I had a bad experience with the 2017 of Auchans Plan de Dieu, but this 2021 is quite the opposite. Rock solid for the price. Continue reading
southern rhone
Great Rhone Cru: Domaine Brusset Les Travers Cairanne 2020
It’s not the first time when a Brusset red amazes me. A top producer in the Southern Rhone for sure.
Back to Rhone – La Vieille Ferme 2021
A bit of nostalgia, this wine was available in Hungary many years ago, imported by Bortársaság. Then supply discontinued, sadly, but I spot it in the Vinatis webshop when ordering some Loire reds, so here we are.
Value from the supermarket – Domaines des Lauribert Cotes du Rhone 2019
Picked from Auchan, my third bottle of the wine or so. Lovely affordable Cotes du Rhone red.
Alain Jaume Les Gélinottes Ventoux 2019
I loved the 2016 vintage of this wine, mostly when it was in its primary state, though (2016 Southern Rhone reds quickly went into a dumb phase in my experience, see also here). The 2019 is good, but not on the same level.
The red side of Rasteau – Helen Durand 2017
Not the dark, ripe and big red I expected from the appellation. Continue reading
2016 Southern Rhones and dumb phase – Clos Saint-Antonin Cotes du Rhone
Yet another wine that makes me believe Southern Rhone reds are prime examples of wines which go through dumb phases. This looks even more closed down compared to my last bottle tasted 17 months ago (see post here).
Classic Southern Rhone red – M. Chapoutier La Ciboise Luberon 2017
More than two months without posting about a Southern Rhone red, it’s clearly too much. Sadly, I’m running out of them, only a few remained in my wine fridge and there is not that many available on the Hungarian market. Luckily some Chapoutier wines are listed by the big retailer called Veritas, and the entry level red I picked did not disappoint.
High alcohol red wines III. – Domaine André Mathieu, la Centenaire Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2016
Hitting 16%, this Chateauneuf du Pape has the highest alcohol in this series. La Centenaire is made entirely from Grenache, which is supposed to handle heat far better than Syrah for example, but to see such alcohol content on the label is not just a bit worrying. Yet this was the winner of the trio (the other two are the El Telar Monastrell and Maccone Primitivo), when it comes to handling alcohol.
The traditional face of Southern Rhone reds: Gigondas La Cave Vacqueyras Beaumirail 2016
Do you like cooperative wines? For me, Gigondas La Cave is just as attractive as producer as many family wineries. Their wines have a personality that I really like and the quality is very reliable.