Julie & Neil Swift live in the Peak District and enjoy socialising and tasting a wide range of wines.
Read more about Julie & Neil Swift and see other articles by this author.
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Plastic Cork
Retailer: Majestic
Price: £4.99 Approx
Although I have been drinking wine for the past 33 years and attended and hosted wine tasting evenings, this is my first attempt at writing a review.
I opened the bottle for a couple of hours to let it breath and so it could be served at the correct room temperature whilst my roast chicken was cooking, as this is a good food match.
Cotes du Rhone in this instance is a mix of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan grape varieties from the Southern Rhone (the Carignan grape variety was originally from Spain but is now widely grown in Southern France) and 2006 was a good vintage.
The combination of these grapes combined makes a slightly dry easy to drink red wine with a medium body and a watery raspberry colour. There was a slight fruity aroma, leading to the taste of raspberries with a hint of spice, and a slight herbal characteristic.
Tannins were prevalent causing my lips to pucker and it leaves a persistent aftertaste rather like a stewed cup of tea.
With 3 years in the bottle this should be a great wine but all in all it was a bit of a let down for the price. I would be fairly happy to serve to and share with friends, although it is really nothing to write home about, hence my rating is only 5/10.
The lettering on the label seems to me to be a typically French font which is draws the eye to it being a French wine.
Now going off at a tangent, there was a half decent sized punt in the base of the bottle, some say this assists in either forming or collecting sediment from red wines. Other theories include the fact that it is easier for sommeliers to hold the bottle enabling them to pour gracefully. Actually I have it on very good authority from a very good French friend that the deeper the punt the better the wine. (Only for French wine he guaranteed).
