Wine Republic - the blog

French Peasants are Revolting

Decanter.com reports extraordinary scenes in the south of France and has video footage of angry vignerons destroying 10, 000 hectolitres of Chilean wine near Montpellier. Demonstrators also wrecked two supermarkets selling foreign wines and smashed rail signalling equipment. Total damage estimated at over €3m and they have threatened to step up their actions unless the government offers them more support (ie money).

Now does that make you want to go out and buy more French wine? No I thought not. What a shame they don’t put as much energy and inventiveness into making and marketing wines that the world wants, then they might not have these problems. They might like to know that their problems are not uncommon. Australia has a glut that has led to collapsing grape prices and no government will bail them out. It was the same in California a couple of years ago.

Dunnes' Special Offers in June O5

Dunnes have just emailed me with their special offers for June 2nd to 22nd. Best wines on offer are the Laurent Miquel range. Their varietals are usually €7.99 and they are selling them for 3 for €20. I had the Syrah on friday last by coincidence and it's good. Met the eponynous winemaker, Laurent,  one time and he's passionate to the point of obsessional. Export sales are by his Irish wife Nisea. Up a notch in quality are their Nord Sud label, usually €9.99 but €4 off if you buy two. Their top end stuff isn't in the sale but it is superb. They also make Cazal Viel as sold in tesco and that was my wine of the year a couple of years ago.

There are offers on their San Pedro Chilean range but they are fairly average in my experience. Best of them is the Carmenere.