Fournier are wine growers making classic Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé in their family winery. The Fournier family estate has grown from five hectares in 1950 to 60 hectares today. This Vin de Pays comes from grapes from young vines in the Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé area as well as from surrounding vineyards further down the Loire. Although not entitled to the Appellation Contrôlée status, and hence with no more specific title than Vin de Pays de la Loire, the style of this wine nevertheless puts it alongside the more famous names, but at a considerably lower cost.

Muskily catty, with an underlying sweetness. Fabulously intense, vibrant taste. Really wakes you up. Long lasting and a cracking wine.

730 stores
07/10/2008

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mel

Yes, very good and more Central Vineyards ( Sancerre etc ) than Touraine. But overpriced compared to the Finest Pouilly Fume for just 100p more.

Worth a star at 599p but not 899p.

God...i'm a bitch !!

On offer at £5.99 according to Tesco wine online. The Finest Pouilly Fume is on offer at £7.99.

Both stunning value at these prices. The Finest Chablis is also on offer for £5.99 Bugger the Chablis though i'll stick to the sauvgnon.

I think it'll be Wednesday before the stores catch up.

Thanks for the Tip

However, I'm not buying 2007 SB from Northern Latitudes a la moment, - sorry and all that. I have some Sancere 2006 to drink up anyway.

Does that PF exhibit any smoke and flint on the length, or is it restrained SB which is young and fresh.

Mr G, I'm waiting for the Stores to get more freaked by the Cr Crunch, and then I shall pounce on some more expensive rouge gear from better vintages ......One has to be patient and picky.

The 2002 TF Mersault was back to full price today. Did you buy any on Saturday at half dosh ?

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Duncan

Yes, but I bought just the 1 bottle.......you had me worried with that bit about the hot warehouse. Can that kill the flavour ?

The PF is young and very fresh. More aromatic citrus than flint ( a perfect Sancerre ). But the flint will come. It always does with Fournier. Usually 18-24 months after vintage.

They have an Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Rouge for £13.99. How does Loire pinot compare to Burgundy.

The £13.99 seems to be a standard price

[quote="Goosegogs"] you had me worried with that bit about the hot warehouse. Can that kill the flavour ?

Thanks for the flint explanation.

Of the Summer warehouse problems - Yes, I'm affraid in my experience, Summer warehouse storage, so typical of the bulk 'just in time distributive operations' in the UK unless expensive air con, or a cheese environment is employed, the warmth can kill the fragile freshness in a Chardonnay based wine which is oaked. (but not as bad as those idiot wine racks that some trendy installers build into kitchen units.

For white burgundy, a warm bottle becomes very light fino sherry after 3 years in a kitchen. For Saint Emilion, I bought some La Madeleine at a bargain price which was a banckrupt parcel at 5 years - it should have been a most feminine St.E, but it had become lacey and cokey (the merlot dark friut had gone to coal and was dissintergrating) and was very dry and too clear in the glass. I politely returned it....afterall I took a punt at the price !
That is my experience.

Of the Alphonse Sancerre rouge - I know nothing. So I looked up Jancis Robinson who said that Alphonse Mellot and a number of leading lights were experimenting with oak in Sancerre, in a bold move to challenge Mercury and Marsannay style burgundies.

At £13.99 which is a sector price position for supermarkets.....(it used to be £11.99 many moons ago) Yeah, at this money do your research on the web. I believe 2005 and 2003 Sancerre rouge was pretty successful....2003 would have been a ripe friut cup vintage in the Loire - like good Californian PN but with more "dirt" as they say in USA.

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Duncan

Ta for that, D. Although i'm now worried about my Jadot pinot for Christmas day. It must have been hanging around a Tesco warehouse for years.

I had a glass of Tesco Finest Highfield Estate Marlborough Pinot 2007 last night. Mel gave it a Quaffers Offers star.

It nearly floored me....woodsmoke and a very subtle hint of something earthy.

It made my eyes water.

Not as beautiful as the Stoneleigh but I can see why people both love and hate this grape.

Very very intense.......how do the Kiwis do it.

The Louis Jadot PN should be OK...... The big Four should have sensible central warehousing, but you never know about their local stock room ? I was in there the other day as you know, and I pulled down some stuff near the lights at the back of the Store, and they felt very warm. Stock turn should eliminate most problems.

I am a bit anal about Mersault or the Chassagnes for cellaring, because the wine is so fragile. You are paying an extra £10 or so to acquire this delicate flavour with all those extra dimensions and nuances that you want. Yet storing any of these Cote d'Or whites incorrectly, will quickly destroy the reason why you paid the extra money in the first place ! You will be annoyed, and then say the wine faulty. On the other hand, if you store these correctly, even modest ones from the right vintage, the rewards can be superb.

Have you noticed how chilly it is in Majestic stores, particularly in Winter. They have some serious fine wines in there, and they are not going to mess them up.

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Duncan