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 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 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.


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.


Olivier et Lafond

Five-year-old negociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Pale in colour. Very much pear in aroma, touch of pear drop, fairly straightforward nose. Fairly full-bodied, broad and flowing, with adequate acidity and a phenolic aspect. Dry, voluptuous on the mid-palate, really came into its own with food. Nicely done - good concentration, slightly warming alcohol. Fairly long, quite textural style - soft and silky.


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.