Niel Armstrong was the first man on the moon. Bill Haley released the first Rock n Roll record. Maggie Thatcher was the first female Prime Minister and Hilary Clinton could become the first female President. And Peter Lehmann Grenache was the first Grenache I tried!
As a result, every time I try a Grenache, I tend to think about the Lehmann wine, and remember how much I really didn’t like it! And trying a series of Grenache dominated French wines, meant that the unpleasant Aussie wine was on my mind for a few hours. I would put prices, and retailers, but they aren’t really available in Britain… yet!
Domaine de Cassan Cote du Ventoux Les Esclausels, 2006
Clean, fresh and with very simple fruit. Palate has a touch of spice, a bit of tannin and a bit of tangy citrus. This is nice and minerally, with a herby note, that would go perfectly with fatty French peasant food cooked by a wonderful French wife with big French bosoms and a French apron. 7/10
Cotes du Rhone Domaine de l’Ameillaud, 2006
A load of coffee, burnt toast and stewed fruit. The palate is good, a touch of mint with lovely stewed fruit. Minty flavours just clean up the palate before the finish, which then settles in your mouth and slowly disappears. 7.5/10
Domaine de Fenouillet Beaumes de Venise Terres Blanches, 2005
Very very minty with lots of herbsand a bit of green cherry fruit. A lot of booze! Quite nice and a lovely finish of stoney fruit. 7/10
Chateau Redortier Beaumes de Venise, 2004
Black pudding on the nose. Very spicy, with great fruit. A bit of oak on the nose too. The palate has good ripe cherry and a gamey flavour. Apparently, this was put into a blind Chateauneuf tasting, where red herrings were not allowed, and it really pissed off a lot of producers as it beat the lot! Any producer who does that, just to annoy a Frenchman, gets points in my book! 8/10 for the wine, plus 1/10 for being mischievous! 9/10
Domaine de Cassan Beaumes de Venise Saint Christophe, 2005
A very simple nose, not much coming off it and is kinda boring. The palate starts off the same but then, echoing the Batman TV series of the 1960’s, BAM! WHACK! WOP! OOOFF! A bundle of brilliant bitter cherry and spice bombards you, then throws a bit of chocolate into the mix. Brilliant and so surprising. 8/10
Domaine les Ondines Plan de Dieu, 2005
Sour cherries and a bit of boot polish and a touch of sweetness on the nose. The palate is nice and spicy, with a cranberry and raspberry flavour. A super long finish. 8/10
Domaine les Ondines Vacqueyras, 2005
A little minty, toasty with liquorice and cherry. The palate is nice, grippy tannin, with a bit of coffee and cherry stones. A bit of booze and spice on the finish, but it is dominated by coffee and bitter chocolate. 8/10
Domaine de Cassan Gigondas, 2005
Nice, pretty nose. Subtle cherry on the nose. Palate is big and spicy with a simple fruit flavour. Just too closed and will need some time to open up. 7/10 (potentially 8 or 9/10)
The Peter Lehmann demon was exorcised long ago, but this put the final nail in his coffin. There wasn’t a single wine that I would be disappointed drinking, and some that were particularly interesting and fun. I hope these wines make it to Britain. Wines like these are often overlooked for other big named regions, and they offer great value for money.
As a result, every time I try a Grenache, I tend to think about the Lehmann wine, and remember how much I really didn’t like it! And trying a series of Grenache dominated French wines, meant that the unpleasant Aussie wine was on my mind for a few hours. I would put prices, and retailers, but they aren’t really available in Britain… yet!
Domaine de Cassan Cote du Ventoux Les Esclausels, 2006
Clean, fresh and with very simple fruit. Palate has a touch of spice, a bit of tannin and a bit of tangy citrus. This is nice and minerally, with a herby note, that would go perfectly with fatty French peasant food cooked by a wonderful French wife with big French bosoms and a French apron. 7/10
Cotes du Rhone Domaine de l’Ameillaud, 2006
A load of coffee, burnt toast and stewed fruit. The palate is good, a touch of mint with lovely stewed fruit. Minty flavours just clean up the palate before the finish, which then settles in your mouth and slowly disappears. 7.5/10
Domaine de Fenouillet Beaumes de Venise Terres Blanches, 2005
Very very minty with lots of herbsand a bit of green cherry fruit. A lot of booze! Quite nice and a lovely finish of stoney fruit. 7/10
Chateau Redortier Beaumes de Venise, 2004
Black pudding on the nose. Very spicy, with great fruit. A bit of oak on the nose too. The palate has good ripe cherry and a gamey flavour. Apparently, this was put into a blind Chateauneuf tasting, where red herrings were not allowed, and it really pissed off a lot of producers as it beat the lot! Any producer who does that, just to annoy a Frenchman, gets points in my book! 8/10 for the wine, plus 1/10 for being mischievous! 9/10
Domaine de Cassan Beaumes de Venise Saint Christophe, 2005
A very simple nose, not much coming off it and is kinda boring. The palate starts off the same but then, echoing the Batman TV series of the 1960’s, BAM! WHACK! WOP! OOOFF! A bundle of brilliant bitter cherry and spice bombards you, then throws a bit of chocolate into the mix. Brilliant and so surprising. 8/10
Domaine les Ondines Plan de Dieu, 2005
Sour cherries and a bit of boot polish and a touch of sweetness on the nose. The palate is nice and spicy, with a cranberry and raspberry flavour. A super long finish. 8/10
Domaine les Ondines Vacqueyras, 2005
A little minty, toasty with liquorice and cherry. The palate is nice, grippy tannin, with a bit of coffee and cherry stones. A bit of booze and spice on the finish, but it is dominated by coffee and bitter chocolate. 8/10
Domaine de Cassan Gigondas, 2005
Nice, pretty nose. Subtle cherry on the nose. Palate is big and spicy with a simple fruit flavour. Just too closed and will need some time to open up. 7/10 (potentially 8 or 9/10)
The Peter Lehmann demon was exorcised long ago, but this put the final nail in his coffin. There wasn’t a single wine that I would be disappointed drinking, and some that were particularly interesting and fun. I hope these wines make it to Britain. Wines like these are often overlooked for other big named regions, and they offer great value for money.
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