Jonathan Ray Jonathan Ray

Wine Club 30 September

I love Picpoul de Pinet; I mean we all do, right? It’s the quintessence of easy, affable drinking and I’ve not met a Picpoul more easy or affable than the 2016 Racine Picpoul de Pinet (1), produced by Bruno Lafon and François Chamboissier, the Burgundian/Bordelais pair behind Diva Sud, a collection of great-value wines from the Rhône, Languedoc and Provence. Their Picpoul is spot on: fresh, lively and light–bodied with excellent acidity, fine concentration of fruit and — hooray! — an easy-access screwcap. Don’t overanalyse it, just bask in its tasty simplicity. £9.75 down from £11.50.

The 2015 Domaine Mourchon ‘La Source’ Côtes du Rhône Blanc (2) is an old favourite of mine. I love white Rhônes; they’re really rather rare and are ideal for members of the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) gang. This scrumptious example is a blend of Bourboulenc, Clairette, Roussanne and Viognier — not that you would know it thanks to the characteristically French lack of info on the back label. What am I talking about? It doesn’t even have a back label. Typical. Anyway, gripes apart, it’s a cracking wine with delicate hints of baked apple, peaches, apricots and a long creamy finish and, with £2.50 knocked off the RRP, it’s a cracking price. £12.75 down from £15.25.

The 2015 Montagny 1er Cru Chaniots, Les Vignerons de Buxy (3) is a gratifyingly grown-up white burgundy made by the Vignerons de Buxy, a tip-top co-operative that makes wines of legendary quality. I reckon you’d be hard pressed to find a better Montagny for the price (especially since our hosts for this offer, Mr. Wheeler, have snipped a full £3.25 off the RRP). It’s soft, smooth, supple and creamily textured, with peaches and pears and a touch of vanilla on the palate.

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