We had cause to celebrate; we’d hosted a Nerf gun party for fourteen 8 year olds and nobody had cried, vomited or been wounded. I’d bought a case of this champagne with a view to Christmas presents – so I had to try it… It was good – and for festive presents looks good too….
Tag: France
La Chasse Cotes du Rhones
The Cotes du Rhone appellation is one of the world’s largest wine-producing regions. The variety of grapes is amazing. The standard can vary; some of the cheaper reds are better than the often overrated Chateauneuf du Papes (John Lewis foodhalls – I’ve not quite forgiven you for the awful Christmas day red – 2 bottles…
Bourgogne Blanc Marc Dudet
The older the better? Nope. Some wines mature and acquire complexity and character with age, but at some point most will deteriorate. I think this wine may have reached it’s zenith a while ago; it was quite good – but at £11 a bottle you can do better – at M&S go for Vin Alta…
Macon Villages Waitrose
This Waitrose Chardonnay weighs in at £8.69 a bottle. It’s from Cave de Lugny, a Burgundian co-operative producer. The same wine is on sale at Co-Op 70p cheaper (no big deal) but what makes the Co-Op wine marginally better in my opinion is the fact that theirs is from 2013, rather than 2015 like this…
Blason de Bougogne Saint Veran
What a time to be alive! Saint Veran at £8 a bottle – and if you buy any 6 wines in Tesco, it comes down to £6 a bottle! BUY! This is great wine for the money and coupled with the Trivento Chardonnay deal (Tesco), Santa Julia Chardonnay deal (Waitrose) and a great deal on…
Grande Reserve Bergerac, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Britain retains a love for single variety wines; there is real wine-making skill in creating a blend which is more than the sum of its’ parts. This one works well… Tasting notes: an interesting, harmonious blend of Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon; dry with citrus and floral notes. Good wine, fairly priced. Region of Origin –…
Macon-Villages, Cave de Lugny, Co-Op
Had to grab a bottle in a hurry, to go with our planned chip supper; Chablis seems a bit excessive for battered haddock – although I like the juxtaposition… An alternative to the more expensive white burgundies, which goes well with fish – even the battered type – is this good chardonnay from Co-Op. They…
Picpoul de Pinet, Oramarine
A flinty alternative to Muscadet, Gruner-Veltliner or Pouilly Fume, Picpoul used to be cheap, and unusual to find outside France until a few years ago when it cropped up more frequently, particularly on gastro-pub wine lists. Prices rose as it became more popular. My most read article, with a few hundred views, is Sainsbury’s Baron…
Vire-Clesse, Bouchard Aine et Fils, Tesco Finest
‘Bring your own wine’; love those words, wish more places did it! We had a booking at ‘Rocky Bottoms’, a good lobster/crab place near Sherringham, which inexplicably has no alcohol licence. I often resent the mark up on a bottle of wine in pubs/restaurants, so was grateful of a chance to select a decent bottle…
Picpoul de Pinet – Baron de Guers
This is the Sainsbury’s offering; is it better than Waitrose or Tesco? No – because it’s the identical wine as the other two from the same co-operative producer, (but with a different label) but can be bought for £5.60 at Tesco… Tasting notes: Fresh & refreshing, very good summer drinking. Green apples and lemon and…
Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits
An attractive bottle from a well respected producer, Bouchard Aine & Fils. Carrying the Tesco finest label, currently reduced to £9.60. Pinot Noir is my favourite red wine grape, so my hopes were high… This was good wine for the price but when it reverts to £12? I’m not sure… Tasting notes: Light, soft…
Picpoul de Pinet – Tesco Finest
In the Loire valley is known as Gros Plant, in Spain (esp Catalonia) as Picapoll. This is good summer drinking. This is the new label for Tesco’s offering; is it better than Waitrose? Well yes… and no. No because it’s the identical wine from the same co-operative producer, but with a different label. And yes…
A Time for Wine 