French Regional Wines, Lancaster A number of wines from the portfolio of French Regional Wines
in Lancaster tasted 30th September 2007. Prices shown are the list prices from French Regional Wines. For French Regional Wines' own website,
click here French White
Wines 2006 Domaine de
Millet, AC Côtes de Gascogne, 11.5% (£5.69) 2006 Le Lutin Blanc, Les Vignerons de La Suzienne, AC Côteaux du Tricastin, 13% (£6.20) 2006 Châtea de Saurs, AC Gaillac, 12.5% (£8.00) 2003 Muscat, Domaine René et Vincent Fleith, AC Alsace, 13% (£8.99) 2005 Domaine de Crampilh, AC Pacherence du Vic-Bilh Sec, 13.5% (£9.99) 2004 Gewurztraminer, Domaine René et Vincent Fleith, AC Alsace, 13% (£8.99) 2003 Domaine du Crampilh, AC Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, 12.5% (£12.70)
Whites from the rest of the world 2005 La Mura Grillo Bianco, Sicily, 13% (£4.99) 2005 Grüner Veltliner, Höpler, Burgenland, Austria, 12% (£6.75) 2005 Wakefield Estate, Unwooded Chardonnay, Clare Valley, South Australia (£7.50) French Red Wines 2006 La Coudraie, AC Touraine, Barré Frères, 12% (£6.10) 2005 Vieux Clocher, AC Côtes du Ventoux, Maison Arnoux & Fils, 13% (£7.20) 2004 CT, AC Côteaux du Tricastin, Les Vignerons de La Suzienne, 13% (£6.70) 2005 Domaine du Val Brun, Saumur-Champigny, 14% (£6.99) 2005 Domaine G Lavigne, Saumur Champigny, 12.5% (£8.60) 2001 Réserve Eliézer, AC Gaillac, Château de Saurs, 13.5% (£10.75) 2004 Montirius Côtes du Rhône, 14% (£9.00) 2001 Classique, Domaine du Garinet, AC Cahors, 13% (£8.40) 2001 Réserve, Domaine du Garinet, AC Cahors, 13% (£9.30) 2001 Fûts de Chêne, Domaine du Garinet, AC Cahors, 13% (£10.60) 2002 Premier Vin, Château la Rayre, Bergerac Rouge, 13% (£11.79) 2003 Cuvée l'Originel, Domaine du Crampilh, AC Madiran, 14% (£8.99)
Reds from the rest of the world
2006 Diamond Bay Ruby Cabernet, South Africa, 14%, screwcap, (£4.99) 2005 Val Viadero, Bodegas Valduero, DO Toro, 13.5% (£7.99) 2005 Sepia Carmenère, Vistamar, Maipo Valley, Chile, 13.5% (£5.99) 2005 Santa Alvara Cabernet Sauvignon, Casa Lapostolle, Rapel Valley, Chile, 14.5% (£6.25) 2004 Tapiz Merlot, Fincas Patagonicas, Argentina, 13.5% (£7.50) 2004 Tapiz Malbec, Fincas Patagonicas, Argentina, 13.5% (£7.50)
This is a blend of colombard and ugni blanc. It has a crisp, yet
characterful nose, and tastes even better than it smells. There
are some interesting flavours here, and all nicely balanced. Very
Good.
On the nose, I mistook this viognier for a muscat, as it was so floral.
On the palate, though, it feels a bit over-extracted and isn't
really to my taste. OK-ish.
This is a blend of len d'el, mauzac and sauvignon blanc. It has a
gentle, somewhat reticent nose. In the mouth, it is light, fresh,
easy and very refreshing, but with some complexity behind. Good.
I've had this Alsace muscat before and greatly enjoyed it. This
bottle wasn't typical of previous experiences. Three years is not
over-old for an Alsace Muscat, so maybe this is going through an
awkward, dumb phase? Anyway, it seemed to me to have a very soapy
nose: exceedingly floral, with a real soapy edge. The nose is
very much reflected on the palate, which is dominated by very scented,
floral flavours. Good-ish.
On the nose there are some slightly confected, musky tropical fruit
aromas, which in part follow through on the palate. Overall,
though, it seemed a bit closed and dull on the palate, finishing with a firm acidity. Good-ish.
This has some lovely, really elegant, floral rose petals on the nose.
