【Pre-order Special】12 bottles of Year of the Snake Cabalié for just $1,388, plus you'll receive 3 extra bottles and two engraved glasses (view details)
Vines have been planted in this very southerly part of the Rhône since Roman times. They certainly knew a thing or two about making wine, so it’s safe to bet that this terroir is spot on for great wine! Typically, when you think of the Rhône you think of Syrah and Grenache. But award-winning winemaker Thierry Ferlay has shown that, in fact, Bordeaux's Merlot ripens perfectly in his local vineyards, not far from Châteauneuf.
Using old-vine fruit for extra intensity, he has created a silky red with plum and blackberry notes and a hint of pepper and liquorice. Easy going and fruity, it makes a delicious glassful on its own as well as a great stand by for mid-week suppers from sausages to shepherd's pie. A top choice for a barbecue too.
Château Gigault was acquired in 1998 by Christophe Reboul, who had purchased Blaye's Château Les Maréchaux the year before. He immediately employed Stéphane Derenoncourt, who makes wine at some of Saint-Emilion’s greatest estates (La Mondotte, Canon La Gaffelière and Pavie Macquin), as consultant winemaker.
The château releases two wines – a traditionally made claret and this, their no-expense-spared Cuvée Viva, named after Reboul's late daughter. Critic Robert Parker described it as “consistently one of my picks as an overachieving wine”, while James Suckling considers it "excellent value". Hand-picked, low-yield Merlot aged in new oak, this is a rich, velvety, well-structured claret. Decant for an hour before serving. Ideal with lamb.
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'Vertiges' translates as 'fear of heights'. Apt for a wine made from grapes gathered on precipitous slopes by Peyrepertuse Castle. 500m above sea level on a ragged Pyrenean peak, the vines produce a wine with luscious, ripe, silky flavour.
From a family property, now run by the 9th generation, this 2016 offers exceptional value. A great vintage, lovely depth and ripeness to the low-yield fruit, with up to 18 months in barrel, this is a velvety, deep Bordeaux red.
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Fluette is just that - a lovely fluid glass of lush, easy berry fruit that slips down wonderfully easily. At 12% it's no heavyweight. More like pure charm using Beaujolais's treasured Gamay grape. This one, however, is from SW France.
Rich, ripe, finely crafted Médoc made in a truly accessible style – ready now yet with the structure for ageing. Merlot with a little Cabernet, from superbly positioned vineyards, this Bordeaux has dense cassis with a full creamy edge of oak.
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Hervé Sabardeil has turned his sumptuous, seductive red into a sparkling wine. The style's been a hit in Australia for years but rarely seen in France. Still sinfully delicious, this new release is heightened by the added fizz.
There are documents showing that wine was made at this beautiful property as early as 1172, when it belonged to Ermengarde, Countess of Narbonne. We don’t know the exact style and quality then, but today it is exemplary – Corbières at its sensuous best! The estate has been in the same family now since 1803 – seven generations of women and now Guillaume Allien, the eighth generation. Despite being in his final year as a medical student, Guillaume gave it all up to restore the family estate and learn winemaking.
He works with consultant Gilles Dejean to make this luscious, dark-fruited red, which speaks clearly of its stony soils, the herbal-scented garrigue and its Corbières provenance. A warming red that’s perfect for a rich casserole.
