South of France

Consolation 2010 Juliette Roussanne Sauvage

Hey Everyone,

Today's message comes from a bit of frustration with the current wine market, in which it seems that the wines which once upon a time were good values are no longer affordable and the wines which were once obscure are becoming the value buys of our time.  There was once a time (two years ago) when I remember buying a decent Argentine Malbec for £4.99 and a good Australian shiraz for a fiver.  now, it seems that these cheap and cheerful wine regions have lost both the cheap and the cheerful.  So where does one go for a good bottle of wine these days?

I've become a bit of a bargain hunter since I've gotten my foot (ever so slightly) in the door of the wine trade and i've found that the traditional regions for good, cheap-ish wines no longer hold their titles very well.  You can't get a decent New Zealand Sauvignon for under £10 anymore nor can you find an acceptable Aussie Shiraz for the same.  As always, we must look to new horizons.  But one question we must ask is where that horizon may be... Bulgaria is becoming a premium wine region in it's own right, South Africa offers a few decent cheapies, and Chile offers the cheap (if not the cheerful) wines we crave.

The true value, my friends, lies in the south of France.  The regional 'vins de pays' offer superb value for money, spanning from budget wines with class, minerality and structure, to genuinely fine wines with so much potential and character that they could be mistaken for some cru classé Bordeaux.   Beauties like the Tramontane Macabeu and the Cuvée des Oliviers clock in under £8 and for under £15 you can find true gems like the Consolation Filles de Mai, and the Mas Christine range.

Like Jet Li in wine form.

There are also fine wines to be had for really great prices.  For amazing rosé have a look at anything Provençal, in particular Bandol rosé.  The Consolation Rosé Barriques made from 100% Mourvedre is stunning for it's depth, character and poise.  In every way it hangs with the some of best wines I've experienced.  However, my wine tonight is a Juliette 2010 Roussanne Sauvage and I have to say that it knocks the socks off anything else under £30.  It has everything going for it to the point where I believe that it has the potential to be my favourite bottle of wine considering it's price, style and versatility with food.

Anyone familiar with white Rhône varietals will know that Roussanne generally plays second fiddle to Marsanne and is a part of a punchy white blend.  This wine is big and full flavoured with lovely aromas of stewed peaches, overripe pears and a hint of flint alongside the oaky aromas of vanilla and clovey spice.  The palate is warm but not hot.  The alcohol is well balanced with the fruitiness and acidity and makes only the briefest of cameo appearances on the screen.  Overall it is an elegant ballet of flavours, silky texture and tantalising aromas.  It costs about £17 and is worth every penny of £30 for its elegance, beauty and overall finesse.  Try it sometime and I hope you will enjoy it.

I love the south of France.  It's wines are bountiful and wonderfully priced against the quagmire of over-priced sub-£20 Burgundy and Bordeaux.  They are dynamic and bold as well as elegant and balanced.  I hope your faith in the humble vin de pays will be reinvigorated.

Much Love,
G

P.S. for some great regional french wines try out these...

Around and under £10- Tramontane Grenache Gris, Tramontane Macabeu, Tramontane Grenache, Cuvée de Oliviers, Tramontane Cotes de Rousillon, Jean Luc- Colombo Rosé, Filles de Mai Macabeu, Wild Boar Syrah

Around £20- Juliette Roussanne Sauvage, Dog Strangler Mourvedre, Tempier Bandol, Chateau Thenac Bergerac,  Chateau Thenac Bergerac Blanc,