I am not an expert, just a discerning wine lover or amateur de vin (as the French say), but everyone has a different palate, likes and dislikes so it must be understood that any of my recommendations are personal. I just hope that you find them useful or at the very least - interesting. I also hope you enjoy my photos. It is more fun sharing then keeping them backed up on a hard drive.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

A New Start and Great QPRs in 2013

Rather than just focusing on individual QPR wines in 2013, I plan to highlight stylistic or regional QPRs. This will help broaden the blog and exposure to styles and regions.


The South-west of France and the Languedoc-Rousillion is full of QPR wines. I have visited the Midi a number of times and although there are many standard table wines there are some wonderfully made value wines from Saint Chinian, Corbieres, Minervois etc.

Many of these wines are GSM blends - Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre and sometimes Cinsault. This makes for a lovely, spicy full-bodied wine.

My example above - Lurton Ministre - is just such blend from Saint Chinian. I enjoyed the when I purchased it but must say this 2005 was still drinking beautiful so when well made there is some holding power.

This $16 bottle still had lovelyplum and black cherry fruit with a slight earthiness on the nose and a hint of wild herb that followed through to the palate. The wine had a pleasant med+ finish.

http://www.saq.com/page/en/saqcom/vin-rouge/francois-lurton-domaine-du-ministre-2008/913178

http://www.winealign.com/wines/2631-Domaine-Du-Ministre-Rouge-2005

http://90pluswines.com/Wine/5047KPQ6/St.-Chinian-Domaine-du-Ministre/.aspx

http://www.domainesfrancoislurton.com/category.php?id_category=5

http://www.cellartracker.com/list.asp?fInStock=0&Table=List&iUserOverride=0&szSearch=J%2E+%26+F%2E+Lurton+Saint%2DChinian+Domaine+du+Ministre#selected%3DW1504187_1_K6e9ae5d600e0db7352c191f732613be9

As you can see from my LCBO St. Chinian product search below this tasting note and price-point is typical of the region so there is lots of choice. Play around with Faugeres, Corbieres and Minervois too. Enjoy!

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=St.+Chinian&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN