In France a whole celebration/way of life has evolved around La Rentree (back to work/school after the summer break). Les Foires Aux Vins was created by wine producers in the early 70s to clear their wineries in September for the new vintage and has become a highlight in the wine calendar as a way of celebrating the new harvest and looking forward to the end of the year with renewed vigour.
Sales in September typically represent 40% of annual revenue and wines are now specially produced for the event with French supermarket deals staggered over several months.
There have been attempts to replicate the hoo-ha here in Blighty but as less of a wine producing nation it’s impossible to create the same phenomenon.
Now we expect to pay double for French wines going forward (don’t mention the B word) we decided a French focus was timely and asked our retailers for their French wine suggestions to put before the panel, especially any current deals.
Wackus Bacchus
WHITES
Waitrose Arnaud Lassalle Pouilly Fume 2015, £14.99 to £10.99 from 24th Aug – 20 Sept
Delicate nettly nose, nice weight and with lovely balance of fruit and acidity
M&S Macon Villages 2014, £8 from £10
Classic unoaked Chardonnay grown on chalk. Perfect.
Co-op Macon Villages 2015, £8.49
Slightly more citrus Macon style, youthful and showing lovely minerality.
Majestic Montagny 1er Cru ‘Les Millières’ 2014 £11.99, or £9.99 on Mix Six 30th August – 24th October
Discreet nectarine nose, pure mineral on palate, classy Southern Burgundy.
Majestic Muscadet Le Pallet 2012. £11.99, or £9.99 on Mix Six 30 Aug – 24 Oct
Redefine Muscadet! Attractive brioche nose. Lovely weight and acid. Not at all out of place with these Burgundies.
ROSE
Majestic M de Minuty Rosé Provence 2015 £11.99, or £9.99 on Mix Six 30 Aug – 24 Oct
Majestic’s best-selling French rose. Refreshing, attractive blend of fruit and mineral says why.
REDS
M&S Fleurie 2014, £9 – down from £11 from 6 Sept – 3 Oct
Glorious Gorgeous Gamay. Serious Beaujolais Cru. Try it (not-over) chilled.
Co-op la Vielle Ferme rouge 2015, £7.99
From the respected Perrin family. Curiously no appellation but lovely, spicy soft, Rhone-like red glugger.
Co-op Calvet Bordeaux Merlot Limited Release, £7.49
Berry fruit and cedar on the nose. Grainy tannins balanced by soft red fruit juicy palate.
Majestic Definition Claret 2012, £11.99, or £9.99 on Mix Six 30 Aug – 24 Oct
Mellow and showing a little development, cedar nose, nicely balanced palate, classic claret from a St Emilion satellite.
Majestic La Grange des Combes 2013 Roquebrun St-Chinian £11.99, or £9.99 on Mix Six 30 Aug – 24 Oct
Dark intense, savoury almost meaty. Smokey mineral and complex. So typical of this schist vineyard.
M&S Les Voiles de Paulilles Collioure 2013 £10.50 down from £12.50 from 6 Sept – 3 Oct
Near neighbour to above. Another complex yet elegant blockbuster from the Languedoc. Go on, stretch your boundaries…
M&S Lirac Les Closiers 2015, £8 from £10 50 from 6 Sept – 3 Oct
Youthful, perfumed floral nose. Light, fruity palate. Unoaked, simple, spicy slurper. Needs time.
Waitrose Cave de Tain Crozes Hermitage, £11.49 to £8.49 from 24 Aug – 20 Sept
Deep bold red. Clean restrained nose. Spicy black pepper attack, full-bodied and supremely smooth.