Chateau Romanin Les Baux de Provence 2004

Chateau Romanin Les Baux de Provence 2004 is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carbernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre, and as expected it is a deep colour with only some garnet to interrupt its ruby core ( this is a wine with some age - more garnet would have been expected), the beautiful rich aromas of dark cherry, milk chocolate and some dried fruits ( currant and sultana) hint at its age and quality.
On the palate the wine is dry but with abundant dark fruits and a minty dried fruit edge, the tannins are drying and gripping with a gum coating quality - and this was not expected in this age of wine - once more showing its ageability! The length was long and had a sweet dried fruit finish.
Château Romanin is located on the northern slope of the Alpilles, the mountain bordering the Mediterranean in Provence. There are some 58 hectares of vineyards on the property, made up of the usual southern French red and white varieties. It’s been certified biodynamic (with Demeter) since 1998.
A quality wine with much to offer, the price is £20.50 from Nicolas.
Score : 95

Béret Frog 2011 Rouge IGP Provence, France

Béret Frog 2011 Rouge IGP from Provence, France is a biodynamic red wine made by Jean-Pierre and Natalie Margan at Château la Canorgue ( where the film 'A good Year' was filmed ) and is a Vin de Pays de Mediterrannée. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and a splash of Grenache and the yield is a mere 30-35 hl/ha ( by comparison to the norm for this area of 60+hl/ha), and aromas of red and black berry fruits are in abundance along with coffee, milk chocolate and roses with a touch of vanilla. The deep ruby core has purple tints which hint at its youthfulness.The wines mature for 4 to 6 months in large wooden casks which allow very little wood aromas and flavours to be transferred to the wine.
On tasting it, the ripe fruits are apparent as are the stalky tannins which have a gripping texture, a medium length of warm ripe dark fruits finishes this tasting and leaves one wanting more.
The wine can be found at Yapp Brothers at a cost of £7.95 and offers good value I feel for a well made wine at this price point.
Score : 85

Stephane Tissot Arbois Traminer 2007 Jura

Stephane Tissot Arbois Traminer 2007 Jura is a wine that is made in fact from Savagnin grape which is grown throughout the Jura, here it is grown biodynamically (started in 2004), it is most often used for vin Jaune. To call it by its Traminer name is more of an International statement.  It is a lovely gold colour that invites you in, the aromas of white stone fruits and creamy / cheese ( implies lees contact) also make you want to go further! It is dry, lemon, apple and spice are the first flavours that hit you, then waves of oak and cheese, the length is good with an apple mineral finish

Domaine Gilles Berlioz Chignon Vin de Savoie 2010

Chignon Vin de Savoie 2010 is a Biodynamically made blended wine from the Jacquere grape along with Chardonnay and Mondeuse ( a very important Savoie Red variety) in the Savoie region of Eastern France made by Domaine Gilles Berlioz. This is not a particularly aromatic wine but there were slight aromas of apple, pear and stone fruits, on the palate flavours of apple, lemon and baked fruits, good acidity and simple, single dimension flavour array and the alcohol does not interrupt this wines character ( 11.5%), the length was short and had a crisp lemon finish. Overall my feelings on this wine are that it is a simple, clean, crisp aperitif wine that has alot of the Savoie in it - cool region wines that have not been tampered with. This wine is supplied by the Wine Society - £10.95

Vin de Savoie-Ayse Gringet 'Les Alpes' 2010

Domaine Belluard produces Vin de Savoie-Ayse Gringet 'Les Alpes' 2010 in Ayes using the grape Gringet ( which is an unusual grape to use in a varietal still wine ) in the beautiful Savoie region of France, he converted to Biodynamics in 2001and after trying wooden barrels and steel tanks and being disappointed with the results, he switched (at a considerable cost) to concrete eggs, because he felt that the controlled aeration they allowed yielded the best results. The actual vineyard 'Les Alpes' is a south-facing vineyard at 450 meters with glacial moraine, limestone and clay soils which have some iron content.









Shown here are the Egg fermenters used by Belluard , these are also used in Sancerre and Chablis.

The wine itself is quite deep lemon / gold, its fresh young aromas are of stone fruit and apple, there is minerality hovering in the background. On tasting it - fresh, clean, meyer lemon and a zesty finish. The acidity keeps the fruit wrapped in freshness and there is a steeliness to this wine that feels taut with energy and briskness. A great aperitif!

Supplied by Caves de Pyrene at a cost of £18.49

Domaine Josmeyer Pinot Blanc 2009 Alsace, France

Domaine Josmeyer was founded in 1854 by Aloyse Meyer, whose grandson Jean Meyer now manages the domaine. Situated in the village of Wintzenheim, just west of Colmar, the domaine has 25 hectares of vineyards scattered across nearby villages. Pinot Blanc is often thought of as the Alsace workhorse, but if the yields are restricted and the winemaking careful - can produce a full bodied concentrated wine.
Alsace is a dry region of France due to its location and protection from the Vosges mountains, it also often has long warm autumns, these two factors mean that cultivating without the use of many chemicals is not as difficult as in some marginal regions of France where there is a higher rainfall and less late-season sun! Biodynamic production is also very popular here, and this is grown under these conditions, they respect the earth and have visibly watched their vineyard health improve by eliminating agrochemicals.
This wine has a good depth of colour - gold/lemon with aromatics are of apricot through to gala apples with a hint of pear drops and yeast. The first taste indicates some residual fruit sugar and a slight spritz - but the finish is dry, the frisky acidity balances the sweet start and the flavours of ripe red apples and apricots has a crushed apple finish that is crisp, clean and dry to the end.
Suppliers of this wine are Berry Bros and Rudd at a price of £14.95.

Domaine Pierre Frick Chasselas 2009, Alsace France

Domaine Pierre Frick Chasselas 2009 a wine from Alsace in France and unlike many French wines it shows the grape variety - this is quite typical in this region of east France. The wine wass supplied by Caves de Pyrene at a cost of £10.50. This Cave supplies alot of Natural wines and called Vin Naturel which are often organic. Alsace is a dry region of France due to its location and protection from the Vosges mountains, it also often has long warm autumns, these two factors mean that cultivating without the use of many chemicals is not as difficult as in some marginal regions of France where ther is higher rainfall and less late season sun! Biodynamic production is also very popular here, and this is grown under these conditions, in addition no sulphur is used.
Generally alot of the terminology used in Alsace is Germanic, and when examining the history of the region you can see at various points Alsace has been under German rule, and even now the wines are considered to be German with a French twist, or put another way - sweet with a dry finish! 90% of the grapes are white grapes and produce 90% white wine of which about 70% is still white, and the remaining 20% is sparking Cremant.
Chasselas ( pronounced Chass -la) is a grape that is believed to be Swiss in origin but now also grown in France ( Alsace and Loire) as well as Portugal, New Zealand, Germany and Hungary.
The wine is medium gold in colour and when swirled no legs are apparent. Wow is it aromatic - volatile grape and apricot aromas as well as florality, touch of galia melon and slightly cidery appley - and it draws you in.
This is a fresh wine with keen acidity and great fruit expression including green and ripe red apples and apricots followed by a yeasty finish, It is vivacious and fresh - a lovely wine to have as an aperitif! The highly reputable Caves de Pyrene are the suppliers of this wine at £10.50.