Languedoc-Roussillon

• Minervois

This one comes in a unique shaped bottle.  It is drinking quite well today and should easily last for five more years.  Ruby/purple, clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first.  With air, some black raspberries and raspberries come out.  Also some floral qualities and some spice.  On the palate, this has nice black raspberry fruit.  Slight leather.  Medium tannins.  A bit dusty underneath.  Good finish.  Very food friendly.  At around $15, this is a very nice value.  

A disappointing showing for this wine.  Ruby in color, flat.  The nose has some cedar and a bit of red currants.  On the palate, there is some fruit but it is disjointed and seems cloying.  At the same time the acidity is out of balance and harsh.  Very tart on the finish.  The flat appearance for such a young wine makes me wonder if this was indeed a proper bottle or it was mishandled somewhere along the distribution chain.  It retails for around $20 and should be better.  

Consistently one of the great wine values, year in and year out.  This retails for $10.  Light golden in color with some green swirls.  The nose has nice minerality, slight melon and citrus.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  A slightly bitter citrus pith note which is nice, but also some melon and underlying minerality.  Easy.  Not complex but not nothing either.  Good balance.  Works with lighter and medium weight foods and on its own.  Drink them young as while the wine is still good after a few years, the freshness fades.  

A collaboration between Gérard Bertrand, and Jon and Jesse Bon Jovi.  HW Wine Company is essentially a company that commissioned this wine to be made in France to celebrate the good life.  Light salmon pink in color.  The nose is all about watermelon and strawberries.  It has a nice texture.  Nice acidity.  This wine is really all about summer fruit.  Not a lot of depth or complexity but tasty and easy drinking.  While it is probably made as a summer sipper it went well with a summery watermelon salad. Fun wine.  

This is a joint project from two successful winemakers from other parts of France.  It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignane according to the web site.  This was really good and for $9 a screaming value.  It is a fruity wine and drinking quite well right now.  Perfect for this summers BBQ's and parties.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is slightly earthy with black raspberries and a slight pine note which was enjoyable.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Black raspberries and black licorice underneath.  Bright fruit.  There is even some upside with this wine over the

This is an under $20 easy drinking wine from the south of France.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, some leather and slight violets.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  Works well with food.  Nice black raspberry fruit.  Not a lot of fruit nor complexity, but works nicely as a package.  Drink sooner than later.  

Another inexpensive, relatively easy bottle to find of very nice wine.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some cherries, a bit of leather and earth.  On the palate, this has nice black raspberry fruit.  A bit of earthiness to it.  Easy drinking.  Enough acidity to carry food.  Long finish.  Available for under $15, its a very nice bottle.  Should last a few years.  I suspect the 2015 and 2016 vintage will be even better.  

My first time that I recall trying the Chatus grape.  It is very interesting.  Not too dismilar from Cinsault.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, dust and cranberries.  On the palate, this is deep with a nice complexity.  Tart cranberries and some cherries on the palate.  This really worked better with food.  A fun wine and a very good wine as well.  

A very nice value in sparkling wine.  This is a blend of Chardonnay (70%), Chenin (20%) and Pinot Noir (10%).  Pink in color.  A nice mousse of medium sized bubbles.  On the nose a bit of strawberries and a bit or orange peel.  On the palate, orange peel including a bit of bitterness along with some orange citrus.  Slight strawberry note.  This is a fun aprkler with enough acidity to work at the table.  Good finish.  

A blend of Syrah, Carignane and Grenache.  I could find no vintage designation on the label (so its probably there in extra large font ;-) )  A very nice value wine.  Purple in color.  Black raspberries, pepper, cherries and plums.  Also some spice.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Very tasty.  Easy drinking.  Some complexity as well.  Good finish.  Nice value but more than that.