After an energetic weekend wine was definitely on the agenda.

Saturday night matched salmon with  De Lucca, Sauvignon Blanc, Reserva 2009 from Uruguay.


This was very smooth and fruity, missing a bit of the French style minerality, but still an excellent match for the fish. Uruguay is one of those countries that is on the up. See www.winesofuruguay.co.uk for some excellent wines. I prefer the red wines, perhaps it's the Tannat fix that I need, talking of which...........

Sunday and it's a bottle of Le Faite, Producteurs Plaimont, Saint Mont 2007. 


This red from the local and excellent co-operative is Tannat with Pinenc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's style reminds me of the modern style of Madiran, one of its neighbours. Deep and dark with sweet red and black fruits with a touch of vanilla on the nose the wine is surprisingly sweet and elegant with smooth tannins. It is long on the finish with a dryness but not in the least excessive. The fact that it was developed in consultation with local restauranteurs suggests that Plaimont were trying to make an early drinking wine for consumption with food. They have achieved that beautifully. The presentation is somewhat idiosyncratic, with a wooden tag attached to a wax stamp rather than a label.

We visited the co-operative in July, they produce 98% of Saint Mont and do a fine job with excellent reds and whites and also Madiran and Pacherenc, all at very competitive prices.It would be nice to see more imported.

Massaya Gold Selection 2007

Lebanese wine has had a standard bearer in Chateau Musar for some years, excellent as the red is there are also new makers challenging for the headline spot. One of these is Massaya from the Bekaa valley. I have sampled a couple of their red wine, the Gold Selection is far and away the best.

Made with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Mourvedre and 10 % Syrah, the wine is built to last with plenty of structure, ripe fruit and a long finish. Predominantly red fruits, strawberry and raspberry on the nose which comes through in the mouth along with a grippy finish from dry tannins suggesting there is more to come, if you have the patience.The mourvedre adds a gamey flavour, I would think it ripens more consistently here than in France; where in wine like Tempiers' Bandol cuvees it can be superb.

This went beautifully with lamb and continued to yield more fresh fruit flavours as it opened up further in the glass. It definitely benefited from decanting for an hour, could have done with more and leaving for another couple of years. But the bottle had been calling to me for some time and I could not resist.

Thanks again to D. Byrnes of Clitheroe for feeding my habit!!