Donald is originally from Durban in South Africa and with in-depth knowledge of the South African wine industry that will be the focus of his articles.
Read more about Donald Griffiths and see other articles by this author.
I first bought this wine just over a year ago on a Sea France ferry from Dover to Calais. As it was a late crossing I knew that by the time we got to our hotel and had unpacked the car there wouldn’t be many restaurants and bars open and I knew I’d fancy a glass of red wine. We would be in France after all…
I don’t know if it was because I was craving a drink just that little bit more after a long journey or not but the wine tasted fantastic, even out of the little plastic cup from the mini bar. I promptly drained the entire bottle – with the help of my wife – and made a mental note to buy some more on the return journey.
Michel Chapoutier is a living-legend in the French wine industry. Accredited with being a pioneer in the field of organic wines, he presides over a negociant house that has been around since the early 1800’s. Their whole philosophy revolves around respect for the earth and letting the soil speak through the vine – providing a mouthpiece for the “terroir” – that hazy, intellectually appealing notion that a plot of land plays THE determining factor in a wine’s character.
A blend of syrah (20%) and grenache (80%) , the grapes for this wine come from 4 different departments in the Cotes du Rhone, one of the oldest vineyards in France giving the wine an extraordinary richness and diversity. The grapes are harvested by hand only when fully ripe and are vinified in vats using traditional methods. Part of the wine is then matured in French oakcasks , just enough to provide a soupcons of vanilla on the nose.
The wine is a garnet-red colour , typical of the syrah grape and indicates good alcohol content (14.5%). On the nose there are red berry aromas mainly of morello cherries, with a large dose of fennel/liquorice and peppery spice hitting the back of the throat. On the palate the wine is relatively uncomplex – medium-bodied, fruity and spicy with some herbal notes with good grip thanks to the high alcohol content and a warm, spicy finish.
Ideal for every day drinking the wine will not develop significantly over time and should be drunk in the next 2-3 years. It can also stand up with and complement food – roast lamb, duck, pastas with a rich tomato –based sauce and mince-based dishes such as moussaka. Its also good with barbecued food but I like to drink this wine when I fancy a glass of red but I don’t know exactly what I fancy as it doesn’t demand a lot of intellect – its satisfying in a simple, straightforward manner.
Marks out of 100 – 80. Robert Parker awarded the 2004 and 2005 vintage of this wine 86 and 87 points respectively.
Available for £7.99 a bottle from Majestic which is good value.
