Caves St Pierre, Vieilles Vignes Preference, Côtes du Rhone Villages '07 £5.99, Sainsburys.

I usually steer clear of this particular brand but this one caught me eye, or I should say, the selected grapes from vines over 40years old got my attention. Opened last night, lovely sweet fragrance, lots of spicy oak, creamy blackcurrant jam, nice tannins, lengthy finish with a cedary aftertaste. Rustic, well balanced.

If I had tasted this blind I would of expected a price tag in the £8+ range.

Delicious, I will be going back for more.



Edit: Second night, the wine had lost a bit of the oomph it had on the first night, perhaps lacking the structure I first thought, would still be happy to pay £8.

Yeah, I know what you mean. But lets face it, for the money it's OK.

Caves St Pierre is very OK for a successful vintage all over the region (not just the westface of Hermitage ), for a poor or suspect or high volume vintage, don't go there - Trust me...well, You know

I had some Gigondas 2005 from this Co-op and it was good, It is light, but so is the money. Drink up, leave it and it goes flabby, and the fruit drops off - not enough structure - Structrure is much bigger money.

At Christmas, I pick off the CSP Chateau Neuf at £6.99 or so. 2003 was ripe - but drink-up, 2005 was true to type, 2004 was naff for CNDP, yet just ok as a Cotes du Rhone ordinaire .

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Duncan

tesco sell the same line from St Pierre and i have found in recent vintage that the Villages wine was not as good.

I think its easy to confuse this range as their labels are very similar, this 'old vine' example is only available through Sainsbury’s and deffo worth a look.

Chabod, which vintage were you buying ? GK would not say deffo, unless he meant it.

The point about this 2007 vintage in Southern Rhone, Chateau Neuf DP, Gigondas, Vacquera is that most MW's have judged this vintage in the South to be generally outstanding, and potential for excellence at the top properties as they become ready.

Therefore, if you find a 'Villages' Cote du Rhone from a reliable co-op producer, it is likely to be much nicer when the vintage is good overall in that region. The 'villages' Rhones are definitely of a higher standard than CduR ordinaire, and old vine 'villages' is definitely fuller and more concentrated and dimensional than young vine Rhone.

There may be some Hype and Hike of 2007 prices, but the wines were produced, and contracts were made before the crunch.

Therefore: If you like Southern Rhone - look-out for good yet affordable 2007's and you should find them to be satisfying. Spending the extra £1.50 per bottle, could buy you twice as much pleasure.

For instance: Guigal CduR villages '07 could be very nice - I don't know Yet. I have stocks of 2005' Crozes Hermitage from JL Colombier and 2005 plus a few 01's of CNduPape to enjoy.

Good Luck, let us know when you discover a pleasurable 2007 from the Southern region. You are duty bound now after all that spiel

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Duncan