Hey you there on your sun lounger! Take a gander at this summer sale, courtesy of our chums at FromVineyardsDirect. These are extremely toothsome bin-ends and overstocks at pre-duty increase prices. I’ve tasted them, rejected the also-rans and beaten FVD down on price as much as I can. There are some cracking mystery cases included too.
First the whites. 2020 Rive Droite, Rive Gauche (1) has often featured in these pages – a creamy, peachy Viognier-based white Côtes du Rhône that never fails to please. £10.95 down from £12.75. The 2022 Racine Picpoul de Pinet (2) is another crowd-pleaser and as decent a Picpoul as you’ll find. Fresh, creamy and lemony, it’s spot on as a lively aperitif. £12.95 down from £14.95.
Here are extremely toothsome bin-ends and overstocks along with some cracking mystery cases
The 2019 Les Jardiniers (3) is another white Rhône of great style made entirely from Roussanne by Alexander Sichel at the estate in France’s deep south-west founded by his grandfather, the mighty Peter Sichel of Bordeaux fame. £13.95 down from £15.95. The 2021 Domaine de la Motte Beauroy
Chablis 1er Cru (4) is seriously classy Chablis which, while initially austere and reserved, soon develops into something more giving and textured thanks to time in the barrel. £21.95 down from £24.95.
The Negrel family have produced fine Provençal rosé for more than 200 years and the 2022 Nuit Blanche Rosé (5) is a little charmer – pale pink, light, delicate and deeply refreshing. £12.95 down from £14.95.
Onto the reds. The 2021 La Pierre du Diable (6), a Grenache/Syrah blend from Ventoux, is simple fare but full of juicy dark fruit with a savoury twist. An ideal summer house red at £9.45 down from £10.95. The 2021 Rhonéa Séguret ‘Terrasse Pavée’ Côtes du Rhône Villages (7) is one of the wines of the offer, a Grenache/Mourvèdre-based blend with deliciously spicy, mellow dark fruit and a long finish. £10.45 down from £12.45.
The 2021 Racine Pinot Noir (8) from the Pays d’Oc is light, fresh and easygoing. It doesn’t have depth but it does have charm and it slips down easily, especially lightly chilled. £11.95 down from £13.95. The 2009 Ch. Perron (9) is a brilliant Cab Sauv/Merlot/Cab Franc blend from the Guignard brothers in the Graves. From a first-rate vintage, it’s fully mature and, once decanted, shows what great value the so-called petit châteaux of Bordeaux can be. £16.95 down from £18.95.
The 2016 Ch. Marjosse (10) from Pierre Lurton Chx Cheval Blanc and Yquem is another Bordeaux bargain from a 10/10 vintage. Intense and concentrated, it’s also soft, smooth and surprisingly fresh. A testament to impeccable winemaking. £14.95 down from £16.95. The 2015 Ch. Tour Bayard ‘L’Angelot’ (11) is a big, bold red made almost entirely from old vine Malbec in Montagne St-Emilion. Rich and dense, it’s a massive wine with hints of violets, cassis, pepper and spice. £26.95 down from £30.95.
Finally, a glorious example of Châteauneuf-du-Pape: the 2017 Domaine Le Jas des Papes (12). A multi-grape blend based on Grenache, it’s juicy, jammy, fresh and spicy with ripe dark fruit and a touch of liquorice. If you like serious Rhône, you’ll love this. £27.45 down from £29.95.
And so to the mystery cases, which are mainly a mix of Bordeaux (including FVD’s fabled ‘defrocked’ clarets), Burgundy, Rhône with a sprinkling of New World; some with stains/nicks on the labels, some pristine, and incredible value given that each box contains a guaranteed £200 worth of vino for just £149 a dozen. There are red and mixed options and a money back guarantee if you don’t like anything. Delivery, as ever, is free.
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