Saint Joseph (2003) Les Vins de Vienne

Saint Joseph is made from 100% Syrah, and has a deep violet core with intense cassis and blackberry on the nose. The finish is long and silky with hints of spice. I was deeply suprised by the flavour, so much so that I (ahem) tasted a glass before everyone got back for the meal ;-) Thoroughly recommended and definitely will appeal to the Rhone drinkers...

Rating: 5/5

Plan Pegau (Lot 2004) Selection par Laurence Feraud

Plan Pegau are mostly Grenache, with a fair amount of Carignan and Syrah, and probably some Merlot, maybe Cabernet and maybe still a drop of Madeline Angevine. Much of it was aged for half a year in small old oak barrels. The number refers (rather bizarrely) to the 'lot' rather than the year as it is technically a declassified wine - which means it is a lot cheaper than the classified versions. This was recommended to us as a very cheap wine that was good value in terms of quality. I have to agree - though not anywhere near the flavour of the Lirac (see below) it is a very nice reasonably priced (actually cheap) wine.

Rating: 3/5

La Coulee d'Argent Vouvray (2004) [WHITE]

La Coulee d'Argent Vouvray is an off-dry, very fruity and crisp white, with citrus flavors. We are drinking this white tonight with Wild Salmon baked with leeks (butterflies according to Trine's father, Arne) with boiled potatoes..

Full rating to follow... but first flavour is an amazing apple flavour.. truly gorgeous with a really nice aftertaste. Can't wait for the fish to be served as Trine is having kittens over the Wild Salmon...

Very very nice wine. Pleasant with fish and complements soft flavoured foods.

Rating: 3.5/5

Chateau Caronnes Ste Gemme (2001)

Chateau Caronnes Ste Gemme is another lovely Bordeaux that Trine loved and I felt was a little heavy. Went well with meat dishes, but again the bottle was only half drunk by the end of the evening.. And Trine stopped me opening another Rhone ;-)

Rating: 3/5

Moulin de la Lagune (2000)

Moulin de la Lagune was one of the wines that Trine and I argued about (no suprise that it is a Bordeaux). I thought nice but prefers a good Rhone wine, Trine thought it was fantastic... makes the rating tricky but as I am typing this in I think my opinion will come through stronger ;-) A well balanced wine with heaps of fruit, a light, elegant vanilla texture, and an underlying soft, supple richness it is made from predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rating: 4/5

Coteau Brule Cairanne

Unfortunately I was rather unimpressed with this wine and it was far to lacking for me to get excited about. Spicy, peppery
red fruits on the nose, but in the end not really the right flavours for me. In fact, this wine was only half drunk by the end of the evening...

Rating: (**)***

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Again a heavier wine, and after many of these heavy wines, Chateauneuf-du-Pape perhaps suffered in my rating as I missed the Rhones that I enjoy most. This wine has been described as 'Flavors are mouth filling but more elegant than boisterous...(with) plums, pepper, hint of leather..' but I prefer my wine sans leather ;-)

Rating: (***)**

Chassagne-Montrachet (2001)

A heavier wine, much more to Trine's taste than mine, this was great with food but really heavy to drink on its own later. For me, the sign of a great wine is drinkability, and it is far better when it can be consumed throughout the night ;-) Hence the slightly lower rating.

Rating: (***)**

Chateau D'Aqueria (Lirac)

Chateau D'Aqueria was a very very excellent find. Very cheap and extremely drinkable. We have bought eight bottles for Christmas as it was sooo nice! Château d'Aquéria is a quintessential Tavel wine widely appreciated in the French market as the finest wine of its appellation. Deep and dark in colour, with scents of berry this is fantastic on its own or with food.

Rating: *****

Vacqueyras (2001)

Selection par Laurence Féraud

Absolutely stunning and delicious wine. Vacqueyras was simply gorgeous with Lamb and we polished off the rest of the bottle through the evening. And always the sign of a good wine was that we were disappointed when it ran out ;-)

Thoroughly recommended!

Rating: *****