LES PARCELLES DE VENTENAC 2016 CHENIN COLOMARD

This is beautifully crafted dry white. Drink now
and enjoy the lifted citrus fruit, touch of spritzig and all round drinkability. 


GRAPE VARIETIES: Chenin Blanc, Colombard
REGION: Languedoc
A/V: 12% 
PRICE: 3.90 euro 
FROM: E.Leclerc
RATING: 4.5/5 from me 

THIS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE SHELVES AT THIS PRICE

CHATEAU LA LOUVIERE GRAND VIN DE BORDEAUX

This was a huge disappointment. It opened a little dull and stayed that way. By Day 3 it was completely oxidised. Time to special this out, well under 10 euro.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
REGION: Pessac-Leognan [Bordeaux/Graves]
A/V: 13% 
PRICE: 24.30 euro
FROM: E.Leclerc
RATING: 1/5 from me 

LOVE THE NAME, LOVE THE PRICE, DRANK THE BEER

FINKBRAU LAGER

How crazy is this? As much as I enjoyed it, beer should not be this cheap. This is a very quaffable malt driven lager that can handle quite a chill. Every bit as a good as far better known brands.

PRICE: 5.99 euro for a box of twenty four 250ml bottles
FROM: Lidl, France
RATING: 4.5/5 from me 

WOULD YOU BUY WINE FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK?

You would if you met Jean-Claude Berezanski from Chateau Bellevue Bordeaux. 
We met the charming, ebullient Jean-Claude at a market at Monlivet a town on the coast west of Bordeaux. 
He had lots of interesting wines to sample and fortunately his English was so much better than our French. He had four sequential vintages of his Chateau Bellevue red so what an outstanding opportunity for an Outstanding Wine Tasting, We bought the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. 
Under 40euro for the lot. 

Tasting results to follow.

WHEN ALSACE RIESLING TASTE LIKE HOME

REBMANN 2016 VIN D'ALSACE RIESLING

This equates to well under AU$7 so forgive me for getting so excited. It's a little more developed than I'd expect from a 2016 but that's easy to forgive. This is DRY with a steely lip smacking minerality that has you reaching for the glass. It's so quality ageing Clare Valley with a combination of youth and bottle development. Beautifully balanced and the absolute perfect lunchtime companion.

A/V: 12.5% 
PRICE: 4.29 euro 
FROM: E.Leclerc
RATING: 5/5 from me 

ENGLISH BEERS TASTE EVEN BETTER IN FRANCE

I was tidying up the cellar in the motorhome and discovered these two beauties that I'd forgotten about. And as much as I'm enjoying French lager and Belgian wheat beers they were a welcome change

ELSIE MO GLORIOUS GOLDEN ALE
Castle Rock Brewery Nottingham
5% a/v, 500ml bottle. Challenger, Bobek and Aurora hops. Maris Otter malts "Full bodied and totally irresistible"

ROARING MEG IPA
Springhead Brewery Notts
5.5% a/v 500ml bottle known as The Big Blonde


Both £1.50 from Morrisons, UK. Both highly recommended if you want a beer with FLAVOUR.
Both 4.5/5 rating from me

LaCHETEAU SAUMUR BRUT CUVEE "EPHEMERE"

Not in the same class as the Ladubays and Ackermans, we discovered last year, at the same price. But it's still a very pleasant sparkler with a bit of palate weight and complexity



REGION: Saumur 
A/V: 11.5% 
PRICE: 8.03 euro 
FROM: Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux 
RATING: 4/5 from me

LES CARACTERES METHODE TRADITIONELLE CREMANT DE LOIRE

Lovely little sparkler. Clean, crisp and dry with a fine long lasting bead. No depth of character but perfect crowd pleasing fizz at this price. 


REGION: Saumur
A/V: 12% 
PRICE: 5.49 euro 
FROM: E.Leclerc
RATING: 4/5 from me 

NOBODY MAKES A WHITE LIKE THIS BY ACCIDENT

CHATEAU SARANSOT-DUPRE 2015 SEC

Mango! Never have I tasted a wine with such a definitive fruit character. There's no nuances, hints or suggestions. It's just full on mango - about a tray's worth from Sydney Markets as the new season begins.
So we did something unusual with our white tastings and whacked it back in the fridge. 
Day Two: Mango! Back in the fridge
Day Three: While the mango was still going strong there were other complex characters wafting around the glass and it had evolved into a really fascinating wine. Still in great condition with no oxidisation.

The verdict? At first I thought this was impossible to rate but on reflection this is the perfect 4/5 rated wine. You will love or hate it. There is no room for a wishy washy opinion. . If you're an experimenter this is a must. If you want your sauvignon blancs to taste like Marlborough, avoid at all costs.

