I totally ragged on Berton's two Black & White wines yesterday, and justifiably so, but today I find myself in a position where I have to only sing the praises of a wine. I don't normally rate just one wine on its own, but with this I have to, it is that good. I also have to confess that it is made by Andy Cook, a pal and former colleague, who is now making wines southern France, but seek this out and try it.
The 2009 Tramontane Grenache is a wine retailing at around seven quid, and it is quite simply outstanding and the best wine under a tenner I have had so far this year. It has lots of dark berry fruit, cherry and crunchy red apple skin mixed with a soft sweetness on the nose. The palate is big, dark with a little alcohol to the fore and some firm, but not domineering tannins. There are bitter savoury flavours, mixed with lots of berries and a long, lingering finish and just little dots of sweet fruit throughout. Will soften with time and become better, but even at this youthful stage, it kicks seven bells out of anything in its category. 8.5/10
Tramontane Website
Available from Luvians Bottleshop, Inverarity Vaults, Clark Foyster
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