South Of France Reds Case

A deeply coloured, fruity and balanced Languedoc red, with a savoury finish. Neighbouring Minervois and the city of Carcassonne, Cabardès is unusual in the Languedoc for its choice of grape varieties from Bordeaux as well as more traditional varieties. All thrive in a region where Mediterranean and Atlantic influences combine.

The Filhols have farmed this part of Vire-sur-Lot for generations and have well-exposed vines above the Lot River. This delicious blend of 70% malbec and 30% merlot offers excellent value. Ripe, full and fruity with food-friendly grip on the palate this is perfect with duck or a beefburger kept simple for the tannins to get to grips with.

The Bascou family are farmers who grow grapes and olives in the Languedoc. Several grape varieties are grown, including picpoul as well as reds. Here syrah is blended with a little mourvèdre to create a succulent, soft and fruity red for drinking with or without food.

Grenache is the main red variety in the Roussillon, the warmest province of France. Very versatile, grenache here makes a deliciously full and fruity red which can be served cool.

A pure, rounded merlot that delivers all the pleasure of this friendly grape variety. In 2024 Domaine du Bosc, a member favourite and source of excellent-quality southern French wines for many years, was bought by local winemaker Jérôme Vic. Much needed investment has followed and the wine has never been better.

Great-value grenache-syrah blend from the foothills of the Massif Central in southern France, packed with ripe tasting, juicy fruit. The name of this Saint-Chinian has undergone a minor change, but the wine remains the same as in the past. Saint-Chinian is a large and somewhat diverse appellation in the Languedoc. The countryside is hilly and sometimes quite wild, planted with dense scrubland known as garrigue. Vines are planted on well-exposed, south-facing slopes and in the extremely high temperatures of August and September grapes can reach very high levels of sugar, high enough to encourage a race between man and boar, as to who gets to them first!