A Taste of France Mixed Case of 6
£65.00
Collection available from 6 Railway Arches, Viaduct Street, Huddersfield HD1 5DL, Usually ready in 24 hours
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Description
Hello, I’m Rob Hoult and here is our Taste Of France case. France may not be where wine production began but it is certainly the country that more winemakers look to for inspiration than any other. Think of all those Bordeaux blends in the new world, those Burgundy-esque Chardonnays and the number of wines which would kill to be able to have the word Champagne on the label. This selection offers a snapshot of what it is that makes French wine-making so revered.
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The wines we sell don’t come off a never-ending production line, so there is always a tiny chance that one of the wines in the curated cases drops out of stock. If this happens, we will replace the missing wine with a one of similar style and always a higher value; we don’t want you to lose out here. The tasting notes in the case will change accordingly, and you’ll still have amazing wine.
What's inside?
The white wines
Chateau Cantaloudette, Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux £12
A deliciously refreshing blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon with green apple notes and a zippy, citrus-led palate. It’s been a long time since I’ve found a white Bordeaux I actually wanted to drink, let alone something as good as this; it’s a revelation.
Les Volets Chardonnay, Rousillon £12
80% fermented in stainless steel, but the other 20% gets a little time in oak, and when the two elements are combined it makes for a pretty superb bottle of Chardonnay. There’s texture, there’s lovely balanced acidity, but there’s also that ever-so-engaging playful richness to the finish. I was bowled over when I first tried this wine. I say tried, I drank the whole lot, it’s that good.
Boutinot ‘Les Fleurs Solitaire’ Cotes du Rhone Blancs, Rhone Valley £13.50
Probably the most underrated region for white wines in France, which is a real shame as there are some seriously stunning wines to be found here. This delight hails from the Southern Rhone and is a fabulous combination of Grenache Blanc with a decent dollop of Viognier and then a little Marsanne, Roussanne, Clairette and Bourboulenc, varieties that just trip off the tongue! What you get, though, is a deliciously rounded and well put together wine with flavours of stone fruit, hedgerow flowers and fennel.
The red wines
Chateau Mayne-Vieil Fronsac, Bordeaux £16
I have to confess that over the last few years, I’ve fallen out of love with Bordeaux. Then I opened a bottle of this wine, and I’m back to thinking that there is value and wow factor without needing to spend £500 on a bottle. Hailing from a lesser appellation in Fronsac keeps the price down without any dip in quality. 100% Merlot with depth, perfectly integrated tannins and supple, plum fruit with a nice touch of oak and terrific length.
Uva Non Grata Gamay, Beaujolais £12.50
The label for this wine is somewhat abstract and tells you bugger all about this wine, but that is the point of it. Apparently, Gamay was once outlawed in France and only survived because some vignerons hid the vines amongst Pinot Noir. So, this wine hides itself behind that funky label. What it actually is, though, is a deliciously bright, crunchy, black cherry-filled take on great Beaujolais. Serve it a little cooler, and enjoy with a pork pie.
Domaine Terres Georges ‘et Cetera’ Minervois, Languedoc £13
My favourite wine in the shop! This rustic and charming wine is so bloody reliable, and not just that, but it’s also delicious. Not as chunky and overbearing as most Minervois due to a high proportion of Carignan. It’s soft, rich, subtly spicy and ever so more-ish. Roland & Anne Marie Coustal have been fine-tuning this wine over the last two decades, and it is now utter perfection.
