French Regional Wine
The term 'French Regional' is used here to refer to the Vin de Pays, or 'country wines', of which there are currently in excess of 90 designations, and usually refer to a region or sub-region. Historically, these wines ranked somewhere between Vin de Table and the technically superior Appellation d'Origine Controleé wines in terms of quality. However, in many instances, this is no longer the case. The perceived overpricing of many AOC wines, caused in part, no doubt, by the excessive regulation with which it is burdened, has created a huge global demand for Vin de Pays and with it the investment needed continually to improve it. One factor, perhaps above all, is the ability of Vins de Pays to describe themselves by grape variety, forbidden to most AOC wines, thus allowing them to compete better against competition from the New World. We believe that there is substantially more variety and value to be found in the French regions than in any other part of the world. Our range below consists mainly of wines from individual, family owned estates, some of which are from lesser known Appellations and thus better suited for inclusion in the 'Regional' section. Others are négociant and coopérative wines where the quality and value were too good to overlook !
Renaissance Rose 2005, Domaine de la Mordoree, Vin de Pays du Gard 4.13 49.59 from the west bank of the Rhone, 50% Merlot, 50% Marselan, aromas of rose and intense flavours of strawberry & currants
Finesse Chardonnay Sauvignon 2006, Joseph Castan, Vin de Pays d'Oc 4.17 50.06 dry but fruity wine from a reliable negociant and superb value
Finesse Merlot Cabernet 2006, Joseph Castan, Vin de Pays d'Oc 4.17 50.06 soft, easy drinking & great value wine from around Montpellier
Donjon de la Tour Blanc Sec, Vin de Pays de L'Aude 4.19 50.29 crisp, dry & clean blend of Ugni and Macabeu
Donjon de la Tour Blanc Demi Sec, Vin de Pays de L'Aude 4.19 50.29 made using the same grapes as the Sec, but blended to produce a medium dry version
Donjon de la Tour Rouge, Vin de Pays de L'Aude 4.19 50.29 well rounded, with good fruit & a very satisfying finish, produced from Portan, Marselan and Carignan
Le Causse Rose 2007, La Ferme du Mont 4.36 52.29 Vin de Pays de la Mediterranee medium dry rose offering excellent value from a new cooperative in the Rhone region with light, strawberry flavour
Elegance Syrah 2006, Joseph Castan, Vin de Pays d'Oc 4.49 53.82 medium weight, typically southern French style with smooth texture and good fruit
Elegance Carignan vieilles vignes 2006, Joseph Castan 4.49 53.82 very intense, fruity wine with great depth and some complexity
Terre a Verre Grenache Merlot 2006, Vin de Pays d'Oc 4.55 54.64 uncomplicated wine with young, juicy fruit & long finish
Terra Vinea Merlot 2006, Les Caves Rocbere, Vin de Pays de L'Aude 4.57 54.87 young, fruity Merlot with clean nose and smooth taste, made in a fairly 'New World' style
Domaine Vigne Lourac Mauzac Sauvignon 2007, Alain Gayrel 4.68 56.17 Vin de Pays des Cotes du Tarn excellent wine, reasonably dry with plenty of fruit. The Mauzac takes the edge off the Sauvignon, resulting in a wine which is easier to drink on its own
Terre a Verre Merlot 2005, Vin de Pays d'Oc 4.74 56.87 ripe, smooth fruit with light tannins and showing some complexity
Terre a Verre Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Vin de Pays d'Oc 4.74 56.87 firm, fruity & well developed wine with good varietal qualities
Prieure de Tersan Merlot 2004, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Narbonne 3.68 44.16
Terres d'Orb Rouge 2006, Cave de Roquebrun 4.75 56.99 Vin de Pays Haute Vallee de L'Orbe a well made and extremely good value blend of Grenache, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan, deep & dark with rich, complex flavours
Terre a Verre Syrah Rose 2006, Vin de Pays d'Oc 4.80 57.58 excellent rose with good intensity, and flavours of berries & damsons
Domaine La Taste Blanc Sec 2006, Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne 4.92 58.99 from Noullens in Gascony, a fresh, zestful, crisp & dry white produced from Ugni Blanc, Colombard & Gros Manseng grapes by Vignobles Fontan, generally recognised as being one of the top producers of the region. With full flavour and plenty of fruit this is a remarkably versatile wine, suiting most tastes
Domaine de Belle Mare Rouge 2006 www.belle-mare.com 4.98 59.81 Vin de Pays des Collines de la Moure deliciously meaty & fruity, made from Syrah, Alicante, Grenache & Merlot with good length, from a small & very organic estate outside Meze
Domaine de Belle Mare Rose 2006 www.belle-mare.com 4.98 59.81 Vin de Pays des Collines de la Moure half Syrah, half Cinsault, with vivid colour, good acidity and flavours of currents & berries
Domaine Vigne Lourac Sauvignon Prestige 2007, Alain Gayrel 5.05 60.63 Vin de Pays des Cotes du Tarn dry & crisp, with really lovely Sauvignon flavour, this consistent Gold Medal winner can beat wines from the Loire at twice the price for quality & style
Col de Lairole 2006, Cave de Roquebrun, A.C. Coteaux du Languedoc 5.15 61.81 a rich & warming blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre & Carignan, from a highly rated cooperative run by Alain Rogier based around St Chinian
Terre a Verre Chardonnay 2005, Vin de Pays d'Oc 5.21 62.55 unoaked, typically southern French style of Chardonnay
L'Orangerie de Pennautier 2006, de Lorgeril, Vin de Pays d'Oc 5.23 62.95 Nicolas de Lorgeril currently runs the family estates at Château de Pennautier where the first stone was laid by his ancestor, Bernard de Lorgeril in 1620. Louis XIII stayed at the Château in 1622 and wines produced on the estate were served at the French court in 1701. Good balance, well rounded, easy style, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache & Carignan
Terra Vinea oak aged Corbieres 2005, Les Caves Rocbere 4.82 57.84
Domaine La Croix Belle Merlot 2006, www.croix-belle.com 5.41 64.86 Vin de Pays des Cotes du Thongue glorious wine, well structured with a deep colour, lovely ripe fruit and soft tannins
Chardonnay 2007, Domaine de Belle Mare www.belle-mare.com 5.49 65.92 Vin de Pays d'Oc fine, elegant & delicate. A delicious example of this grape variety
L'Orangerie de Pennautier Chardonnay Classique 2006, de Lorgeril 5.73 68.74 Vin de Pays d'Oc very enticing, unoaked Chardonnay with good body & fine, rich flavour
Domaine La Croix Belle Le Champ des Lys 2006 www.croix-belle.com 5.80 69.56 Vin de Pays des Cotes de Thongue a blend of Grenache Blanc & Viognier, with a spot of Sauvignon and Chardonnay thrown in for good measure : a lovely plump wine with full aroma and a long finish a real joy to drink !