REGION: Bordeaux
A/V: 13.5% 
PRICE: 12 euro 
FROM: Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux 
RATING: 4/5 from me

A DISAPPOINTING BENCHMARK

CHATEAU HAUT-BATAILLEY 2011 GRAND CRU 

As the most expensive of our 24 mixed bottles from Cave l'Avant Garde we opened this with keen anticipation. Sadly it didn't rattle our cage so we replaced the cork. Next day same response. On the third day it was drinking at its best but it still didn't impress as much as lower priced reds in the selection.

REGION: Pauillac, Bordeaux
A/V: 13.5% 
PRICE: 42 euro 
FROM: Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux 
RATING: 3/5 from me 

REBMANN 2016 VIN D'ALSACE SYLVANER

They make lovely Sylvaners in this part of the world. I don't think this is quite up to the Rosenhof level but still a very good full bodied dry white and outstanding value at
this price.


REGION: Alsace
A/V: 12% 
PRICE: 3.8 euro 
FROM: E.Leclerc
RATING: 4.5/5 from me 

GAYDA 2014 CHEMIN DE ROUGE

When I feel homesick a Languedoc red will usually cheer me up. While I get the impression that most of France view it as a lesser region I've always enjoyed the sun ripened Australian like nature of its wines. We tasted this one over three days and while it's a perfectly pleasant red we just hoped for more at this price.

GRAPE VARIETIES: 60% Shiraz 35% Grenache 5% Cinsault
REGION: Languedoc
A/V: 14% 
PRICE: 21 euro 
FROM: Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux 
RATING: 3/5 from me 

THIS GRAPE VARIETY IS CONFUSING ME

Le Heron 2016 Gros Manseng

This is the second we've found and it's far more palatable than the first. There's still the dominant peach fruit character and it will still be too sweet for some. But I'm going to persist. As for this one I reckon it would be perfect to chill to near freezing and quaff with really hot spicy food. 


GRAPE VARIETY: Gros Manseng
REGION: Cotes du Gascogne
A/V: 13% 
PRICE: 3.99 euro 
FROM: Lidl, France
RATING: 3.5/5 from me 

WE SHOULD HAVE LEFT THIS ON THE TOP SHELF

LE CHASNOY 2015 POUILLY FUME

A disappointment after the Sancerre but maybe that's just me. Just seemed lack lustre by comparison. Bigger bodied without anything to balance the weight.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Sauvignon Blanc
REGION: Appellation Pouilly-Fume, Loire
A/V: 13% 
PRICE: 9.40 euro 
FROM: SuperU
RATING: 2/5 from me 

WE VISITED THE TOP SHELF AT SUPER U FOR THIS ONE

DOMAINE DE CHEZATTE 2016 SANCERRE
In a supermarket dominated by very good cheapies it was very rewarding to reach up to the top shelf. This is classic Sancerre at an absolute bargain price. Searingly dry, elegant, balanced with delicious restrained fruit. No short cuts here, just a great wine that we'll be buying more of.

9.7 euro from Super U
5/5 Rating from me

JUST BUY IT!

This is an outstanding red at an outstanding price. See how many you can fit in the cellar and then see if you can resist opening too many.

We tasted our bottle over three days and it was a struggle to keep putting the cork back in the bottle. With all the older premium Bordeaux's we've been tasting recently this was the only younger wine that screamed "Just wait, I'll get there." It has all the depth, balance and flavour intensity of wines more than twice the price. You could drink it now but we're thinking patience and restraint will be rewarded.

16 euro from Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux
5/5 Rating from me 

CHATEAU DE CARAGUILHES 2015 "SOLUS"

This is a really interesting wine for so many reasons. 
It's contained in an extremely expensive bottle with a decidedly untraditional French premium wine label. [it doesn't come with the stain down the side - that was our clumsiness] It's from the Corbieres-Boutenac Appellation that's set itself up as a cut above the average Languedoc in which it sits.
And it's a quadruple blend of Mouvedre, Shiraz, Grenache and Carignan with a hefty 14% a/v. 

We road tested it over 3 days and while it opened with plenty of near block busting promise there just wasn't the evolution we hope for in a young red. 

20 euro from Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux
3/5 Rating from me

CHATEAU DOISY-DAENE 2014 GRAND VIN SEC BORDEAUX

This is another entry in the competition "How many different styles of Sauvignon Blanc do you reckon there are in the world?"
I used to think there were five. I'm now into double digits with this the latest addition and not one of my favourites. At its best it had qualities of a glorious aged Hunter Semillon but there was an oxidative character that I found distracting. I'm sure many love it but for me there are far better value at the price.

