Tour of France Spectator Red Case

In this mixed case you will receive two bottles each of the following wines;

Mas Carlot Rouge, Générations, Costières de Nîmes 2022
"According to FVDs Esme Johnstone, Mas Carlot 'Générations' from Costières de Nîmes, south-west of the Rhône Valley, is the best-value red on their list. A Grenache/Syrah blend with just a stiffening dash of Mourvèdre, its fermented in stainless steel and aged in concrete, allowing the juiciness, freshness and spiciness of the dark berry fruit to shine. FVD have imported Mas Carlots wines for well over a decade, and when we offered a parcel of this very wine in August it promptly sold out. The price is even lower this time, so get your skates on."

Château de Clotte, Castillon 2019
"The 2019 Ch. de Clotte 'Tradition' from Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux is another old favourite of ours which we offered very successfully last summer. The intervening six months have been more than kind, and its bang on song, with soft, mellow cassis fruit and a touch of inky intensity. I love wines like this and still marvel that one can buy mature claret of this quality so cheaply. I know I bang on about it, but Bordeaux really can be wonderful value if you know where to look, such as here."

Mas de Cadenet Rouge, Côtes-de-Provence 2020
"The 2020 Mas de Cadenet Rouge from the sun-baked Côtes de Provence, is a 70 per cent Syrah/30 per cent Grenache red blend from FVDs fabled rosé supplier. I found it a bit unyielding at first thats what a month on the bloody water wagon does for you but on the second sip the lively, rich, spicy dark fruit flooded through, and I gave it a big thumbs up. Its hugely enjoyable."

Fleurie, Château de Fleurie 2022
"The 2022 Ch. de Fleurie from Maison Jean Loron in, erm, Fleurie, Beaujolais, also scored impressively high marks. Made from 100 per cent Gamay, of course, its absolutely charming and so succulent its almost thirst-quenching, with abundant blackberry/cherry fruit and barely noticeable tannins. Serve it slightly chilled, sit back and enjoy."

Château Courac, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Rouge, Laudun 2022
"The 2022 Ch. Courac, from vineyards surrounding the Provencal village of Tresques, near Orange, is a Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun of real style, with violets and rose petals on the nose and plenty of jammy, spicy bramble fruit in the mouth. Its perfect winter fare."

Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine du Bicheron 2022
"The 2022 Domaine Bicheron Bourgogne Rouge is the red of FVD's bestselling white wine, the Domaine Bicheron Mâcon-Péronne, which Im sure youve enjoyed. This 100 per cent old-vine Pinot Noir is just as fine and just as keenly priced. Slightly muted on the nose, theres plenty of silky, ripe cherry fruit in the mouth, followed by an appetisingly savoury finish, proving that fine Pinot neednt cost the earth."

All reviews by Jonathan Ray from The Spectator Magazine