I’m a bit vanilla when it comes to wines. It’s not that I mind trying new things, I really don’t, but I can be overwhelmed when faced with a wine list and I have my go-to favourites. Argentinian Malbec for one, Carmere for another, Riesling, Gerwurtztraminer or a nicely oaked Chardonnay.
So many times I’ve picked something else and it’s been a bit a disappointment. It’s let me down, and I can’t bear it if my date pulls that face – they’re not enamoured, and I feel bad for the rest of the meal.
Please tell me it’s not just me?
So, I make a real effort when opportunities come up to try new stuff. So that I don’t end up selecting the same thing every time. And this is where I confessed to the organisers of this tasting. I don’t really know anything about Cotes du Rhone wines. I can count the facts I know about them on one hand.
1. They’re French, so ‘Old World’.
2. They’re relatively tannic, which means they need a little air first otherwise you get that ‘squeaky teeth’ feeling. (As I discovered after sampling these over the course of a week, 24 even 48 hours can make a huge difference).
3. Aside from Syrah and Grenache, you’re not likely to know many of the grape varieties used, they’re not common names.
And that’s about it. So being asked to take part in a hangout at home one evening, sampling six bottles of wine, not only sounded like a fun way to spend a night, but also a great way to learn stuff. So armed with a map, a bottle opener, 6 glasses and six bottles of wine, I, Mr GFB in the background, and a bunch of other bloggers, wine fans and writers, settled in.
You can see how we got on here – Mr GFB is just off screen and you see me handing him glasses periodically:
I was pretty quiet for me, all told. Shocking, right? I was trying to learn from the other more knowledgeable drinkers on the hangout, and their comments concerning the wines were fascinating. There was a bit of a divide on organic and biodynamic wines, and I was pleased to note that I can actually taste the difference – there’s a certain musty, powdery, almost violet taste to those that have been treated in a more natural manner.
So that you can try the wines for yourself, I’ve popped their details and my notes below.
La Chasse Reserve (Sainsbury’s £8)
Quite strong tannins in this one, though it improved after being left open for a good few hours. Lots of redcurrants and berries, a touch of vanilla, but we all felt it was definitely a food wine, one for a roast dinner or a big cheese platter, or slices of salami. A good lazy afternoon wine. Bit of a bargain.
Delas Freres St Esprit (Majestic £9.99)
The colour of this was beautiful, rich and plummy, and it felt like this was a little heavier – darker fruits coming through rather than the lighter berries, hints of violets popping through. The tannins were still strong, but much softer than the previous wine and I felt that the extra £2 spend was well worth it.
Domaine Arnaud Chaume (Berry Brothers & Rudd £12.25)
One of my favourites of the evening, the tannins added more mouth texture, making it velvety and there were more hints of black cherries and vanilla with a nice spicy kick. This was also biodynamic, so there was that added hint of powdery violet at the roof of the mouth.
Le Clos du Caillou (H2Vin £16.75)
Whereas the other wines had been quite big and bold, this was, well, pretty. Think strawberries, overripe cherries, the tannins were softer, but I still couldn’t think of this as anything other than pretty – think Charlotte from Sex in the City.
Sainte-Agathe, Domaine Georges Vernay (Berry Brothers & Rudd £19.95)
By contrast, this was much more powerful – still refined, still structured, but there’s weight behind it. Herbacious, rosemary and hints of violets again, but with black pepper, a hint of smoky bacon, and an oilier mouthfeel. I rather loved this one.
Coudoulet de Beaucastle (The Little Big Wine Company £16.63)
Our final wine, ended with lots of fruit and flowers – blueberries, raspberries and rosehips and lavender. Again herbacious, but not as intense as the previous wine. After some time open, the softened further and this had more florals to offer.
I now feel a little less scared of Cotes du Rhone wines – I might even select one from the wine menu.
Maybe.
With thanks to the organisers, the wines sampled in this tasting were received free of charge.