea that the princes of France might put their name to it. This wine bears a passing resemblance to Clos l’Oratoire Chateauneuf du Pape. It contains (mostly) the same grapes. It’s from the same region. I was wary… It was on the same shelf as the wonky bottle wine , JP Chenet (which I have vowed never to try. Like Nandos. Or Game of Thrones). It was next to La Folie Douce, a gimmicky wine named after a pricey apres ski bar in Val d’Isere that I am so going to visit when I’m there in January. La Folie Douce Chardonnay is bad wine, by the way – avoid it.

I threw caution to the wind; Les Dauphins is a damn site cheaper than Clos l’Oratoire and despite the fact that it’s made by the same producer of that awful wine I drank 25 years ago – it’s pretty good! Has the spicy, peppery flavours you expect from a Cotes du Rhone, and a good mouth-feel, with tannins. Not the best way to spend £8 on wine though; wait for a deal or get something else.