The Languedoc and Tesco’s

Tesco’s last press tasting included a few wines from the Languedoc. 

2011 finest Blanquette de Limoux. - £9.99

This comes from the Sieur d’Arques in Limoux.  90% Mauzac with 5% each of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.  Fresh lemony nose, with a touch of honey, and a rounded,  honeyed palate, with good acidity.  A refreshing glass of bubbles

2012 finest Picpoul de Pinet. - £7.99

From the Pomérols coop.  I found it quite soft and creamy, rather than salty, with a slightly bitter finish.

2011 finest Limoux Chardonnay - £8.99

Also from the Sieur d’Arque coop. Lightly buttery on nose and palate.  A nicely rounded palate, with some elegantly buttery fruit.

Tesco French Red, Vin de France - £3.75

Comes from les Grands Chais de France. A blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Carignan and 25% Merlot.  Rounded nose with dry tannins and some fruit on the palate.  Basic, but honest good value drinking.     And for 4p more they have a Vineyards Côtes du Rhône, with some ripe spicy fruit.  This is brilliant value.

2012 Lucien Marcel Pays de l’Hérault - £5.99

Also from Grands Chais de France.  80% Carignan and 20% Grenache Noir.  Fresh, ripe fruit.  Easy drinking with no pretensions.

£4.49 Tesco Corbières - £4.49

This was a bit stalky and rustic.  And too cheap for decent Corbières.  You can do better than that, Tesco’s.

2012 Marselan Rare, Pays d’Oc, Petites Ballades - £5.99

Quite rounded supple fruit, on both nose and palate.  Easy red berries.   Undemanding drinking

2012 Fontenoi Fitou

A blend of 60% Carignan, and 20% each of Grenache and Syrah. Medium colour.  Initially a touch stalky, but a certain punch on the palate, with some firm fruit and a steak of tannin.  Midweight, and quite rugged.  Produced by the coop of Mont Tauch in Tuchan.