Grand Terroirs Tautavel 2008

16.5 / 20

Producer: Gérard Bertrand

Region: Cotes du Roussillon

Country: France

Very dark to the eye, this Grenache/Syrah/Carignan blend is an enticing, deep and elegant red with the nose very focused on sweet black fruits - blackberries and blackcurrants - and showing caramel and coffee, pepper and a hint of liquorice.

Intense in the palate, with strong black fruit notes expertly mixed with the oak, it comes along as a very balanced wine, with acidity, tannins, fruit and oak all balancing out and creating a really good red.

Tasted on 2012-10-08

Alba 2007

15.5 / 20

Producer: JL Tribouley

Region: Cotes Du Roussillon

Country: France

A french wine from the Cotes Catalanes, in the boundary between France and Spain, this is an interesting, out of the ordinary wine.

Made with Grenache, Syrah and Carignan, it's dark ruby in color. The nose points towards strawberries, strongly. In fact, there were few red wines I've tasted so far that smelled so clearly like strawberries. Behind that, there a few sweet, jammy notes and some earthy tones going around in the nose.

The mouth is on the sweet side, with nice touches of red fruit - here, not so clearly strawberries. The tannins are there, but are balanced, not overwhelming the taste. Average persistence, finishing elegantly with a touch of chocolate.

For my personal taste, I find this wine lacks a bit in structure and complexity. But, nevertheless, it is an interesting, uncomplicated wine from a lesser known region in France.

Tasted on 2010-08-17