Pocket Vintages - Wine Information and Reviews

Chateau Recougne Bordeaux 2010

One of the best value Grand Vin de Bordeaux around right now, and one of the wines regularly supplied by my local wine merchant as an entry level Bordeaux wine, costing about $13 a bottle.

This red bordeaux blend is 78% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and the heavy predominence of Merlot makes it a smooth drinking Claret that pairs well with chicken, pork and tomato based pasta dishes.  It is not quite complex enough to do justice to a decent steak - you want something more heavily skewed towards Cab Sauv for that, but for the price you can't beat this wine. The 2010 vintage is drinking very well now and as you will read on my France Wine Vintages page, 2010 was an excellent year for Bordeaux wines!  Enjoy this great value delight whilst you can.

Domaine Sorin 2013 Cotes De Provence

I love this fresh, floral Rose wine and every spring, just as the sun becomes a more regular occurence in the day, I pick up a case of it to enjoy over the coming weeks.  It's a bargain at well under $15 a bottle (I picked up a case for $12 a bottle) and is the perfect wine to drink on its own or with fish and seafood.  It has a crispy sweet floral flavour that won't disappoint.  Delicious!

Chateau Pindefleurs 2009 Saint Emilion Grand Gru

This is a real stunner and a bargain at under $22 a bottle currently at Wine.com.  I just ordered a case, having tried a bottle from my local wine merchant here in Seattle, which was priced at $25 (still good value for money).

This wine is 90% Merlot, the rest Cab Sauv and Cab Franc.  It's is drinking very well now but will keep and improve another few years.  You many remember that 2009 was a great year for St Emilion (check out the vintage report here) and when I saw this Pindefleurs, I knew it was going to be good.

Deep and rich on the pour, a real mouthful with just enough acidity and tannins to pair extremely well with a steak, but still fruity enough to have a glass on its own.  I finished off the bottle on the second night, having stored in the fridge, and it was just as good second time round.

2011 Domaine Saint Aix Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Aix Rose, Provence

This Rose wine simply called 'AIX' is from Provence in France but widely available across Europe and the US.  The producers have done a fantastic job of producing a light, yet flavour packed summer wine, designed to be drunk cold on its own or with fish or seafood.

It's so light and fresh that you can be duped into thinking that a few glasses of this won't affect you but it packs a hefty 13% alcohol.

Aix is a blend of classic Provence region grape varietals,  Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsaut.  This region in southern France is well known for producing a lot of rose, much of it very average and some of it very good.

The producer describes this 2011 vintage as follows, 'An elegant rose with layers of complexity and a fresh personality.  Beautifully balanced with bright fruit flavors, delicate floral notes and a long finish reminiscent of a clear warm day in Provence.  This delicious rose is as captivating as a gentle refreshing summer breeze. It seduces you like a bright sunny day.  Sublime happiness in every sip.'

Well, I'm not too sure of the seduction bit, but the happiness in every sip I agree with!

According to Wine Searcher, this 2011 vintage has ranged in price from $11 to $16 across the US, but I am finding it in good supermarkets for about $13, which is an absolute steal.  

It gets three grapes, which means stock up while the summer is here.