It’s an all-France affair today with both the red and white representatives coming from that large wine producing country.
The red is very much a traditional option but there are three sound reasons for selecting it.
- 2022 was a good year for Rhone reds.
- Many basic level wines currently represent great value for money with some producers opting for the “humble” Cȏtes du Rhȏne label despite creating hugely impressive wines.
- Above all, this current crop taste blooming good!
Its companion is less familiar because it is from that rising star region – SW France.
Using local grape varieties, here, they have created excellent sweet wine for us to enjoy.
Such wines go under many people’s radar because they are perceived as old fashioned.
Not so with this beautifully balanced version that is a snip at £6 and a good choice if you are stocking up for Christmas pudding wine.
I hope your taste buds are delighted by them both.
In the usual way, hyperlinks and pictures are used where possible to help you locate the bottle in question.
First a far from “Humble” Rhȏne
2022 Blueprint Cȏtes du Rhȏne (£6.99 at Waitrose and 14% abv):
Waitrose’s Blueprint range seeks to provide typical examples of classic wines at keen prices.
This newcomer to the range successfully does so with a neat, entry-level, grenache and syrah based Rhȏne blend.
Dark coloured and textured, it provides full-bodied cherry, plum and loganberry flavours.
That foundation is enhanced by bold orange peel acidity (but with little tannin) and by hints of cinnamon, chocolate and oregano.
And sweetening things up a bit
2021 Domaine De Lasserre Jurançon (£6.25 for a half bottle – instead of £7.25 until 26 November – at the Co-op and 12% abv):
While Southwest France grabs attention with its impressive dry whites, that region’s sweet wines like this can also generate excitement.
Although they use different grape varieties (petit manseng and gros manseng) the results stand comparison with basic level Sauternes.
Golden and aromatic, this example provides soft, but intense, baked apple and passion fruit flavours.
Those components sit within a honey-based richness that is neatly counterbalanced by evolving lemon curd acidity.
See you again on Thursday when I run a rule over the latest Lidl Wine Tour
15 responses
Hi Brian
I must try the Rhône red and a few other 2022 vintage by the sound of it. Have tried several of the Blueprint range and have never been disappointed especially liked their white burgundy which is a little more expensive. We tried the Weinhous Sauvignon Blanc Kalkstein that you featured a few weeks ago, a really enjoyable drop with some quite complex flavours making a nice change from our usual New Zealand SBs and one we will be buying again.
Glad to hear that the Sauvignon hit the spot for you, Barry. As you say, it reveals a different (and very pleasant) face of the grape variety. That White Burgundy is another star and handily also comes in half bottles. A roughly 175ml measure for two people – just perfect!
Just picking up on Brian’s previous mention of the relationship between French and Argentinian Malbec.
Anyone who wants a deep and entertaining dive into this topic,I thoroughly recommend the website http://www.malbecandfriends.co.U.K. and then search for the “History of Malbec, Argentina’s flagship grape” by Pablo Lacoste.
Entwined is the mystery of La Rochelle ,the Cahorsins and how Cahors wine was kept flowing to England.It was no surprise when Savary de Cahors was made Major of La Rochelle in 1251.
Which brings me onto my second recommendation; Alexandre Dumas “ The Three Musketeers” which involves the siege of La Rochelle.
Please read the novel and be astonished at how little derring-do,action,swordplay and musket firing is in the book.
This is basically a book steeped in wine.The three heroes are reluctantly prised out of wine cellars,spend much time trying to drink each other under the table.Aramis is a world class wino.They are often confined to barracks for rowdy behaviour.Wine is also used to treat sword and musket wounds.
Then Milady in resolute revenge sends D’Artagnan 12 poisoned bottles of his favourite Anjou wine,all because he saw a fleur-de-lys on her naked shoulder.Unusually a colleague gets to the wine first,dies and the Musketeers are saved.
Did you know that there are 21 different wines in the book?
The famous quote “All for one and one for all” could easily have referenced their prodigious wine consumption.
Morning Brian …
Unfortunately not having Waitrose in this locale I’ll have to pass on your today C-du-R recommendation, that sounds to be rather nice. Maybe a bottle when I’m next south of here. Such a good price!
You did tell us recently that 2022 had been a good vintage for such reds when I mentioned the Tesco Palais St Vigny Côtes-Du-Rhône priced at £5.45, labelled 2023. I bought several bottles having seen it recommended elsewhere (The Observer??) and of its type is certainly worth that ultra-affordable money.
I drink GSM cuvées but wouldn’t say that they were my particular favourites in the world of French wine. But generally prices are attractive and they do well enough with food. Lidl France have in the past often offered them as low as €2 to €3!! But we have to be shopping over there to take advantage of those prices.
