September’s wine is the 2015 Vidal-Fleury Cotes du Rhone (£9.99 from www.majestic.co.uk).
Jancis Robinson says:
“Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Dark mid crimson with a pale rim. Herbs and balsam on the nose – savoury rather than sweet. And then there is masses of sweetness on the palate but a finish that is fresh and dry. Really great balance and nice neat finish. This is better than many commercial Châteauneufs. VGV” (16.5/20)
June’s wine is the 2015 Vouvray Sec Tendre Lieu-Dit Rosnay, Loire, France (£11.50 from www.thewinesociety.com).
Jancis Robinson says:
“Very pale straw. Rich nose of toast and honey and then masses of acidity and structure and potential. Summer in a bottle. Bravissimo! VGV.” (17/20)
February’s wine is the 2014 Mas de Cynanque, Althea Blanc, St-Chinian (€13.40 from www.saint-chinian.pro)
Jancis Robinson says:
“This is one of those wines that just stuns you from the moment you put your nose in the glass to the last lingering taste of it. It smells intensely of candied lemon peel and apricots, lilies and beeswax. Coiled with tension, tasting of wild honey and orange blossom, dancing towards you then darting away. Acidity is strung from start to end like an electric current, dangerously alive. I got back home and ordered a case straight away. VVGV” 17.5/20
January’s wine is the 2014 Chateau La Dournie Saint-Chinian (€8,40 from www.jadopteunvin.fr).
*2014 sold out. 2016 available from www.thewinesociety.com.*
Robert Parker says:
“A gorgeous wine any way you look at it, the tiny production (83 cases) sports a vibrant purple color as well as sensational notes of black cherries, plums, lavender and exotic spices. Rich, medium to full-bodied, light on its feet and with a great finish, it will cruise for 7-8 years on its balance, yet is already hard to resist.” 93/100
October’s wine is the 2015 Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors (€8.90 from www.weinpalais.de).
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate says:
“This wine is almost too good to be true. It’s a ripe, sexy, heady beauty that exhibits a deep, purple color as well as killer notes of smoked meats, chocolate, blackberry and black raspberries. Deep, unctuous, open knit and layered, it continues to change in the glass, has a seamless and silky profile, and not a hard edge to be found. It’s a sensational value that needs to be tasted to be believed. Drink it anytime over the coming 2-4 years.” 94/100
90PointWineClub 