2008 Domaine Bel Air Bourgueil "Vingt Lieux Dits"

Oddbins fails yet again. At £11 this was very disappointing. Nothing like the Bourgueil I had from Majestic some time ago. No nose to speak of. Thin. very little fruit. Chilling didn't help.

Surely the jig will soon be up for Oddbins? They do well from the 'nip out to buy a couple of bottles' demographic but surely they are vulnerable to somebody who comes along and services this crowd without the overpriced sumugness?

Still, I seem to find myself in there from time to time so I guess I'm guilty of hypocrisy here...

Coteaux du Lyonnais, Domaine des Hauts de Chasselay, 2008

2nd wine form the inaugural Wine Society order.

100% Gamay from a region that looks to be just east of Beaujolais. The overwhelming sentiment is one of incredible lightness. Pale red in colour and very faint fruit. The label has red currents on it and that can't be a coincidence. Just the faintest of edges to it that suggest Gamay. Feels almost like a rose. It comes in at £6.75 which probably rules it out for all bar al fresco drinking on a hot summers day.

The Society's White Burgundy, Macon-Villages

Much trepidation as I opened this. To some extent the wisdom of my Wine Society membership fee will stand and fall on the quality of it's own range wines. This one came in at £7.50 thus, not everyday drinking, more mid range.

Massively impressed with this. Real buttery, slightly honeyed minerality to it. Reminded me a great deal of the fabled St Véran Domaine de la Croix Senaillet which now seems to have shot up to £16 a bottle or even higher (further evidence that St Veran is no longer a fertile hunting ground for sensibly priced white burgundy, if that isn't a contradiction in terms). This is arguably the best value wine I've had all year. Will be stocking up on this without a doubt.

Anjou-Villages Brissac, La Croix de Mission, Domaine des Rochelles, 2005

One from the first Wine Society batch. Given where this wine originates from, I assumed this was going to be 100% Cabernet Franc and ordered it on this basis. On first inspection I thought it tasted different from the other Loire reds I've had but managed to convince myself I could detect some traces of what I expected - classic example of the power of suggestion and a great argument for bind tasting - and went as far as chilling it! Now I realise it is 90% Cabernet Sauvingnon and 10% Cabernet Franc I have set about convincing myself that I recognise the strains of the former! Anyway I do think there is a noteworthy point here in as much as the two grapes do seem to share some similarities in terms of their tannins. Both seem to have that very abrupt, dry finish I associate with some the the Chilean Motes Alpha pure Cabernet Savignon's I've had over the years. How did it taste? Nice enough without being hugely memorable. It had some purity and was not unbalanced but worth £11? Not sure. I will stash one away and try it again in a few years time (apparent it will keep well for another 5).

Vina Arana - Rioja

Louis Latour - Pinot Noir

Chateau de Chamboureau - Savenniers

Wine Evening - Chateau Thivin

I thought this might be the perfect forum for discussing the wines we had over the weekend, and maybe also to discuss and arrange any further evenings.

I've not got time to comment tonight on all six but I'll post pictures of them all and pass some initial comments on the wine I supplied.

Cote de Brouilly - Chateau Thivin - Cuvee Zaccharie

This wine wasn't actually the bottle I intended, and although it is slightly more expensive I find that it lacks the peppery finish (which can also be found in a few Cabernet Francs) of the Cuvee Chapelle from the same chateau. However this wine does have a very light touch with a short but not sharp finish. I could drink this by the pint.