On the palate, this is a good example of a firmly textured Alsace
gewurztraminer with nice balance. It is bone dry and finishes
with excellent length. Very Good+.
A nice clean nose with hints of grapinees, apricots and honey.
Super palate: fresh, cealn, delicate and very elegant. Very
Good Indeed.
The grillo grape is traditionally a major component of the blend used
for Marsala, and it was interesting to taste it vinified separately and
as a dry white. The most immediately noticeable thing is its very
green colour. The nose is crisp with some nice pear, citrus and
gooseberry fruit. This is nice and attractive in the mouth, with
nice fresh flavours. A lovely, clean drink. Impressive.
Very Good Indeed.
A rather dumb nose. This is a good, simple grüner veltliner.
Nothing exceptional but perfectly drinkable. Good.
This has lovely fresh melony fruit on the nose. Light, fresh,
creamy palate. Easy and delicious. Good/Very Good.
Made from the gamay grape (like Beaujolais), this Loire red has fresh
raspberry fruit on the nose. Light, fresh and clean on the
palate, with a certain savouriness. A very attractive wine.
Very Good+.
This has an interesting nose, redolent of slightly astringent summer
pudding. Clean and fresh on the plate, this is very attractive
easy drinking with a nice character too. Very Good/Very Good
Indeed.
There is atractive raspberry and blackberry fruit on the nose.
The palate too is attractive and open, and very inviting, with a
nice depth and character. Very Good Indeed.
This has nice light cherry fruit on the nose. Decent palate,
though perhaps a bit lacking in fruit for some tastes. Notably
good after. Good+.
A very nice, gentle nose - a touch green, but very attractive. Quite light on the palate. Good+.
This is a blend of merlot, brancol, syrah and duras grapes. It
has a very attractive nose, reminiscent of clean, fresh hedgerows.
On the palate, there is a rather green raw feel to the full,
concentrated fruit. An interesting wine, nonetheless. I
suspect this is going through an uncommunicative phase and will be
showing beautifully in, say, three years time or so. Good/Very
Good as it stands for now.
The nose has some herbal black fruit, with a touch of cough medicine.
Fairly complex on the palate, this has very good balance too.
Excellent length. Very Good Indeed.
100% malbec, the Classique cuvée sees no oak. On the nose,
this seems to be showing some age, but remains nicely rounded, with
some black fruit and a touch of stink. A lightish, balanced paate
with good character and depth. Very Good.
An identical wine to the classique, except that this has been aged in
previously used barrels. The nose is very similar to the
classique with black fruits and a touch of sawdust. Lovely
palate. This is very open and expressive with very good balance.
An impressive wine. Very Good Indeed.
Again, the same wine as the classique, the difference coming from the
ageing regime, this cuvée being aged for a year in oak barrels,
a quarter of which are new each year. It has a lovely nose with
black fruits, a bit of chocolate and some vanilla coming from the oak.
Very good in the mouth: this has good depth and structure.
The oak is nicely in control. Very Good Indeed.
A big, leafy cassis nose. Very attractive, easy palate with a
very nice balance and a lovely, almost floral elegance. Cracking
stuff. Very Good Indeed.
A touch closed on the nose, but there are some woody, spiced black
fruit aromas with lots of tobacco still making their way out.
Very good palate: this is very interesting with layers of
flavours, but also excellent balance. Impressive. Very Good
Indeed.
This has light, fresh raspberry fruit on the nose with a rather unusual
clotted cream note. There's light, sweet fruit on the palate.
It's very simple, but it has an attractive easy fruitiness.
Good.
There are ripe black fruits on the nose with a plummy, chocolatey
richness. Fairly light and fresh on the palate with good depth
and a nice bite on the finish. Very Good.
A woody nose with lots of tobacco and black fruit. Good palate:
open and expressive. A pleasant wine. Good/Very Good.
Quite a smoky, young cabernet nose. There's velvety black fruit
on the palate, though it's a bit spirity on the finish. Good.
The nose has sweet, plummy, berry fruits. On the palate, it's
fresh and fairly simple. Great finish. Great length.
Good.
A fairly dull nose with some tobacco and black fruit. Fullish
palate with notable tannins providing much grip. Good/Very Good.
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Last updated: 30 December 2006