Drinking in Avignon, supermarket wine #4. This is something I really miss at home, in my beloved Budapest: access to lesser known Rhone crus, like Beaumes-de-Venise. It might be just an ordinary, entry level wine for locals, but I’m excited to taste it.

This is an interesting face of Southern Rhone reds. Earthy and spicy, fruits are hidden, even though it’s quite young. Bay leaves (as the back label claims) and black olives lead the nose – I suspect that whole bunches were used at fermentation. Easy going, soft on entry, but gets considerably firm, tannic and and bitter towards the finish. A bit on the rustic side of CdR, but it’s obviously not meant for early consumption. My guess is that time will improve it, try in 2020-2023.