Three wines from Jeroboams tasting in London last month. It was a very good line-up, although a couple of reds were showing a touch more brett than I like.
2008 Stratagème Argile, Coteaux du Languedoc, France
A dry white made from traditional Languedoc varieties (mainly grenache blanc and bourboulenc) by Thierry Rodriguez. Rich, dry and fresh on the nose, with succulent citrus fruit, steely mineral flavours and good acidity on the palate. 12.5% abv. There’s a good red Saint-Chinian too, Stratagème Schistes, but I particularly like this white and the Saint-Chinian below.
£11.95, or £10.76 by the case, Jeroboams
2008 Col d’Arribat Saint-Chinian Roquebrun
A warm, spicy, garrigue-scented nose and a mouthful of fresh, sweet, sun-warmed berries and earthy spice, all lightly upholstered with ripe tannins. 13.5% abv.
£9.75, or £8.78 by the case, Jeroboams
2007 Il Casalone Poggio Colombi, Toscana Maremma, Italy
A convincing Italian take on Bordeaux grape varieties – 90% cabernet sauvignon and 10% petit verdot – from coastal Tuscany. Sweet herbs and chocolate-coated cherries on the nose; a ripe, full palate with spicy sweetness, savoury richness and a gentle chewiness. A very fair price for an estate-produced Tuscan red of this quality. 14% abv.
£10.95, or £9.86 by the case, Jeroboams.
