Vin de Pays
Since their birth almost forty years ago, Vins de pays (‘country wines’) have become popular both in France and abroad and enjoy particular success in Britain. Intended to be ‘easy to understand and to drink’, these wines represent the second rung in the ladder of French wine classification, being superior to Vin de Table but below the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) and Vin Délimité de Qualité Superieure (VDQS)
Bottle
£14.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl 837cs
Max Lalondrelle, Wine Buyer
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Bottle
£14.65
Bottle 12 x 75cl 8cs
The wine is appropriately different, with hints of salinity underscoring a mid-palate profile, which is dominated by grapefruit, quince and poached pear. Notes of honey and spice are also evidenced and the finish is powerful; an unusual but most impressive example. Exactly the kind of wine, all too seldom unearthed, which shows off the rich diversity of the heritage of the Languedoc.
Bottle
£18.25
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Bottle
£18.55
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 27cs
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Pierre-Jean, the former régisseur at Vins De Vienne, set up on his own four or five years ago, purchasing extremely classy and often long-established vineyards in the areas he knows best, that is to say in Seyssuel and St Joseph. The quality of his first full vintage in 2009 was as impressive as the volumes were small; in 2010 the both volumes and quality are on the up, the latter by more than the former…
Bottle
£32.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Bottle
£42.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 8cs
Bottle
£52.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl 5cs
Bottle
£52.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl 6cs
Bottle
£62.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 40cs
The estate planted its first vines in 1974, in the unique and gentle climate of Aniane just to the north-west of Montpellier. Here they identified a combination of Burgundian terroir and an extraordinary micro-climate, dominated by gentle garrigue slopes and cool underground springs. This is now considered the finest terroir in the South of France, and led to the challenge to reproduce the quality of the best Châteaux of Médoc in the Languedoc.
Many of the leading Languedoc estates have now established themselves here, but it was Mas De Daumas Gassac who pioneered the production of world-class wine in the region, and can still be considered its finest producer.
When Aimé Guibert retired the gauntlet passed to his sons Samuel and Roman, who have proved more than a match for the challenge.
Upon appearance, The 2014 Mas de Daumas Gassac Rouge displays a deep ruby core with a purple hue. The dominating Cabernet Sauvignon fruit is evident on the nose with aromas of ripe blackcurrants and bramble, amongst black rose petal, smoke, and a lick of liquorice. An immediate richness of black fruit greets you on the palate, which is carried through to the back of the mouth across a velvety texture. All components are working together, the tannins are long and fine yet providing a neat framework, alcohol is modestly low and allows the purity of the blackcurrant and red plum fruit to shine through, balanced with a cleansing acidity. Leaving a clean and lasting finish with a touch of bitter chocolate. 13% alcohol. Drinking 2017 – 2022+.
Chris Lamb, Private Account Manager
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
2009 was hot in the middle of summer, but the Gassac water-table had been well nourished in the Spring and the vines did not have to struggle too much. The Guiberts, pre et fils, have no hesitation in lauding the wine as a worthy companion, when mature, to the 2000, the 1988 and the legendary 1978. Why? Because the conditions allowed ripe fruit and soft tannins whilst not for a moment forsaking the virtues of balance, structure and length. Small grapes with thick skins are reliable qualitative precursors, it seems.
The Cabernet dominates, as always, with the supporting cast made up of Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Tempranillo to name but a few. The undulating vineyard is protected by scrub and garrigue, both informing the distinctive taste and adding a real sense of place. The Cabernet is quite reticent at the moment, its tannins primes inter pares.. the latent fruit character will emerge triumphantly after bottling and slowly but surely come into its own. Peonies, wild berries, sousbois and spice (the wine has seen 16 months of new barrique) are the dominant notes at present; but the precise descriptors will evolve as much as the wine over time, taking on even greater complexity and harmony.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
A propos, the 2010 is an outstanding example and therefore logically will merit a label which captures the colours and contours of a perfect season. The wine repays the compliment; the blend is divided equally between Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the former lending an elegant Palladian structure, the later bright arboreal colour…..or in wine speak, firm but finely-etched tannins and a measured density of fruit, with blackberry and black cherry to the fore, and behind that hints of bay laurel and distant autumnal bonfires. The achievement of interloping Cabernet Sauvignon into these warm Provençal vineyards has been significant, and has no better illustration than the 2010 vintage.
