Frederic Mabileau Les Rouilleres St Nicolas de Bourgeuil 2009

Superb example of Loire cabernet franc can be both fresh and weighty at the same time. Lovely pencil lead, cedary finish to it. I've had this in storage for about 18 months and now see that I paid about £13 for it at Waitrose. I'd say it represents reasonable value. What other supermarket would have the confidence and imagination to stock something like this?

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.

Christmas wines, part 2

Raats, Cabernet Franc, 2008. Superb depth of flavour.  Of particular interest was whether this was measurably different from Loire reds. I think it may be but either way, it is a cracking wine. At £15 a bottle (WS) this fantastic value for money. I feel like it is the Cabernet Franc component of Claret that might be what makes it so appealing: dry, fruity and cedary in equal measure.

Domaine de la croix de Chaintres, Saumur Champigny, 2008

£9 (Waitrose). Superb value. Genuine raspberry burst on the nose (bit of cranberry also?) Earthy, yet light flavour. Becomes progressively more savoury as it develops in the mouth. Fine example of what reasonably priced Cabernet Franc can do. Shades of higher end cru Beaujolais, perhaps without the black cherry edge and more of a soil-like, woody  finish?
In terms of supermarkets, Waitrose really are in a league of their own when it comes to interesting wine at a fair price.

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...

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).

St Nicolas de Bourgueil AC 2008 Les Graviers

Brief report from a very successful evening at the Hotel du Vin in Harrogate. Of particular note was the wine they served with the main: St Nicolas de Bourgueil AC 2008 Les Graviers. A very pleasant 100% cabernet franc which had loads of fruit, backbone and nose but still seemed to stay very light and supple. Went very well with the roast pork. Vine Trail have it for a tenner (ex VAT) which seems good value. However, given our domestic situation, I must strive to keep the purchases at a lower price than that for the time being.....

Seems the region is a very small one located between Anger and Tours. I wonder if the weather is clement enough at that latitude to make it a contender for 2012?

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.