Maison Ventenac
A touch of pepperiness to the fruit, and more concentrated berry juice, a touch of damson amongst the raspberry. The tannins are grippy but superfine, extending the pure, deep, ripe fruits into the finish. A little touch of grassiness gives away the variety. Very well balanced, very well made, seductive and pure, ripe Cabernet Franc. Age a few bottles if you can - they deserve it.
Maison Ventenac
Deep and inviting nose, with a touch of the herbal and earthy that you might expect from Cab Franc. More red pepper than green though. Medium-bodied, juicy and deep in fruit, very fine though fairly lush tannins and a silky whisp of a finish. Feline and pure.
Maison Ventenac
Beautiful sense of purity to the raspberry fruit, aromatically vibrant. Light to medium-bodied, juicy and positive. Gentle, tight-knit tannins, and very well balanced. Very well made wine, with no green notes, just juicy fruit.
Domaine Fournier Longchamps
Little touch of spicy oak here is a little bit more noticeable than on the other cuvées, but it just adds a little spark of spice and it works well. Precise, focused, fairly light in style but with a little weight on the mid-palate helping it work with food and satisfy in general. Medium length finish. Doesn't quite have the confidence and charisma of the Chamboureau, but is very good.
Domaine Fournier Longchamps
Fresh pear, fresh green apple and a touch of honey on the nose. Decent weight on the palate, a touch of richness and perhaps a tiny hint of residual sugar that helps counteract the bristling acidity. Medium length, well balanced, classic and focused.
Domaine Fournier Longchamps
Very pale green-gold colour. Daffodil and apple skin, very Chenin nose in its most floral guise. Light-bodied, pretty cutting acidity. Focused, gently saline. Not terribly long, lacks a little weight of fruit, but true to type.
Olivier et Lafond
Five-year-old negociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. 100% Clairette. Pale in colour. Medium-bodied, good freshness and drinkability, a fine mineral seam and lifted finish. Touch of citrus pith and almond. Fairly long for a Ventoux. It's fairly simple in fruit, but very well balanced and drinkable. A good rich aperitif option.
Olivier et Lafond
100% Old vine Clairette. Aromatically quite straightforward, with fresh floral notes and dried pear. Medium- to full-bodied, a pleasant gentle bitterness on the finish, good freshness and fruit and a fairly long finish. Broad but not gloopy, well balanced, fresh, good balancing acidity. No overt oak influence or unbalanced alcohol.
Domaine des Tours
Current vintage ex-domaine in late 2018. Taking on a uniform pale, copper-gold colour. Linden, subtle pear skin scent. Full-bodied, with some internal sweetness of fruit and honey flavour, ending dry, mineral, with some aniseed. Fairly long, very well-balanced with a firm acid line. Really interesting wine, classic Rhône Clairette, more one to intrigue than one to love. Absurdly good value at less than £15.
Olivier et Lafond
Five-year-old negociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Good freshness on the nose. Straighter on the palate than the 2017, not so broad. Keener, more focused. Similar phenolic style, still generous, just neater. Deliciously textural, food-friendly style of Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc.