WWCo

French Wines

Rhône Valley - Ardèche

Les Vignerons Ardèchois

We have imported wines from this top-class co-operative since May 2001, just a few months after we started. The Ardèche is situated to the west of the Rhône, on the south-eastern edge of the Massif Central. Most of the wines produced are ‘vin du pays’, but there is an AOC within the larger area, the Côtes du Vivarais. Although the co-op is one of the largest in France, it has a thorough commitment to quality, evidenced by the continuing success and popularity of the wines on this list – indeed the Cuvée Orélie, which was awarded a gong in 2005, is now often referred to as ‘Cuvée O’Reilly’! These wines are straightforward, unpretentious and well made; in the retail context they are excellent everyday quaffers and for restaurants are superb house wines.

White	Vintage	RRP
Fonvène, Ardèche IGP	2009	€8.45
Cuvée Orélie, Ardèche IGP	2009	€9.25
Viognier, VdP des Coteaux de L'Ardèche	2008	€12.45

	Rosé	Vintage	RRP
	Côtes du Vivarais Rosé Reserve Aoc	2009	€11.45

Red	Vintage	RRP
Cabernet Sauvignon , Vin de Pays des Coteaux de L’Ardèche	2008	€8.45
Cuvée Orélie, Ardèche IGP	2009	€9.25
Merlot Reserve, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de L’Ardèche	2007	€11.75
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de L’Ardèche	2007	€11.75
Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de L’Ardèche	2008	€11.25
Chatus, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de L’Ardèche	2007	€13.25

Rhône

Domaine Martin

Eric Martin and his cousin David, both in their thirties, are now the fourth generation making wine at this award winning domaine. Their great-grandfather Julien began in 1905, when the house was bought with about five hectares of land. Now, just over a hundred years later, the latest purchase has brought the holdings to 65 hectares. Most of the land is in Plan de Dieu, but they have significant parcels in Rasteau, which is about to receive appellation status in it’s own right, putting it on a par with Gigondas and Vacqueras. This is a domaine that emphasises the strengths of southern Rhône; rich, complex but approachable wines that are based on fruit of the highest quality.

Red	Vintage	RRP
Le Chants des Cigales VdP de Vaucluse	2009	€8.95
Côtes du Rhône	2009	€12.85
Plan de Dieu, Côtes du Rhône Villages	2008	€14.95
Rasteau, Côtes du Rhône Villages	2008	€15.60
Cairanne, Côtes du Rhône Villages (magnums available)	2006	€15.60
Les Sommets de Rasteau	2006	€20.75
Cuvée Yves Martin 100% Syrah	2006	€25.65

FORTIFIED RED
Rasteau Vin doux Naturel	2004	€21.00
Jeroboams, Magnums and 1/2 bottles available

Rhône

Le Moulin de la Gardette

John Baptiste Meunier is the proprietor of a wonderful terraced vineyard with vines of 60 to 100 years old. Naturally low yields with classic vinification produce one of the best and most highly regarded Gigondas available. The Cuvée Tradition is a vibrant concentrated and highly perfumed effort of peppery Grenache with hints of cherry and garrique, a really delicious wine that would give many a Châteauneuf du Pape a drubbing. The Cuvée Ventabren is highly saturated both in colour and on the palate. This is a big dense sexy mouthful of dark fruit, blackberry, morello cherry, oak and tar, which accounts for about a third of their production.

Red	Vintage	RRP
Gigondas Cuvée Tradition	2007	€24.95
Gigondas Cuvée Ventabren	2003	€35.95
Gigondas Cuvée Ventabren (magnums available)	2005	€34.50

Rhône - Cornas

Domaine du Tunnel

After working with Jean Louis Grippat, Stephane Robert started his own small Domaine in 1994, on rented vineyards. He was only 24. Now, fourteen years later, he has three hectares in Cornas, two and a half in St. Joseph and two in St. Peray, most of which he owns. In that time he has gone from “up and coming” to “up and arrived”! The Cornas comes from low yielding vines situated on a terrace high above an old railway tunnel. These dense wines, of Syrah, are thoroughly approachable in their youth (a cold pre-maceration helps here), but also will age very well. Wines from this area have never been cheap; this is a tiny appellation, 100 hectares only, the vineyards are precipitous and labour intensive. The St. Joseph is from the rather more extensive vineyard to the north of Cornas – generally speaking this is an earlier drinking style, but there is no mistaking the true Syrah here. Perfumed, with pepper and tar, the 2005 currently on offer has an atypical touch of violets and a richness that bespeaks it year. St. Peray is a white only appellation. The wines are fairly full-bodied and fat and in addition the Cuvée Prestige has a touch of oak. The Marsanne is the most mineral, with floral and citrus notes and the Roussanne is full and honeyed, but retains an excellent balance. These wines are remarkably well priced considering the talent and commitment behind them!

Red	Vintage	RRP
Saint Joseph (magnums available)	2006	€30.95
Cornas (magnums available)	2005/6	€41.95
Cornas “Vin Noir” 2005	2005/6	€56.95

We also have stocks of Les Ruchet 1999 from Jean Luc Colombo.

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