90 – Matt Walls Wine Blog

Maison Ventenac

Matt — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 10:13:35 +0000

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

Matt — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 20:01:02 +0000

Pale, pure and pretty – light and amiable if no great depth or concentration to the flavour, but that’s not really the point here. It’s not more complex than a flower, and doesn’t need to be – the palate is perfectly balanced and it’s a real pleasure to drink.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:58:25 +0000

A little Cinsault in the blend here too, all destemmed. Gentle, detailed berry fruits. Only medium-bodied, lovely sense of freshness, with a tight tannic frame and good sense of tension. Not terribly concentrated but well-handled for the vintage. Early drinking, with much pleasure. No overt oak – no oak apparent. Alcohol just a little raised, but very drinkable nonetheless.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:48:16 +0000

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

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:38:57 +0000

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.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 15:32:06 +0000

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.

Marrenon

Matt — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 12:10:24 +0000

3rd vintage of this cuvée, 15-year-old vines on gravelly soils, 95% Syrah, 5% Grenache. High-toned style, fresh and detailed, liquorice and blackberry. Medium-bodied, with incisive acidity and tight tannins. Detailed, good sense of tension, concentrated and spicy.