Wines we never thought to buy...but we did!

Sometimes, when you go into a wine shop, or even when you're doing your food shopping, you pass in front of a bottle with a label where we think "What is that?" and especially "What will be INSIDE that!" We are all sensitive to differents aspects and arts...

Here are the bottles that we never had bought if it wasn't for this article!

Fruité Catalan red, Côtes du Roussillon, Carrefour, 3,60€

55% Syrah, 25% Carignan, 20% Grenache noir.

Color: ++           Beautiful shiny ruby color, limpid.
Nose: +             Red fruits aromas (blackberries, cherry).
Mouth: ++         Intense, very well balanced, animal, blended tannins.

I would never thought buy a wine of this kind one day, very "marketing wine", but I tried it for you. The cork is pink with butterflies on it. (OMG)
Wonderful surprise! A wine with complexity and beautiful aromas in this bottle?! Impressive. Good job!
Very good value for money. To share with friends, it can even be drunk during a diner.

Oc Cellus 2010, AOC Limoux, Cave du Sieurs d’Arques, LIDL, 4,99€.

Buying a wine at a LIDL store was quite disappointing for me…Even if I get always tempted during their special wine offers at big occasions: Christmas, wine fairs…Actually, this wine was a “Christmas special offer” still not sold! So I decided to try…

Color: +               Deep, intense red. Almost black.

Nose: +               Strong nose on cooked red fruits, alcohol.

Mouth:+               Acidity at first, then some tannins. A lack of finess, but long length.

I was pretty puzzled by this wine. I was curious about the ACO Limoux, and even the blending of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, syrah, Grenache and cabernet franc surprised me. But I’m not really found about this wine, it misses a bit of originality. It was too common to be remembered, but I think it’s just a matter of taste!

Château Montfollet Le Valentin 2012, Blaye Côte de Bordeaux, Carrefour 3,95€. 

Grape variety :

75% Merlot

20% Cabernet Sauvignon

5% Cabernet Franc

Color: +                  Intense pink, almost orange

Nose: ++                 Very nice shiny nose dominated by aromas of red fruit (raspberry) and white flowers

Mouth: ++               The palate is full of freshness, in a dense lengthens, developing beautiful floral notes

I would never have bought this bottle with a really kitsch color and label  ... but the corny fuctia heart on the label reminded me that in a few days it is Valentine’s Day and is good for everyone to rediscover a bit of romance and sweetness!  So I share with you something that I would never have bought  but that isn’t really bad… appearance deceives you!

TU VIN PLUS AUX SOIREES, 2012, MAS DEL PERIE, Vin-de-France, Carrefour, 9.00€ 

”Tu Vin Plus Aux Soirées” is the name of this cuvée, a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Franc. It’s non-vintage, has no sulphur added, no fining, no filtration; pure expression of the grapes, a whole bottle of honesty and nature. Vin de France, vin de table!  That’s what you get when you don’t play by French wine law rules.  No mention of the appellation you’re in, no Vin de Pays either; hell, can’t even mention the grape(s) on the bottle!  You are on your own… As non traditional and unusual as the label is, it fits the wine quite well! 

-Color: +             Dark ruby color.

-Nose: ++            Dark purple fruit and spice. Blackberry & Pomegranate.

-Mouth: ++          Rich in fruits with notes of spice, round and smooth, complex finish and pretty tannins.                           

This wine is half Cabernet Franc, a grape illegal here, thus the “Vin de France” lack of appellation & no vintage on the label. The name is a pun on “Tu Viens Plus Aux Soirees” meaning “You’re no longer coming at parties?” ,the best translation I can come up with for this oddly eye catching label, a reference to a famous duet of French humorists, Omar et Fred, and one of their catchphrase.

The design of a wine label can make or break the success of a new wine introduced to the market, what do You think about ??

Drink cheap. Drink well!