Southern France Beauties...

Provence is touted for many things but I find the wines to be under appreciated and there are certainly some fabulous value for quality. The Triennes Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah blend is great illustration of that.

This 9 Euro blend was a prize find for me when I was in Cannes.

Domaine de Triennes Les Auréliens - 2008, Vin de Pays du Var, Provence $13.00 - 17.60

This red is robust. Black fruit, gamey, spicy, herbaceous. Complex and balanced.

http://www.triennes.com/wines.asp

http://www.saq.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=75705&parent_category_rn=&shouldCachePage=

http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-82390-2008-domaine-de-triennes-coteaux-varois-les-aureliens-rouge-provence-france

Next up Cazouls-les-Beziers (Languedoc) and Domaine Castan where I visited a wonderful family winery and tasted the whole range. One wine really stood out as populist and approachable and even though this Syrah and Grenache blend is quite different in 2007 & 2009, they were both pleasing. I enjoyed tasting them side-by-side so much that I bought two and compared them again when I got home!

Domaine Castan - Terrior du Lias- 2007, Coteaux du Languedoc - 8.00 Euro
Pronounced nose with dark fruit, clove, pepper and spice. Licorice on nose which follows through on palate. Lively on palate.

Domaine Castan - Terrior du Lias- 2009, Coteaux du Languedoc - 8.00 Euro
Fresh black and red fruit with hints of spice and pepper.

http://domandrecastan.free.fr/carte.html

http://www.prlog.org/11641212-smithfield-wine-introduces-domaine-castan-wines-to-the-uk-market.html