Lafond Roc-Epine Lirac Rouge 2018, Souther Rhône
Along with Gigondas and Vacqueyras, Lirac is a Cru appellation that is highly regard for its powerful red wines. So much so that, they are the Crus that are said to offer the best alternatives to Châteauneuf du Pape but without the exuberant price tag.
Lafond’s winemaking heritage dates back to 1870 and the family run estate now own holdings in Lirac, Tavel, Châteauneuf du Pape as well as the generic Côtes du Rhône appellation. The estate was recently headed up by Pascal but more recently, his two sons Gregoire and Jean-Baptiste run the full operation with the former in charge of winemaking and the latter managing the commercial entity. All Lafond wines are produced organically.
| Wine | Lafond Roc-Epine Lirac Rouge |
| Style | Bold with depth and complexity; a great Châteauneuf du Pape alternative |
| Variety | GSM: Grenache (60%), Syrah (30%), Mourvedre (10%) |
| Vinetage | 2018 |
| Winemaking | stainless steel before spending 3-4 months in new French oak, 6 months in bottle before sale |
| ABV | 14% |
| Price | £16.99 |
Domaine Saint Rose La Garrigue 2018, Pays d’Oc
| Wine | DSR La Garrigue |
| Style | Complex with both red fruits and warming spice |
| Variety | GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Ageing | |
| ABV | |
| Price | £12.00 |
Domaine Saint Rose Le Pinacle Syrah 2018, Pays d’Oc
| Wine | DSR Le Pinnacle |
| Style | a bold and expressive red with black fruits and mocha tones |
| Variety | Cote-Rotie tradition: Syrah (90%), Vognier (5%) |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Ageing | |
| ABC | |
| Price | £15.50 |
Domaine Saint Rose Le Mistral Merlot 2018, Pays d’Oc
| Wine | DSR Le Mistral |
| Style | medium bodied delectably fruity merlot |
| Variety | Merlot |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Ageing | |
| ABC | |
| Price | £12.00 (currently awaiting new stock) |
Espirit D’Alienor Montagne Saint-Emilion 2015, Bordeaux
Exclusive Bacchus Import
| Wine | Espirit D’Alienor Montagne Saint-Emilion |
| Style | |
| Variety | Merlot (90%), Cabernet Franc (10%) |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Ageing | |
| ABV | |
| Price: | £22.00 |
Chateau Haunt-Chaigneau Lalande de Pomerol 2015, Bordeaux
Exclusive Bacchus Import
| Wine | Chateau Haunt-Chaigneau Lalande de Pomerol |
| Style | |
| Variety | Merlot (85%), Cabernet Franc (15%) |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Ageing | |
| ABV | |
| Price | £29.00 |
Stephane Ogier Cote-Rotie, Northern Rhône
| Wine | Stephane Ogier Cote-Rotie |
| Style | Deeply concentrated and complex yet vibrant and rich; indulgent Cote-Rotie |
| Variety | Syrah |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Ageing | |
| ABV | |
| Price | £50.00 |
