With all the hot hot heat lately, the bottles of red have been stuck in the cupboard under the stairs, neglected. So because today has been drizzly up north and the temperature had dropped slightly, from boiling to a gentle simmer, I thought it would be daft not to get a bit of tannin back in my life.
I've been drinking Château Aigues Vives "Cuvée d'Exception" 2007 from Corbières in France. Corbières is a wine making area within Languedoc-Rousillon, right down in the south, a region which is great for offering excellent value for money.
This is a bottle that I picked up at Majestic in York for £9.99 a short while ago and I had pretty much forgotten about, so it has come in very handy for perking up an otherwise alcohol free Tuesday night. I love this job.
So, the reviewy type business! On the nose, Ch. Aigues Vives is really appealing. There is dark berries, chocolate and a hint of leather, lots of layers of aroma that give the impression of a fuller bodied red. HOWEVER, although very pleasant, this is slightly misleading. In the mouth the wine isn't too full bodied at all, instead a bit closer to the lighter end of the scale. The dark fruit becomes more like cherry, although the coffee does follow through onto the palate. There is plenty of acidity, at first it feels a little harsh but when the wine has had a couple of minutes to open up, everything becomes a little more balanced.
Chateau Aigues Vives is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Carignan and with so many varieties involved in the blend it's just about complex enough to keep it interesting for even a hardened wine lover. For the price it's pretty damn good!
Is it just me or does "Hardened wine lover sound wrong"??
If you've been invited out for dinner this is an ideal wine to take along as it has the benefit of being very approachable, there is nothing much to dislike about it but it is interesting enough to keep any wine ponce entertained.
In my opinion, this red is best served after spending 10 minutes in the fridge, so as to avoid it becoming too jammy.
You can pick up a bottle of the Chateau Aigues Vives 2010 from Majestic for £9.99 or £8.99 if you buy two bottles.
What's your favourite Corbieres? Let us know by commenting below or on our twitter and facebook pages.
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