Le Froglet Shiraz 2011 France

Le Froglet Shiraz 2011 is a wine that falls under the new designation of Vin de France ( Vin de Table with no Geographic Indication!). It is a new category which has to be made in France ( anywhere and may have mixed grapes from different regions) and can have the variety on the label. It is a way that France sees that it can compete on the wider stage of the New World competative market. This wine actually comes from the Languedoc - but do the grapes?
It is also worth a mention that the label calls the grape Shiraz, not Syrah ( the same grape of course but named differently in the New World) once more an indication that large French brands have realised that the wine buying public shop by grape 'brand', and Shiraz is one they will recognise, would Syrah have the same impact?
This is a young wine with a ruby core and purple rim, the nose and palate have baked black and red fruits and an earthiness that has an elegance not expected in this wine, the sweet fruits have ripe soft tannins and the wine is for immediate drinking, the finish is quite short with sweet black fruits intermingled with spice and is pleasant. The acidity of the wine lacks umph - so the wine itself feels slack and flabby - but not to such an extent that it is unpalitable. At £6.49 from M&S - good value.

Score ; 82 ( it would have been 87 if the finish had been longer with more concentrated fruits)

Le Petit Froglet Rosé 2011 France

Le Petit Froglet Rosé 2011 is a wine that can use grapes from anywhere in France as it has the new designation of Vin de France  ( Vin de Table with no Geographic Indication!).  It is a new category which has to be made in France ( anywhere and may have mixed grapes from different region) and can have the variety on the label. It is a way that France sees that it can compete on the wider stage of the New World competative market. 
This wine was made by Cedric Jenin and is pink - pretty as a picture! It lacks strong aromas, but those that there are are rhubarb, raspberry and strawberry, the taste is dry to off-dry and the flavour is strawberry, candide pith but again lacks intensity! The length is OK, but pithy and a hint of strawberry! M&S supply this wine at a cost of £6.49 which is reasonable value, but not outstanding - but one point of note is the alcohol level, it is only 9.5%, so bonus!
Score : 85

Chez Pierre Blanc 2011 France M&S

Chez Pierre Blanc 2011 is a wine that falls under the new designation of Vin de France ( Vin de Table with no Geographic Indication!) It is a new category which has to be made in France ( anywhere and may have mixed grapes from different region) and can have the variety on the label. It is a way that France sees that it can compete on the wider stage of the New World competative market.
It is supplied by M&S at £5.99 is a blend of 65% Ugni Blanc, 20% Colombard, 10% Gros Manseng and 5% Chardonnay , all this comes in at 11.5% abv. This wine has seen no oak so is fresh, bright and fruity, and this is obvious on both looking at the wine and on the nose, low aromas of pear, apricot, green apple, and honeysuckle with a hint of pea shoots, on the palate this is dry, with tangy acidity and flavours echoed what is on the nose, the length is quite short with a lemony finish. This is a fresh simple wine that lacks real complexity, it has been produced in large volumes and won a bronze at the IWSC .
Score : 80

La Ramade Rosé 2010 Côtes de Provence France

La Ramade Rosé 2010 Côtes de Provence France is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grown traditionally on Bush vines with some trellising and there is minimium intervention of the growing system ( soil, chemicals etc), and made by Laurent Bunan. Pale salmon core welcomes you into this wine and creamy floral aromas and cooked nectarine with a touch of tangerine, all this is echoed on the palate with a hint of saltiness, carried through to the finish which is primarily tangerine and rose.
A lovely wine supplied by M&S at a price of £9.99 a bottle.
Score : 87

Alsace Riesling 2011 M&S Cave de Turkheim

Alsace Riesling 2011 made for  M&S by the Cave de Turkheim is a very well priced wine at £8.99, and on tasting it I was a little let down by its quality, it feels a little flat or lacking in concentration of flavours, it is dry with medium acidity, flavours of lemon, apple and a little minerality are apparent,  echoed from the aromas which again are not intense. The length is not long and has a dry finish.  Overall I feel deflated, this could have been a concentrated riesling with zing and polish, but maybe due to high yields or poor vineyard care or even lack of care in the making - this comes over as a generic wine with little to offer - what a shame. It is young - but will it gain in complexity - we will have to wait and see, maybe this could be its saviour.