Three Tasting Notes - Vin de Pays Trophy Winners.  Add/Read Comments

Of the 12 wines awarded Trophies in the Vins de Pays Top 100 for 2005 three really stood out. Two were 'first tastes' for me - the competitions Best White of Show was one, the Pinot Noir champion was the other. The third wine, a Cabernet Franc, I have raved about several times but this is a new vintage, and only the second from the estate.

Miquel Viognier

Wine Tasting Note: Laurent Miquel Nord Sud Viognier, 2004, VdP d'Oc, France.
Retail Price £6.99.
A full on rush of nutty apricots leaps from the glass while a weighty palate, fresh and crisp, reveals sherbet and a dash of spice. Superb. Alcohol 13.5%. Production of 84,000 bottles.
Scribblings Rating - 96/100

Laurent Miquel
"Obviously we are delighted with the result and proud to have five wines featured in the Top 100. We are specialists in Viognier and now have 25ha in production. The wine proves that low yields and careful oak aging with top-quality Viogner fruit can give really interesting and exciting results."

Guillaume Pinot Noir

Wine Tasting Note: Guillaume Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes, 2003, VdP de Franche-Comte, France. Available from Ballantynes of Cowbridge £11.49.
"Bloody Good!" exclaimed John. How right he is. Superb, huge drinkability, lovely fruit on the palate supported by generous tannins. Big and characterful. Alcohol 12.5%. Production of 14,800 bottles.
Scribblings Rating - 94/100

Xavier Guillaume
"The standard of this competition was already high last year, when we were selected as part of the Top 100, and is even more so this year. So I am over the moon to have won this trophy. there's a real interest in France to use this competition to show just how high the quality of VIns de Pays can be."

Les 3 Poules Cabernet Franc

Wine Tasting Note: Baronnie de Bourgade Les 3 Poules Cabernet Franc, 2004, VdP des Cotes du Thongue, France.
Retail price around £5.
I am delighted that my friends down at 3 Poules have been awarded a trophy for this wine. More weight and depth than a Loire Cab. Franc this has great character, super depth and a fruit led spiciness that demonstrates its southern French origins. Alcohol 13.5%. Production of 4,500 bottles.
Scribblings Rating - 96/100

Ruth Parker de Latude
"We are really DELIGHTED to have won this pize! Especially as this is only our second harvest, this really is very encouraging. For us it's like scaling Mount Everest."

The full list of Vin De Pays Trophy Winners was reported here last April.