(2024) This is a 'Sec' or dry Chenin Blanc from the central Loire, and a vineyards on clay/limestone soils. Having said that, there's just a hint of sweetness on the palate. Before that, a subtle apple and nutty nose with a hint of wet river stone minerality. That little sweet edge on the palate sits against orchard fruit juiciness, the finish fresh and decisive with its concentrated acidity and subtle richness.
(2024) A wine from this historic Languedoc appellation that is mostly 20-year-old-plus Syrah (60%), blended with Grenache and Carignan. There's a lovely fruit compote sweet impression on the nose, someAgen prune and plump sultana characters, and fresher red berries in the mix. On the palate it is vinous and medium-bodied, dark vine fruits have a bittersweet plum skin edge. Tannins are quite grippy, acidity balances, for a gastronomic wine with a bit of oomph.
(2024) Vérizet is a brand from Cave de Viré, a co-operative of around 200 growers in the Mâcon region. This Chardonnay comes from chalky clay-limestone soils and though unoaked, a certain richness comes from up to 24 months ageing on fine lees. There's an almond and lightly honeyed sheen to ripe yellow apple fruit. In the mouth that little bit of breadth to the texture gives a chewy richness, though the fat lemony core of fruit and acidity propels the wine. Hints of nuttiness again into the gastronomic, well-balanced finish.
(2024) A Vin de France, this pulls together Pinot from Burgundy, the Loire Valley and the Languedoc and is a fresh, unoaked expression. Medium density of colour, with aromas of raspberry and some floral/herbal hints, it has a pleasant red fruit character overall. In the mouth this walks a nice line between prettiness with its rose petal nuances, and a little bit of structure with firmer, darker fruit notes and a delicate spice and olive note adding a bit of extra interest.
(2024) From an organic estate just outside the Brunello di Montalcino appellation, this is 100% Sangiovese, fermented and aged in French oak for 24 months. I find the paler colour of this eight-year-old wine to be attractive, maybe just a hint of amber on the rim. On the nose there's a developed character, moving into an autumnal phase with dried leaves, truffle and a little chestnut. It's Sangiovese in a Burgundy mould, with a little sour cherry added. The palate has that same briary, mushroom and truffle softness, the tannins are resolved and elegant and the balance of the acidity is very good, giving this clarity into the gently spicy finish. The opposite of blockbuster, it's a lovely wine of individual style.
(2024) Winemaker Alessandra Casini Bindi Sergardi is the 24th generation at this Tuscan estate which is a long term favourite of FromVineyardsDirect. I have enjoyed various wines of theirs in the past. This is mostly Sangiovese with a touch of Merlot, and spent three months in French oak barriques. Deep crimson, the nose has a seductive creaminess and touch of fudge character, some sweet tobacco spice and hint of floral lift is lovely too. Medium-bodied, there's a real juiciness at the core of this, bursting-ripe black and red berries, with a nice firm cedar touch underpinning, but that juiciness combines with pert acidity and a light but gravelly tannin for real freshness in the finish. A little star.
(2024) From clay and limestone soils in the Leithaberg region of Burgenland, this is a particularly clean and refreshing style of Grüner, mineral rather than overtly fruity. That gives real elegance as the nose opens with lemon zest and a hint of creamy yellow apples. There's a little sprinkle of white pepper too, which is classic. In the mouth that sense of elegant freshness continues, helped by having just 12% alcohol, long, pure and shimmering with acidity.
(2024) A bit of an old favourite of both mine and FromVineyardsDirect, this Côtes de Provence pink from the Famille Negrel is mostly Grenache and Syrah. There's a buoyant, lifted watercolour paint-box note on the nose, small red berry fruits are attractive, precise and crisp. In the mouth there's actually bags of flavour here: it is quite robustly fruity, some real concentration to the fruit, but that bracing core of salty and lemony acidity, maybe touching onto a bitter orange, powers through the long, balanced finish.
(2024) A 10-year-old 'super-Tuscan', the vineyard here is run organically and biodymanically. The blend is Sangiovese with the Bordeaux trio of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It is aged in older 500-litre barrels for a year before 10 months in concrete and large wooden vats. It's great that FromVineyardsDirect offers these mature wines at reasonable prices - two years ago they had an 18-year-old version of this same cuvée that was superb. This is no slouch either. Aromas are delightfully Bordeaux-like, with some pencil-shaving and graphite over black fruits and a gamy nuance, the Sangiovese perhaps adding a little brighter cherry. In the mouth it is medium-bodied, has good fruit, and tertiary development with a little spice and grainy tannin adding grip and elegant acidity. This is drinking well now.
(2024) Made by the les Vignerons d'Estezargues co-op, this Côtes Du Rhône is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc and Viognier weighing in at just 12.5% abv. There's a really pleasant Cox's pippin and lemon fruit character on the nose, both citrus fresh and with a bit of peachy ripeness, as well as creaminess/nuttiness, presumably from some lees ageing. In the mouth it has texture and a certain richness, the fruit tempered and understated, and yet that makes it so gastronomic and so versatile, with easy-drinking charm and yet the savouriness to make it broadly food friendly. A very useful little wine this.