Domaine La Croix Belle Le Champ du Coq 2006 www.croix-belle.com 5.80 69.56 Vin de Pays des Cotes de Thongue a blend of Grenache, Syrah & Merlot, a powerful and complex wine with generous character, fantastic now, yet great potential for development
Domaine Jouclary Sauvignon 2007, Gianesini, Vin de Pays d'Oc 5.83 69.91 intense style of Sauvignon with aromas of gooseberry and rich, concentrated fruit flavour with long finish
Domaine Jouclary Chardonnay 2006, Gianesini, Vin de Pays d'Oc 5.83 69.91 fresh, unoaked Chardonnay from this most traditional of estates in Cabardes with lovely floral flavour and youthful style
Chateau Laulerie Rose 2007, Vignobles Dubard Frere & Soeur 5.85 70.15 A.C. Bergerac off-dry & sophisticated with good colour, lovely flavour and medium body
Viognier 2005, Domaine de Belle Mare www.belle-mare.com 5.89 70.62 Vin de Pays d'Oc a stylish wine with some depth from a vehemently organic estate in Meze, the capital of the Languedoc oyster farming industry
Chateau de Jouclary Cuvee Tradition 2005, A.C. Cabardes 6.07 72.85 stunning blend of Merlot, Grenache & Syrah, with deep, dark colour, intense nose & silky smooth, rich, flavours. Made at the estate of Robert & Pascal Gianesini in Conques-sur-Orbiel. Already a superb wine, but will undoubtedly improve with age
Chateau Larroze Blanc Sec 2006, A.C. Gaillac 4.94 59.28 a blend of the indigenous Gaillac Mauzac grape & Sauvignon from an independent estate run by Francois Linard, whose wines are all regular medal winners
Col de L'Orb 2005, Cave de Roquebrun, A.C. St Chinian 6.11 73.32 from the northern part of St Chinian, made from 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache and a balance of Mouvedre & Carignan, a delicious wine, soft & warming with delightfully smooth tannins
Pinot Noir 2007, Villa du Clos, Vin de Pays d'Oc 6.26 75.08 a very good example of this most difficult grape variety with full flavour in a slightly New World style
Domaine Terre a Verre Viognier 2005, Vin de Pays d'Oc 6.27 75.20 fresh, dry & fruity, with lovely floral undertones, from the partnership of Claude Serra & Stephane Vedeau
Domaine Galus 2006, Costieres de Nimes www.domainegalus.fr 6.29 75.44 Fanette Fessy & Jean Baptiste Paquet from two new producers, both from Burgundian winemaking families, who recently bought this tiny estate in the south : a blend of Syrah, Grenache & Carignan, vinified separately and only the Syrah spending a short time in oak, a rich wine with great depth & complexity
Domaine Houchart Rose 2007, Jerome Quiot, A.C. Cotes de Provence 6.30 75.55 dry, with full colour, flavour and fruit
Chateau Montesquieu 2005, Cotes du Roussillon 6.51 78.14 from the foothills of the Pyrenees, 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Carignan, partly oaked for 10 months in new oak, a wine with rich red colour, aromas of dark berries and intense flavours with hints of nutmeg, clove & laurel
Domaine La Croix Belle No.7 Rouge 'Les Folies' 2003 Vin de Pays des Cotes de Thongue www.croix-belle.com 9.91 118.91 another top cuvee, a blend of seven grape varieties, an elegant, concentrated & extremely complex wine with flavours of black fruits, chocolate & spice, velvety texture and long finish
Chateau de Jouclary, Cuvee Guilhaume de Jouclary 2005 10.37 124.43 A.C. Cabardes the top cuvee from this excellent estate, made from low-yielding vines, aged in oak, a powerful & intense wine with superb aroma & flavours, for drinking now, but with the potential to age for another five years plus
Prices are all inclusive of VAT
Minimum order is one case (of 12 bottles or equivalent) which may be mixed from any of our wines listed
Delivery is free for all orders within our own delivery area (currently London and most surrounding counties) and for 3+ case orders throughout the remainder of the UK, excluding Highlands & Islands (please enquire for rates). Orders of less than 3 cases sent by third party carrier will be charged at cost or below (around £4 per case excluding VAT)
Please contact us for any further information : wine@rfvintners.co.uk
Tel : 01892 723084 / 724209
Rodney Fletcher Vintners are independent Kent wine merchants & shippers supplying trade & private customers throughout the UK
Rodney Fletcher Vintners
Independent Wine Merchants & Shippers
Tel : 01892 723084 / 724209 Email : wine@rfvintners.co.uk
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