Bourgueil 2010

Purchased on the ferry back from Bilbao. I think it cost me £7.50 ish (€9 perhaps?).
Excellent example if everything I like about Cabernet Franc. Dry, cedary edge with subtle sour cherry fruit. Cracking.

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...

Bourgueil (no idea how to pronounce that)

A cranky Eva was pacified by a ride around in a Majestic wine trolley. It was like flicking a switch! Sadly, that tactic necessitated buying some wines. Specifically, some Loire reds. The first to be tried is Pierre-Jaques Druet's 'les cent boisselees'. At 7 years, it's the oldest pure Cabernet Franc I've tasted (see previous post on this topic). Still has the dryness of the Joguet wine but is much more smooth in it's finish. I think it was about £8 if at lest two purchased but I can't find it on their site. If so I would go back for more of this. At least as interesting as many Cru Beaujolais of a similar price. I see Yapp have the 2007 at £12 which yet again makes me wonder about their mark-ups. They offer an excellent service and by far the most interesting, bullshit-free selection of wines but you do pay a premium.

The Wine Dr tells us that Bourgueil can provide good value in that it's wines are hard to distinguish from those of neighbouring Chinon but because of its anonymity it commands lower prices.