For our first wine tatsting of 2013 we certainly managed to banish the mid-January “Bleus” by sampling some excellent “Blancs et Rouges”

For further info, or to buy these wines, click on any of the pictures below

Here’s what we tasted and what we thought:

First up was Domaine Moulinier Vionier (Langedoc Roussilon)

2010 Domaine Moulinier Vin De Pays d´OC Viognier

Delightfully aromatic:  peach, melon, tropical, exotic fruitiness, “full -mouth” feel, almost oily.

This would go well with seafood, particularly lobster or crab, as well as chicken.

A good buy at £9.99

2011 Sancerre Domaine Des Brosses

 Next we opened the Domaine des Brosses 2011 Sancerre (Loire)

Here was a fairly sophisticated example, comments included, “Restrained, fresh, clean, elderflower, gooseberry, lime. Elegant, good length”

This would work well at either end of a meal – as an aperitif or (as we tried it on the evening) with goat’s cheese.  (Float your goat?) £15 per bottle

2009 Bourgogne Rouge Les Champs d´Argent Jacques Cacheux

2009 Bourgogne Rouge Les Champs d´Argent Jacques Cacheux was the next wine tasted:
“Alcoholic Tunes!
Cherry, red berry fruit, whiff of smoke”

Food matching well with duck, pork, turkey , Spring lamb.

A touch of class at £15.95

2007 Domaine du Grand Ormeau – AOC Lalande de Pomerol

Our next red of the evening was the Domaine du Grand Ormeau Lalande de Pomerol (Bordeux) 2007

Reminiscient of black fruits; plum, damson, liquorice, aromatic, eucalyptus/mint.

Smooth, good length.

Suggested food pairings:  Red meat, baked Camembert, Brie.   £12.95

2009 Crozes Hermitage Signatures Domaine Michelas St Jemms

Fifth of evening’s wines, and our final red of the night was the Domaine Michelas St Jemms Crozes Hermitage (Northern Rhone)

Dense, inky, peppery, someone described this as “a Black Hole of a wine”,  Easy to fall into and hard to escape from.  Best with Hearty Fayre, rich, warm  casseroles for long, cold nights.  Great value; on special offer at only £10.25.  (was £13.50)

We finished with a dessert wine

2008 Chateau Du Grand Dousprat St Croix Du Mont

Chateau du Grand Dousparat St Croix du Mont (Bordeaux)Noble rot concentrates the sugars in these wines; one vine only yields enough to produce a single glass!

Comments were, “Sweet, honeyed, but not sickly, enough acidity”.   The surprise of the evening was how well this went with Stilton, and just £9.99 for a whole, not a half bottle it is an absolute bargain!

Next wine tasting:

Friday, February 8th:  “Big and Powerful Reds” (Click on the link for more info or to reserve your ticket)