French Regional Wine
The term 'French Regional' is used here to refer to the Vin de Pays (now called IGP, or something equally romantic) 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 !
Pays de L'Aude
Donjon de la Tour Blanc Sec 5.46 65.52 crisp, dry & clean blend of Ugni and Macabeu
Donjon de la Tour Blanc Demi Sec 5.46 65.52 made using the same grapes as the Sec, but blended to produce a medium dry version
Vin de France
Finesse Chardonnay Colombard 2010, Joseph Castan 5.58 66.96 dry but fruity wine from a reliable negociant and superb value
Elegance Sauvignon 2010, Joseph Castan 5.94 71.28 dry & full flavoured wine with excellent varietal characteristics in a refined style
Pays d'Oc
Finesse Merlot Cabernet 2010, Joseph Castan 5.46 65.52 soft, easy drinking & great value wine from around Montpellier
Finesse Syrah Grenache Rose 2010, Joseph Castan 5.46 65.52 dryish, well made wine with good nose and subtle flavours of summer fruits
Les Vignes d'Oc Blanc 2009, La Ferme du Mont 5.52 66.24 blend of Grenache & Chardonnay from rising star winemaker Stephane Vedeau, dry with good weight and a certain richness
Les Vignes d'Oc Rose 2010, La Ferme du Mont 5.52 66.24 just off-dry rose offering excellent value with light, strawberry fruit flavour
Les Vignes d'Oc Rouge 2009, La Ferme du Mont 5.52 66.24 Merlot & Grenache, fruity & juicy with light tannin and easy style & flavour, a great drinking wine
Elegance Syrah 2010, Joseph Castan 5.82 69.84 medium weight, typically southern French style with smooth texture and good fruit
Elegance Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Joseph Castan 5.82 69.84 young, juicy & fruity style with medium body, light tannins and refined cassis flavours
Elegance Chardonnay 2010, Joseph Castan 5.94 71.28 unoaked, typically southern French style of Chardonnay
Maison Mayol Merlot 2011, La Ferme du Mont 6.06 72.72 delicious, easy drinking young wine with plenty of juicy blackcurrant fruit and a subtle touch of tannin
L'Orangeraie Rouge 2010, de Lorgeril 6.24 74.88 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
L'Orangeraie Chardonnay 2008, de Lorgeril 6.66 79.92 very enticing, unoaked Chardonnay with good body & fine, rich flavour
Viognier de Pennautier 2009, de Lorgeril 7.14 85.68 dry, vivid wine with aromas of apricot & peach and lovely floral flavour with hints of honey & citrus
Domaine Jouclary Sauvignon 2010, Gianesini 7.38 88.56 intense style of Sauvignon with aromas of gooseberry and rich, concentrated fruit flavour with long finish
Domaine Jouclary Chardonnay 2009, Gianesini 7.38 88.56 fresh, unoaked Chardonnay from this most traditional of estates in Cabardes with lovely floral flavour and rich, youthful style
Cotes de Gascogne
Domaine La Taste Blanc Sec 2009, Vignobles Fontan 5.46 65.52 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
AC Bergerac
Chateau Laulerie Rose 2010, Vignobles Dubard Frere & Soeur 7.44 89.28 off-dry & sophisticated with good colour, lovely flavour and medium body
AC Cotes de Provence
Domaine Houchart Rose 2010, Jerome Quiot 8.16 97.92 dry, with full colour, flavour and fruit
Cotes du Tarn
Vigne Lourac Syrah Cabernet Rose 2010, Alain Gayrel 5.82 69.84 attractive, pale pink coloured wine with elegant nose, fresh, dry flavours of summer fruits and clean aftertaste
Vigne Lourac Mauzac Sauvignon 2010, Alain Gayrel 5.82 69.84 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
Vigne Lourac Duras Cabernet 2009, Alain Gayrel 5.82 69.84 intensely ripe & upfront wine packed with blackberry flavour in a rich & warming style
Vigne Lourac Sauvignon Prestige 2010, Alain Gayrel 6.24 74.88 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
AC Cabardes
Chateau de Jouclary Cuvee Tradition 2009 7.68 92.16 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
Cotes de Thongue
Domaine La Croix Belle Caringole Rouge 2010 www.croix-belle.com 6.42 77.04 a blend of Carignan, Syrah & Merlot, quite light & fresh but with the hallmark complexity of all Croix Belle wines
Domaine La Croix Belle Caringole Blanc 2010 www.croix-belle.com 6.42 77.04 dry & zesty blend of Chardonnay & Sauvignon with excellent depth & length
Domaine La Croix Belle Merlot 2009 www.croix-belle.com 6.84 82.08 glorious wine, well structured with a deep colour, lovely ripe fruit and soft tannins
Domaine La Croix Belle Syrah 2010 www.croix-belle.com 6.96 83.52 ripe & juicy wine in a Rhone style with plenty of body & flavour
Domaine La Croix Belle Le Champ des Lys 2010 www.croix-belle.com 7.32 87.84 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 2009 www.croix-belle.com 7.32 # 87.84 a blend of Grenache, Syrah & Merlot, a powerful and complex wine with generous character, fantastic now, yet great potential for development
Domaine La Croix Belle No.7 Rouge 'Les Folies' 2008 12.48 149.76 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
Saint Mont en la Tradition 2008, Plaimont 3.90 46.80
Les Calcinaires Blanc 2008, Domaine Gauby 12.63 151.56 Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes
Domaine La Suffrene Rose 2009, Bandol 11.70 140.40
Domaine Le Soula 2002, Gerard Gauby (magnums) 46.08 276.48 Vin de Pays des Coteaux des Fenouilledes
Domaine Le Soula 2003, Gerard Gauby (magnums) 46.08 276.48 Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes
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 £5.20 per case excluding VAT)
Please contact us for any further information : wine@rfvintners.co.uk
Tel : 01892 724314 / 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 724314 / 724209 Email : wine@rfvintners.co.uk
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