A DISAPPOINTING TOURAINE

Les Hauts Buis Touraine 2016 Sauvignon Blanc
If you're a sauvignon blanc fan living in the UK, the regular Touraine can be a welcome relief from the OTT Marlborough intensity. They're more textured and subtle while still being unmistakeably sauvignon blanc. I wouldn't have recognised this as being one.


4.35euro from SuperU France 
2/5 Rating from me

WOULD YOU BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BUY AN EDELZWICKER?

Rosenhof 2016 Alsace Edelzwicker

Well this is the first one I've ever seen, bought and tasted. Based on this I'd do it again with alacrity. 

This is a truly exciting dry white with a steely backbone balancing delicious stonefruit. If you get a chance, PLEASE buy one. [PS there is still some 2015 on the shelves: leave it there, make sure you get the 2016]

3.85euro from SuperU France 

5/5 Rating from me

ARDECHE 2016 GRANDE RESERVE VIOGNIER

This is another one from SuperU's elegantly packaged range and it's a tricky one as only viognier can be. It's viscous, oily and typical viognier. You'll either love it or hate it. There's absolutely no room for mixed feelings. But at this price why wouldn't you give it a try. From the Rhone.

3.69 euro from SuperU France 
4/5 Rating from me

FAR MORE MAINSTREAM THAN THE MUSCAT

Pays D'oc Merlot Grande Reserve
SuperU have quite a range under this label. While I recommended the Muscat with some caution this is a much safer proposition. A lovely easy drinking red with satisfying palate weight. 

3.55euro from SuperU France 
4.5/5 Rating from me

OUTSTANDING AT FOUR TIMES THE PRICE

Cadet Rousselle 2016 Sauvignon Blanc
I'm still looking for an ordinary budget French white. I can't even find a good one. They're all outstanding and this is no exception. Crisp and dry with fruit that could be interpreted as a really young Sancerre. Impossible to recommend highly enough.

2.25euro from SuperU France 

5/5 Rating from me

I'D HOPED FOR MORE

Beaumes de Venise 2015 Cotes du Rhone 
This unfortunately didn't provide a step up from the 5 euro stuff available. It's a harsh judgement because anywhere else in the world this would be a bargain

6.95euro from SuperU France 
3/5 Rating from me

A PARTICULARLY FERAL RED

Secrets of Chai  2015 AOC Saumur Cabernet Franc
This is a red that takes some adjusting to. It opens as a charry tannic beast totally devoid of fruit. After about an hour the tannins subside, the charriness remains and some cabernet fruit emerges along with an earthy feral character. This is one of those wines I recommend with caution. It's well worth a trial but it will only appeal to a limited audience.

4.3euro from SuperU France 
4/5 Rating from me

WILL WE TASTE A BETTER VALUE SPARKLING THIS YEAR?

Les Caves des Perrieres Saumur Brut
I really doubt it. This is quite simply dazzling. There's no age on it so there's no toasty complexity. Instead you get the finest, longest lasting bubble imaginable that just dances on your tongue. Toss in a dash of citrus fruit character and you have a dazzler that is far TOO drinkable. Bring on summer! Once again the price is absurd.


4.99euro from SuperU France 
5/5 Rating from me

U LAGER 250ml TEN PACK UNDER 3 euro

The only complaint about this is that 250ml just disappears far too quickly. This is a delicious lager with just the right amount of malt. 4.2% a/v. Highly recommended.

2.95euro from SuperU France 
4.5/5 Rating from me

ACKERMAN NV CREMANT DE LOIRE

Here's more of the "why would you bother with champagne?" stuff. This is a beautifully made sparkler with fine bead and a little bit of development. Avoid if you like them in the crisp freshness of youth. Otherwise snap up a bargain.

5.87euro from SuperU France 
4.5/5 Rating from me

I COULD DRINK A LOT OF THIS

 La Chateliere 2016 Muscadet Sevre et Maine
For me this is muscat at its pure unadulterated best. The grapiest of all grape varieties with lashings of flavour on a DRY seamless palate. Perfect with shellfish. Impossible to recommend highly enough at this absurd price.

3euro from SuperU France 
5/5 Rating from me

AUGUSTE NURDIN COTES DU RHONE

This is a pleasant little quaffer at a bargain price. Nothing exciting about it and absolutely nothing wrong with it. Would do perfectly well as a function wine.

2.12euro from SuperU France 
3.5/5 Rating from me

THE FRENCH HAVE A DAMN FINE CRACK AT McLAREN VALE

Ogiers 2016 Heritages Cotes du Rhone


This is that classic Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre trifecta that our favourite region in Australia does so well. Well this one is blended to perfection with rich, ripe fruit characters in perfect harmony. With a hefty 14.5% a/v this superb red is the perfect antidote to any homesickness I may have for Australia

5.75euro from SuperU France 
5/5 Rating from me

A BIT OF A STRANGE ONE BUT WELL WORTH A TRY

 Pays D'oc 2016 Muscat Sec Grande Reserve
I was surprised how well this was received at an impromptu campsite wine tasting. It opened strangely with a cloying front palate intensity that lasted about 30 seconds. Once that dissipated a tasty balanced long palate emerged. Won't be to everyone's taste. Very impressive packaging.

3.55euro from SuperU France 
4/5 Rating from me

ROSENHOFF 2016 ALSACE SYLVANER

 The wine with the crazy retro label delivers again with an outstanding expression of this variety. It opens just a little subdued and then explodes into a spectrum of flavours. If you're looking for a change from sauvignon blanc this is definitely worth a try. Absolute bargain.

3.89euro from SuperU France 
5/5 Rating from me

THIS WINE IS RIDICULOUSLY OUTSTANDING AND JUST 2.15 euro

Cotes de Gascogne Colombard Sauvignon


It comes in the cheapest bottle money can buy with an unpretentious label definitely not trying to deceive. Just how ordinary can a wine be at this price? the answer is EXTRAORDINARY! It's beautifully dry with an appealing minerality. Fruit character in the apple/pear spectrum is balanced by crisp acidity. It's such an outstanding bargain it would be worth nipping over to France to grab as many dozen as you could legally bring back to the UK.
2.15euro from SuperU France 
5/5 Rating from me