17.90 euro from Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux
2.5/5 Rating from me

OUTSTANDING 100% PETIT VERDOT FROM BORDEAUX

I love this grape variety and spent many happy years recommending Australian efforts to Australian wine drinkers who had never heard of the stuff. I'm fondly remembering Pirramimma and a cheapie made by De Bortoli in the Riverina. In fact it was surprising how well it responded to sensible levels of irrigation.

What a treat then to open this. The colour is enough to make you want to pull the cork. Deep, intense and vibrant at the same time. Dazzling. And then the palate. A rich sumptuous roller coaster of flavours in perfect harmony. 

Very highly recommended to drink now with breathing

or cellar for 5+ years

CHATEAU MOUTTE BLANC 2015 MOISIN
14.5%a/v
19euro from Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux
5/5 rating

WHY DO THEY MAKE IT SO SWEET?

LES HAUTS BUIS 2016 CABERNET d'ANJOU ROSE


This is 100% Cabernet Franc from the Loire. And it could have been so good. Like the label it's a pretty little wine but sadly it is just too sweet

3.50 euro from SuperU
2.5/5 Rating from me

ONE OF THE FINEST DRY WHITES I'VE EVER TASTED

CHATEAU FONREAUD LE CYGNE 2016 BORDEAUX


This outstanding dry white is a masterclass in blending and balance. It's 60% sauvignon blanc, 25% semillon and 15% muscadelle. Toss in some of the finest, most delicate oak treatment I've ever tasted and this is just about perfect. It dazzles, it entices, it caresses - it draws you back for more. If it was just me this would score a 5+ but if you object to wood in any white wine you won't like it. But if any wine would change your mind it could be this.

18 euro from Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux
4.5/5 Rating 

CHATEAU PENIN 2016 BORDEAUX ROSE

This is a dry delicate ethereal wine that just needed a little more acid zing that the palate could get hold of. Blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% merlot. 

6.9 euro from Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux
3.5/5 Rating from me

NOT THE BEST INTRODUCTION TO GROS MANSENG

DOMUS BY UBY COTES DU GASCOGNE GROS MANSENG
What a strange wine this is and the grape variety gros manseng should not be judged by this. The back label describes it as "velvety and creamy with hints of pineapple and honey - perfect with foie gras or chocolate desserts". It's sweet, but NOT that sweet. Alcohol is 11% so I'm assuming fermentation was stopped at that point. The fruit character to me is pure peach, the palate is quite cloying but it does go a long way with a couple of bottles of icy sparkling mineral water.







6.90 euro from SuperU France 
2/5 Rating from me
5/5 Rating with 50% sparkling mineral water

A LOVELY LITTLE FRUIT BOMB FROM BERGERAC

FONTECOSTE BERGERAC 2016
What a surprise this was. No surprising complexity but there was enough tannin to hold the fruit together.
This is one of those reds to just pull the cork and enjoy straight away. Or over the next couple of years. For an uncomplicated quaffer this is perfect.


2.99 euro from SuperU France 
4.5/5 Rating from me

THREE STRIKES AND IT'S TIME TO CHANGE

Cellars des Dauphins Signature 2016 Cotes du Rhone

Like the previous two this is a great little red for the price but they are all starting to taste the same. Time to change course

4.60 euro from SuperU France 

4/5 Rating from me

DOMAINE ST MICHEL 2015 COTES DU

More of the same from SuperU


4.45 euro from SuperU France 
4/5 Rating from me

MOULIN DE MEYRAN 2015 COTES DU RHONE

There's a certain sameness in these budget wines which shouldn't be surprising. They are all very well made and would be an extreme bargain in any other market. What is surprising is that the same supermarket would have so many similar wines at the same price point.

4.40 euro from SuperU France 
4/5 Rating from me

DAGUET DE BERTICOT 2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC

Easy drinking crisp dry white that doesn't require any great concentration.

3.05 euro from SuperU France 
3/5 Rating from me

A PERFECTLY PLEASANT FIZZ

Caves Elisabeth Cremant de Loire
Clean and fairly neutral. Probably worth spending a bit more to get something much more exciting.

4.50 euro from SuperU France 
4/5 Rating from me

I COULD HAVE SOLD MILLIONS OF THESE

Sire de Beaupre Demi Sec

Back in the day I lost count of how many times I was asked for a sparkling wine that "wasn't too sweet or not too dry". It's far from being the world's best fizz but this would keep a lot of people very happy at this price. No finesse but it's smack bang in the middle of the palate between sweet and dry. Thank you to Graham from Wales who proudly introduced us to it.

1.29 euro from Carrefour France 
10.5% a/v
4/5 Rating from me