Aromatic spicy plum, herbal and cherry scents yield to elegant red and dark fruit with a suggestion of raspberry in the mouth. Finishes with lightly firm tannic grip and acidity that is brisk but not overbearing.
In France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region is an appellation called Corbières where they make bargain-priced red wines from Carignan, Syrah and Grenache. Château du Grand Caumont Cuvée Tradition Corbières 2014 is dense purple-black in colour — a testament to its richly extracted fruit flavours. It shows a spicy, herbal nose of blackberries. Medium-bodied and dry, it’s got a savoury taste of warm blackberries tinged with herbs and a lively acidic finish. Great value here.
Somewhat rare varietal. Clear very-deep purplish garnet. Aromas of raisins, dates, light molasses and coffee. Full-bodied with all the fruit of a warm year in the south of France. Ripe raspberry and cranberry flavours precede a tannic dry finish. Ready now. Good value.
Beauty Jura. The Bourdy family has been growing vines and making wine in Jura since 1475, just east and south of the gloried Cote D'Or. This is biodynamically farmed alpine chardonnay, native fermented and without inputs during the 4 years spent in barrel, under flor. Pointed almond, sea salts, lemon and elderflower, lined with a tight, steely mineral backbone that runs the sleek frame. Acidity is nervy and attention is pointed, drawing your attention sip after sip after sip after... Best when able to open and relax at cellar/room temperature, this is one of those memorable wines that sets your compass.
Opens with refined floral and lemon citrus scents, shifting to characteristic Burgundian green apple as well as citrus notes on the palate. Finishes with chalky mineral and crisply balanced acidity. Simple elegance and reliable consistency from Drouhin.
Pale yellow. Pure notes of yellow fruits and white flowers with refined oak. The sharp acidity is rounded off by the fatty oak texture. Delicate fruity notes in the mid-palate. Only an unnecessary tad of bitterness is felt in the finish, without it, it would be truly great. Drink or hold 2 to 3 years.
Clear medium yellow. Fairly intense aromas of grilled pineapple and lime. Full-bodied, tasting of caramel apples and lime custard with a long finish. Superlative value. A worthy accompaniment to rich sausages or fine aged ham. Will keep for several more years.