Southern Rhone delights

I had quite the boozy weekend, and very nice it was too.
Sunday lunch started with some delightful Jean Paul Schmitt Gewurztraminer Classic 2007 from Alsace. Although not a young producer Schmitt has started to make inroads with a certain American gentleman in recent years and is on the up and up. This came from From the Vineyards Direct and is good value at 16.95. Schmitt uses a clever volume control icon on the back label of his wines ranging from dry to sweet to indicate the style of wine the consumer can expect FELLOW ALSACE PRODUCERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE!! This was off dry with a nice bitter/ spice aspect.

Roast rib of beef, with Monsieur pommes de terres et al was accompanied by:
Chateauneuf du Pape, 2003 Domaine de la Charbonniere (regular cuvee). I first tasted this about three years ago and was surprised how much I liked it- my inner wine snob had told me that such a high alcohol wine from a vintage as hot as 2003 wouldn't be the sort of thing we'd really go for.

Domaine de la Charbonniere are tipped by the aforementioned American gentleman as one of the best value in the Southern Rhone. Ripe, sweet fruit and a leathery note, this has aged nicely with a nice pruney/ dried fig element. Good stuff. Celtic Whiskey Shop stock a large range of their wines, all at very fair prices. The regular CNP Rouge 2006 is 27.99, and available for even less if you buy a mixed case.

Gigondas Terre des Anes, Montirius 2005 is another big Southern Rhone wine. This fella weighs in at 15% and is a blend of Grenache/ Mourverdre. This was the last of six bottles I bought during my heyday as a Celtic Tiger millionaire. Again this is a style of wine which I would have traditionally purported not to like, but Jaysus 'tis good stuff. Lots of garrigue-y fruit on the nose, with a developing gamey/ leather note. Far fuller bodied, with more tannic grip than the CNP and fruit not as sweet. This fella was crying out for leg of lamb with anchovy tomatoes and peppers. A lovely wine, but not quite up to the level of the CNP. A stonker nonetheless. Alas now difficult to get, a couple of sad bottles of 04 in Mortons in Ranelagh for €29.95.

To finish us off my brother sneakily produced a bottle of JL Chave 'Mon Coeur' Cotes du Rhone 2007. This is from the negotiant wing of world famous Northern Rhone producer Jean Louis Chave of Hermitage. The grapes are a blend of Grenache Syrah bought in from Rasteau, Valearas and Vinsobres. The Chave negotiant wines are made to be good examples of their particular appelation, and this far excelled expectations. This had berry fruit and spice, with a game-y note that reminded me of venison. The Syrah was very much in evidence with that particular blackcurrant vicks flavour that you sometimes get in Rhone Syrahs. Again this is difficult to get here but Berry Bros appear to have less than a case in stock. €15.00 from Berry Bros and worth every penny. Was lovely with the Chaource AOC bloomy rinded cow's cheese from Sheridans. The Chave Offerus St Joseph is a seriously good wine for the price, and their negotiant Hermitages are fantastic value given what you pay for standard Hermitage. All from Berry Bros, although you'll have to ask them to send from the UK.

All in all a very pleasant Sunday, with all the wines showing well. People's champion was the CNP but I think the Chave CDR would be hard to beat for value.