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Stuart Rae - Private Account Manager
An idiosyncratic wine, with mint, dark chocolate, eucalyptus, and ripe blackcurrant and blackcurrant leaf on the nose. The palate is superbly balanced, with reams of ripe cassis fruit, full-bodied, but fresh and lively. It has a precision and elegance one would not expect from a Southern French wine. The tannins are ripe and chalky, which is a nice foil to the ripe fruit palate.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer
Les Vins de Vienne has almost out-grown their progenitors, in the sense that their négociant arm is now far more significant than that of Messrs Cuilleron, Villard and Gaillard. If the move from the precipitous and chaotic Seyssuel winery has taken a little romance from the project, the brilliant winemaking of Pascal Lombard has ensured an increase in quality and the forging of a distinct identity, important in what may once have been conceived as a somewhat amorphous project.
Stéphane’s La Rosine Syrah has a fabulously expressive nose of red cherries and white pepper. Soft and supple with lovely juicy red fruit, this surely has to be one of the best pound-for-pound buys of the vintage.
(Simon Staples, BBR Sales & Marketing Director) Best Value - Northern Rhône
Stephane Ogier’s La Rosine has something of a track record for keeping well in good years, like 1999, 2001 & 2005 – and 2007 looks set to match and even surpass these. This has very pure fruit initially becoming more lush but with a firm finish, but there’s nothing at all stretched about the wine. This represents excellent value and should be enjoyed between 2010 and 2013.
(Tom Cave, BBR Cellar Plan Manager) Stéphane’s La Rosine Syrah is better than many Côte- Rôties. The wine is aged over eight months in barrique, a somewhat unusual experience for a Vin de Pays. This is the essence of Syrah, with a savoury nose of violets and smoky bacon preceeding a harmonious palate and a twist of pepper on the finish.
(Simon Field MW, Berrys’ Rhône Buyer)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
The enthusiasm and energy of the man suggests that the change of career was a wise one. The transition was assisted in no small measure by our old friend René Rostaing of Côte Rôtie who was originally Remy’s landlord. Rostaing has bought elsewhere and now M Pédréno is his own master. A champion of indigenous varieties, especially Carignan, Remy eschews intervention in both the vines and the winery.
His yields are naturally low, so green harvesting an similar ‘compensatory ‘ techniques are unnecessary and in the winery maceration is gentle and not forced by sometimes brutal techniques such as delestage, popular elsewhere in the parish. The wood, unsurprisingly, is not new and the wine is allowed a leisurely 16 months to gather its wits in a decorous and harmonious fashion.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
94/100 Jeb Dunnuck eRobertParker.com #216 Jan 2015
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, February 2012
If one believes the old adage about imitation and flattery, then Les Vins de Vienne should be justifiably proud of the numerous growers now making wine from the ancient vineyards of Seyssuel, just to the north of the old Roman town of Vienne. The role of the founders, Messrs Gaillard, Cuilleron and Villard is now one of benevolent consultancy and today it is winemaker Pascal Lombard who is guiding the style and building the reputation. In the manner of the Sorcerers Apprentice, the off-spring has now out-grown all three of its progenitors, but this does not seem to have had a detrimental effect on quality, particularly with the Domaine wines, the best of which are offered below.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Simon Field MW - Rhône Buyer
Stéphane has come a long way in the 12 years or so that I have known him: he now has two children, an enviable reputation and a construction project to the south of Ampuis which will result in a winery to rival that of Messrs Guigal. He has also been buying land, which is no mean feat in Côte Rôtie. The challenge of 2013 centred on the cool weather in the middle of the season. Very late green harvesting and then a rapid harvest before the rains in October were key. I recall visiting during the harvest and witnessing a maelstrom of carefully choreographed activity, if you will pardon the apparent contradiction. The effort has certainly paid off.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Max Lalondrelle