French red wine values tasted in 2008

The selected French bottlings have given me much pleasure for the price. I have purchased them again for personal consumption. I would consider doing so even with a 50 percent mark-up. (My criteria are explained here.)

A smaller best-buy page is available which skips wines not imported into the USA.
 

The below wines were tasted in France, in 2008 (between April and December).The tasting notes are listed by increasing prices, with the following format:

Appellation - producer - plot or brand - variety
Vintage - approximate price - general impression - on nose - on palate - after swallowing
 

 Vin-de-pays-d'oc - Intervins - Cabernet sauvignon
2006 - 2 € - conventional agricultural practice leads to a scrambled fruit - the nose mainly shows red pepper and lead pencil - the balance is frank, the flavours are of red pepper and lead pencil
Ed, filiale de Carrefour
 

 Vin-de-pays-des-Coteaux-de-l'Ardèche - Vignerons ardéchois - (en cubitainer ou en vrac) - gamay
2007 - 2.5 € - aromas of ripe strawberry - the palate is conventional (unlike a natural wine), firm
 

 Vin-de-pays-des-Coteaux-de-l'Ardèche - Vignerons ardéchois - Cuvée Modestine - gamay
2007 - 3 € - cherry on the nose - cherry in the mouth, the fruit is not clean, as if pummeled, the balance is firm
 

 Côtes-du-rhône - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Le Pape noir
2006 - 5 € - served at a cool temperature, this wine has more intensity of fruit than Le Pape noir 2005 tasted at the same age - the nose primarily shows black fruit and 'garrigue' - the mouth is dense (but less so than the 2005), showing black fruit and spice, the wine feels round, tender (no tanins), supple

Where to purchase Les Vignerons d Estezargues wines
 

 Cahors - Clos Siguier - (Malbec, 95%)
2005 - 6 € - this wine improves with airing, it is a beauty of delicacy, balance and perfume - it's like you go out to a garden after a shower: dust, raspberry, flower, an herbal note, then black licorice and a hint of cocoa, very pure and enticing - so lively in the mouth! flavours echo the nose, the wine dries the palate, with a nice texture, light on its feet (unlike a cahors or a Malbec): firm and a great complement to food
 

 Crozes-hermitage - Cave de Tain - [syrah]
2005 - 7 € - a wine with structure and a complete maturity of the grapes - the nose shows blackcurrant, blackberry and roasted notes -b rich on the palate, red fruit, violet, firm, dries the palate, balanced, a keeper - final notes of blackcurrant, cherry and spice
 

 Saint-joseph - Cave de Tain - Les Perdrigolles - [syrah]
2005 - 9 € - strawberry on the nose - strawberry in the mouth, a slightly incomplete ripeness, juicy, balanced
en grande distribution
 

 Saint-chinian - Jean-Marie Rimbert - Les Travers de Marceau - (cinsault, syrah, mourvèdre, carignan)
2006 - 7.2 € - nicely perfumed - the nose is very fruity (plum) - a muscular entry, red fruit, cutting acidity, ponderous and yet very lively

Where to purchase Rimbert wines
 

 Vin-de-pays-de-l'Ardèche - Le Mazel - Saint-Philippe - (syrah)
2005 - 9 € - red fruit jelly dominates the nose - onctuous, red fruit jelly, the wine is not drying the palate

Where to purchase Le Mazel wines
 

 alsace - Audrey et Christian Binner - pinot noir
2006 - 11 € - Morello cherry dominates the nose - little onctuosity, Morello cherry, a note of fur, light, firm, asks for more!

Where to purchase Binner wines
 
 

When choosing wines, remember to buy according to your needs.