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.
Olivier et Lafond
Full, sweetly fruited, rounded, more concentrated and generous than their standard Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with more length of fruit. Damson, touch of garrigue herbs and sage. Nice sense of purity and freshness. Tannins are soft, malleable, and just ample enough to bring freshness. Convincing.
Olivier et Lafond
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
A blend of 5 different varieties originating from 5 different terroirs and two different vintages, mostly very old vines. Deeply coloured. Deep black cherry scents, dense and fresh. Full-bodied, intense concentration and good freshness, tight tannins, well balanced. Good length of fruit, very black cherry on the palate too. Would put it in Lirac, or perhaps Vacqueyras - between the two in style, with a hint of Ventoux. Good structure.
Olivier et Lafond
Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Violets and plum fruit on the nose, good sense of ripeness, almost sweet core to the fruit. A little on the heady side, alcohol is a little high. Good, fairly straightforward style with discernible Gigondas character.
Olivier et Lafond
Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Medium-bodied, with fairly intense acidity, well tapered, with warming alcohol on the finish. Fine, soft tannins - a little loose in structure. Good intensity, but a little heavy - alcohol a little too high for comfort. Elegant, but not the most complex.
Olivier et Lafond
Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Victoria plum with some darker, brambly fruit. Medium-bodied, pretty powerful acidity and tight tannins - a structured Côtes-du-Rhône with warming alcohol on the finish. Good breadth of juicy, ripe fruit on the mid-palate. Good concentration.
Domaine Gourt de Mautens
Already aromatically open and expressive, with black pepper and juniper married with liquorice, raspberry, plum and garrigue herbs. It's full-bodied, but so lively and expressive, with keen, firm acidity, a fairly grand tannic structure and a powerful, grippy finish. Long, powerful, assertive. Very well-balanced, very fine in tannin and structure, powerful and vibrant. The alcohol is of course towards the punchy, but it doesn't taste unbalanced. Just outrageously good.