Prescient is an email just in from TWS advising of availability of an E Guigal C-du-R offering at £11.99; a 2021. Lots of enthusiastic chatter for that producer … so maybe …soon …
Already have a TWS delivery due tomorrow that features amongst several what I hope will be as gem-like as that Domaine Perdiguier, Cuvée d’en Auger, Coteaux d’Ensérune 2022 the Languedoc Cabernet/Merlot blend I got out of bond … and unfortunately all sold now. This time a white from Trentino in Veneto Ribolla Gialla Friuli Cantine Puiatti 2023 that sounds very tasty, and new grape to me.
Best as ever Brian …
Liking the sound of the Coop sweetie, will see if it’s available closeby. SW France is a great source for sweet wines and I also like them with foie gras/ pâté
I must admit those Blueprint wines are such good value and I don’t think I’ve disliked any of them, and I’ve probably tried them all now. That Rhone blend is particularly good and at £6.99 you can’t go wrong. I’m not a big Bordeaux fan but the Blueprint Claret is ok for everyday drinking and they do it in half bottles, think it’s £3.99.
I do like a sweety, but my problem is the bottle rarely gets finished as most of my family don’t really drink it and for me it’s usually with cheese etc or pudding (and I don’t eat a lot of desserts)
I’ve been following the Lasserre Jurançon moëĺleux’s since 2016 and found them superb value, though not always easy to track down, given the the rather independent and idiosyncratic nature of the various regional Co-op societies around the British Isles!
They give even mid-range Sauternes a very good run for their money, and pair wonderfully with Roquefort, patés and light fruit desserts. A bit of bottle-age enhances their honeyed complexity and it’s definitely worth laying down a few for future enjoyment 🙂
Welcome aboard the Comments Section, Patrick – good to have you along. I wholeheartedly agree that (despite the different grape varieties) those wines do give sauternes a run for their money. As you say, though, the Co-op structure does make it unpredictable where many of their wines are likely to appear – and at what price. Further up the page, Lisa hints at the same problem.
Hi Brian – relatively recent reader and first time commenter, keep up the excellent work!
I spent a week in les pays Basque about 10 years ago (St Jean de Luz) and we mostly drank dry Jurancon, which went very well with the many cod dishes we ate. I’m always on the lookout for any in this country but it seems vanishingly rare – I think I found some in Lidl/Aldi about 5 years ago, but that’s all! Maybe something to keep an eye out for?
Hello NeilW …. St Jean de Luz eh? Such a pleasant town to stroll around in with that French Basque appeal it has! Anyway, we have a grapevine here … sorry for that pun … and folks will pop up to help Brian out with their own knowledge.
Sainsbury’s, if you have easy access to a store, do have a Taste The Difference Jurancon Sec at £9 that right now if you bought a 3 bottle TTD deal that white would come in at £6.75. An affordable price for a bottle I enjoy myself. Might even in the distant past have featured here on MWW?
Good wine hunting
Hi NeilW,
The Wine Society do a Jurançon Sec Chant des Vignes, Domaine Cauhapé 2021 at £12.50. I have drunk this in half bottle size, which they do at a remarkable £6.25, i.e. exactly half the full bottle price! Of course you do have to be a member to buy it – and hence join about 100% of all wine professionals, and many amateurs on this site!
Me again NeilW …..
If you go to the top of the page here where it says VIEW OR SEARCH ALL REVIEWS and put Jurancon Sec or May 27th this year into the search box it will bring up Brian’s recommendation for the Sainsbury’s bottle I mention and my email comment first on the list. A wee goldmine of information is this MWW blog, and all for free!! Best again …
Thanks for picking that up Eddie. The wine name does not show up well on Desktop version but just hover your mouse over the gap.
Here are some hard facts about the costs of the new alcohol duty regime from Feb 2025.
I did previously write that the alcohol duty went up in increments of 0.1 % and whilst that it is mathematically true,in practice,the alcohol duty is levied in 0.5 increments.
So there are five headings ,first is alcohol level, then August 23 to Jan 25 is the second number,then the third is from 1st Feb 25 split into UK duty and the fourth is including VAT and finally the fifth is the percentage increase in an 18 month period.
Still here?
15% abv,£3.21,£3.33 and £4, 49% increase.
13% abv £2.67,£2.87 and £3.44, 29% increase
11% abv 2.35,£2.44 and £2.93, 9% increase
Remember VAT is added to the wine AND the alcohol duty.Graph was courtesy of Graham Quinney.
Apparently since this regime was thought up by Rishi Sunak and continued by Labour and is causing the big wine industry boys to reduce alcohol levels in well known brands,these are now called by some wags as Rishi Washi wines
Correction.
It is Gavin Quinney not Graham Quinney.