Rather than merely watching the future unfold Plaimont’s ethos is one of hope and possibility founded on the belief that the answers to today’s winemaking and viticultural challenges lie in pairing modern technology with previous generations’ ancestral knowledge of the land and its vines Although the fruits of Plaimont’s efforts are ultimately seen in its wines this ‘cooperative of cooperatives’ is equally focused on the natural and human resources that make them possible Plaimont brings together 600 families managing a total of 5,300ha across IGP Côtes de Gascogne AOC Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh and AOC Jurançon Plaimont’s work – and identity – is based on a collective effort to preserve and reinterpret the terroir of the French Pyrenees and its local varieties The famed monastery of the village of Saint-Mont anticipating many of the trends and challenges that have dominated the wine world in recent decades Their approach and philosophy has been equally pioneering holistic understanding of environmental and social sustainability all work is done with two timescales in mind – ‘tomorrow and the long-term,’ says Olivier Bourdet-Pees managing director and head winemaker at Plaimont: ‘We need to have a viable business model and make wines that people want to buy and drink whilst also preserving our land and heritage for future generations.’ Bourdet-Pees explains how Plaimont’s guiding strategy has allowed it to tackle – and to an extent avoid – many of the issues producers are elsewhere only now beginning to address: water shortages rising alcohol levels and changes in consumer demand ‘The answer to many of these challenges is to be found in the past – in the wines our grandfathers produced and drank,’ continues Bourdet-Pees managing director and head winemaker at Plaimont Plaimont has focused attention and resources on extensive ampelographic research – much of which the cooperative has led and funded itself By identifying and propagating ancestral varieties – once avoided due to their lower yields and difficult late ripening – Plaimont has carefully selected a palette of grapes particularly well-suited to the viticultural demands of climate change Arrufiac and Pinenc deliver a natural balance of alcohol these cépages show adaptivity and require fewer resources than some of their international counterparts while also encapsulating Plaimont’s landscape and history fresh wines that are naturally moderate in alcohol,’ explains Bourdet-Pees ‘We have great belief in our terroir and indigenous varieties.’ This trust in the land is coupled with the unwavering sense of community that makes Plaimont a social project as much as a pioneering winemaking venture Plaimont treasures its historic local varieties David Pipe might have one eye on the Grand National meeting with Jurancon who recorded his fifth win from eight starts in the 2m½f handicap hurdle It was a second successive course-and-distance victory for the six-year-old who earlier in the week was entered in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso "The further he went the better and his formlines are strong,” said Pipe and we might have a look at Aintree with him." Anthony Honeyball hailed the excellence of Sam Brown after he landed another big payout for the yard in the opening 3m2f veterans’ handicap chase Fourth in the Denman Chase at the track last month Sam Brown was the oldest of the eight-runner field and notched his ninth career success "He’s cracking isn’t he," said Honeyball “This season he’s picked up another £50,000 in prize-money I know he’s gone down the handicap route now but it was still a good run and in the Denman here he collected what was his Honeyball added: "He’s been brilliant for everyone Rivers Corner continued Joe Tizzard’s good form with success in the 2m7½f novice handicap chase on only his second start over fences Tizzard said: "I thought I was slightly throwing him in the deep end when I entered him but it’s a big day for a little horse like that He’s got his limitations but it’s the best we’ve seen him "I think the plan was to come chasing with him anyway as he stays and he jumps Gary Moore believes Authentic Legacy has "put everything right" after getting off the mark at the seventh attempt Having placed second in two of his four previous starts this season the five-year-old stuck on strongly to score in the 2m½f conditional jockeys' novice handicap hurdle Moore said: "It’s been a long time coming as he’s hit the crossbar enough times Sometimes the owners don’t wait that long but he’s put everything right." Harry Cobden rode a double on Guard Duty in the 2m4½f handicap hurdle and Heron In The Park in the bumper Booster Bob trades at 880-1 but storms home under stunning Sean Bowen ride to win the Greatwood Gold Cup  'We wanted to see him back to what we know he can do and that was superb' - Grey Dawning delights Dan Skelton  50-1 outsider Senecia stuns odds-on El Fabiolo to win the Webster Cup at Navan  Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more Published on 1 March 2025inReports Copyright © 2025 Spotlight Sports Group Limited or its licensors, all rights reserved The variety is reasonably attractive to winemakers as it performs well in the vineyard, producing thick-skinned berries with high levels of both sugar and acidity These three factors make the grape very well suited to sweet wine production: grapes can remain on the vine for a long time developing plenty of sweetness while still retaining acidity The thick skins provide protection from rot It is almost impossible to talk about Gros Manseng without talking also about the closely related Petit Manseng The two share a nomenclature that is distinguished only by the size of the berries: "gros" and "petit" mean large and small respectively Gros Manseng is believed to be the offspring of its smaller-berried namesake and an as-yet unidentified variety Gros Manseng covers much more vineyard acreage than Petit Manseng although the latter is considered to be the finer of the two varieties Usually, Petit Manseng is used in the production of sweet wines and Gros Manseng makes up the bulk of the dry wines. There are of course exceptions to this rule, and many wines that are made of a blend of the two Food pairings for Gros Manseng wines include: *All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change Plenty in this novice hurdle look longer-term/handicap projects but JURANCON cemented the positive start he’s made in this sphere for David Pipe when chasing home another promising sort in Kap Vert at Exeter six weeks ago and he rates a big player here with a first-time tongue strap fitted dropped in trip following his Ascot third to Western Knight ahead of free-going front-runner Big Ginge who’s been runner-up in both his starts over hurdles Those who have already run over hurdles don’t set that high a standard and Nicky Henderson has his string in excellent nick so LAUGHING JOHN is fancied to make a winning debut in this four-year-olds’ contest who made a winning debut in a fillies’ event at Ludlow last month has a penalty to carry as a result but looks the main danger ahead of Highbury Hill who kept on well to finish eight lengths third in the same race MOULINS CLERMONT was upped markedly in trip and left his chase debut well behind when second to Herakles Westwood over this course and distance four weeks ago and should have more to offer over fences for Gary & Josh Moore He shades the vote over the thriving Jasmin de Grugy who improved again when making it four wins in a row on his debut over fences at Southwell last time New Order is another to consider after his easy win at Warwick Lots with chances in this handicap hurdle so at the likely odds it is worth siding with Nigel Twiston-Davies’ new recruit DANCING IN BRAZIL to capitalise on a handy mark and make a winning return having left Alan King Harry Derham’s lightly-raced Norn Iron looks to have better days ahead of him now he goes into handicaps and rates a big danger Lightningupourdays and Knight Templar need factoring in too DON’T RIGHTLY KNOW has been fast-tracked to listed company by Polly Gundry in this mares’ contest after proving to be an absolute natural on her first try over fences at Exeter last month when making all to win a handicap by ten lengths and she can justify her connections’ confidence with Harry Cobden in the saddle this time The thriving Lady Balko who completed a hat-trick in handicaps last month is feared most in what looks a competitive event despite the small field An intriguing finale with the narrow vote in favour of lightly-raced six-year-old GETURGUCCION at the foot of the weights Alan King’s mare makes a quick switch to handicaps having finished runner-up in both starts over hurdles to date in this sphere to date and appeals as being potentially well treated now her stamina is tested further on her first try at three miles Job and Prophesea head up the dangers in that order PPB Counterparty Services Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority. For customers in the UK, PPB Counterparty Services Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission Top wine pros share the sweet wines they think deserve more love from Pedro Ximénez Sherry to Moscato d’Asti “Jurançon is an incredible category that most people haven’t had much exposure to Clos Joliette is the benchmark in many ways is something we’re currently pouring by the glass.” — Cory Holt beverage director and general manager of Zimmi’s “One of the most underrated dessert wines in my opinion is Malvasia delle Lipari, a passito from the Aeolian Islands near Sicily This wine is crafted from partially raisinated grapes which gives it a rich yet vibrant character The island’s abundant sunshine imparts flavors of wildflowers like broom and honey while the volcanic soils bring a refreshing acidity that balances its natural sweetness What’s truly remarkable about Malvasia delle Lipari is how it manages to be both rich and fresh at the same time—a balance that’s rare in many dessert wines we particularly enjoy the 2012 vintage from Antichi Vinai which stands out for its depth and complexity The wine undergoes a low-temperature fermentation process that enhances its exotic aromas creating a unique and elegant dessert wine experience especially for those who crave a wine with a bit more acidity to complement the sweetness.”—Danny Mastropierro Keep up with the latest restaurant news from our award winners: Subscribe to our free Private Guide to Dining newsletter! The first family of Sicilian wine teams with French investors to make biodynamic, bi-cultur… As CEO of Houston’s Goodnight Hospitality—the group behind restaurants March, Rosie … Winemaker Jared Etzel moves on from Domaine Roy & Fils to success with a new Pinot Noir … Winemakers bringing the region’s terroir to the fore Castello Solicchiata is the volcano’s most historic noble winery. Why is it hidden away? The Italian wine visionary sat down with  Wine Spectator's editor and publisher to chat … JURANCON was a welcome winner at Newbury on Saturday, his third win of the season on his first try in handicap company. His form figures for us now read 12121211 in his career so as you can see he is a very nice horse who always runs his race. He won this race off a mark of 127 and did things pretty comfortably. Jurancon was our 46th winner of the 2024-25 National Hunt season and draws us level with winners for last year’s total. We are well ahead on prize money won and with just under two months left until the end of this season, I would hope we can add a few more to the tally. Pachacuti returned to form to be second at Newbury on Friday while Walkadina ran a good race to fill the same position at Ludlow the day before. River Run Free could not complete his hat trick of chase wins at Leicester last week, finishing a close fourth this time. He returned from the race not quite himself and is a reason for a below par effort. We will get him right and he can resume winning ways in due course. It is a quiet start to the week for us with our first runners likely to be on Thursday. Lock Out is an intended runner in the conditional jockeys chase at Wincanton and Ben Bromley will ride. He ran well to be second at Hereford last time and will enjoy the sunshine forecast this week and drying ground. At Fontwell, Saccary will run in the maiden hurdle while we have Royal Mer, Activist, Jaipaletemps and Bras D’or entered on the card. The latter is a lovely young horse who will carry the famous colours of owner J P McManus and he has settled in well to life at Pond House. On Friday, we have entries at Exeter and Leicester. While the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival next week is well and truly on, Windbeneathmywings will not be heading to the Champion Bumper on Wednesday. One of the favourites for the race since bolting up at Ascot before Christmas we were very much looking forward to seeing him in action but sadly, he has suffered a setback. Gericault Roque is in good form at home and has two entries next week, in the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday (12/1) and the Kim Muir (16/1) on Thursday. Runner up at the Festival in 2022 he has only been in seen three times since which includes a third place in the December Gold Cup at Newbury that year. King Turgeon holds an entry in the Ultima chase at Cheltenham on Tuesday. Plan A was to run at Doncaster last Saturday but unfortunately he was a non-runner after pricking his foot the day before. Thankfully he has taken no time at all to recover and he was back full of beans on the gallops on Monday morning. Perhaps he was telling us he wanted to go to Cheltenham! I shall be discussing options with his owners before the confirmation stage later this week but he is another who will appreciate the drying conditions this week and at 16/1 for the race he may well take his chance. Dave Pipe’s column as told to Richard Walsh Comments Tel: 01984 632731[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 How do you know you’ll like a wine if you don’t try it Here’s a guide to wine styles to help you pick something new that you might enjoy When I find myself frustrated by the wall-to-wall sauvignon blanc and malbec in supermarkets often reach for the same product time after time it’s too much of a risk to experiment with wine – after all why spend a tenner on something you’re not sure you’ll like The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. how do you ever discover something new to love if you don’t keep trying new things when you weren’t drinking malbec and were more likely to be drinking shiraz when you used automatically to reach for a bottle of chablis instead (mind you it’s hard to remember a time when sauvignon blanc didn’t dominate our white wine drinking habits) used to be a cheap option for those who loved crisp which we used to get for about €6 on holiday in the Languedoc but nowadays that costs a tenner at Sainsbury’s (for a cut-price alternative try the same store’s jurançon sec in today’s pick) I think it would help all of us to be more adventurous if we knew what style a particular wine was What other full-bodied reds tick the malbec box And where do you go if you want a change from rioja That’s something the supermarkets have occasionally flirted with but they’ve never wholeheartedly embraced the idea The fact that some now have ranges called “Discovery” and “Found” suggests there are more adventurous drinkers out there the best indications of a wine’s style are its alcohol level age and the presence or absence of oak-ageing (all are generally indicated on the back label) more recent vintages (2021 and 2022) and no oak should be looking for wines of 14% or more a reference to barrel-ageing and maybe a more mature vintage it’s all a bit like cooking: we all have favourite recipes that we trundle out regularly but occasionally we feel moved to attempt something we haven’t made before but then you’ll never discover a new favourite dish – or a wine Baron Amarillo Rueda Verdejo 2022 £5.29 Aldi Spanish rueda is a natural habitat for sauvignon blanc drinkers Château de Hauterive Cahors 2019 £8.50 The Wine Society this is the region it came from originally There’s a smidge of merlot in this immensely drinkable Taste the Difference Jurançon Sec 2021 £7 (on offer) Sainsbury’s crisp white to have in the fridge for when you get back from work Especially if you find sauvignon a bit OTT supple red that’s also made with tempranillo known in the Toro region of Spain as tinta do Toro Cantina del Garda Bardolino 2021/22 £9.99 (or £7.99 on mix-six) Majestic crunchy Italian wine made from the same grapes as valpolicella would fit the bill perfectly For more by Fiona Beckett, go to fionabeckett.substack.com Joliette is a tiny vineyard of 1.5 hectares in Chapelle de Rousse that bucolic region in the Pyrenees foothills The Standard's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site Sign up for our free weekly newsletter for hot deals I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice Sweet white wines – AKA dessert wines – are some of the most lauded and luxurious in the world they’re characterised by sweet flavours that are present thanks to residual natural sugars in the grape juice that don’t fully develop into alcohol during a shorter fermentation process Winemakers also use a couple of clever techniques to boost the concentration of sugar futher from noble rot to late harvesting and cold temperatures all of which define the dessert wines we’ve come to know and love Best wine by women winemakers to drink in 2024 Best cheap wines to buy in 2024 from supermarkets and online stores Best Primitivo wines to drink in 2024 from Aldi to Ocado dry wines can taste too acidic when paired with sweet dishes so it’s important to have something that properly complements the sugar in your food Dessert wines have high levels of sugar themselves – and that’s what makes them such great choices And it’s not just sweet dishes they pair with; sweet white wines create a delicious contrast to salty cheeses.” They add: “Noble Rot may sound like an unusual term to associate with dessert wines – but it’s the secret behind the world’s best late-harvest dessert wines are made with grapes that have been left on the vine until late in the harvest season resulting in higher sugar levels and riper flavours Sauternes is arguably the most famous of the dessert wines it’s made predominantly with Semillion grapes grapes in a base wine made from standard grapes Muscat grapes are used throughout the world to make sweet white wines where the fermentation process is stopped early – while there’s still plenty of sugar left.” we’ve rounded-up the best bottles to buy and buy right now Not quite as rich as Sauternes but sharing some of its irresistible honey and candied fruit notes Domaine de Lassere Jurancon is great as an alternative aperitif or as a more traditional digestif with apple crumble It’s positively bursting with orange blossom flavours Chateau du Seuil Cerons is brimming with apricot sweetness beautifully balanced with crisp lemon acidity It’s made on the banks of the Garonne in the Graves region of France by a husband-and-wife team from Wales This tiny but mighty bottle from Adnams combines honeyed sweetness with wonderful freshness to offer a rich and fruity dessert wine Hailing from Denbies – the winery in Surrey – the straw-yellow Noble Harvest offers an explosion of candied fruits on the palate with a silky-smooth texture and a well-balanced The grapes in this bottle are grown in the famed Tokaj region of northeastern Hungary and southeastern Slovenia and boasts flavours of dried apricot and lemon curd offset with hints of honey and pineapple Bright golden in colour with vibrant flavours of honey Errazuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc is a soft and velvety sip that wraps up any meal beautifully Everyone’s favourite Sauvignon Blanc label is now serving up a sweet take on its famously fruity grape complete with citrussy aromas and flavours of stone fruit and orange and grapefruit marmalade Serve lightly chilled with a warm dessert or by itself as an unusual aperitif – its colour makes it the epitome of golden hour Made from grapes that are allowed to shrivel on the wine – this is a good thing trust us – this sweet white wine features aromas of rose petal and lychee with flavours of apricot and pear this half-bottle from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa is made from the Semillon grape and serves up ripe tropical fruit on the nose and balanced acidity and freshness on the palate Winemkaers De Bortoli are known for producing some of the best sweet wines in Australia vanilla and barley sugar flavours that go particularly well with festive puddings The King’s Sticky End Noble Sauvignon Blanc – don’t you just love the name – is all juicy nectarine and peach flavours with spicy citrus zest What’s not to love about Vina Araya Moscatel de Valencia This dessert wine from award-winning Halfpenny Green Wine Estate in Staffordshire is characterised by tropical notes of lemon pineapple and melon that make it the perfect match for cheese or simply by itself as a digestif as you’d expect from the esteemed London wine merchants it’s bursting with luscious flavours of apricot while citrus acidity balances everything out As the most famous dessert wine style of France this Sauternes doesn’t disappoint with delicious flavours of apricot made using the traditional noble-rot method with grapes left to shrivel on the vine for irresistible sweetness this fortified number exudes invigorating aromas of mango and lychee with lemony freshness on the palate and a grand finale of luscious fig from fizzy and light to sticky and caramelly Kristin Donnelly is a writer with nearly two decades of experience crafting stories and recipes for editorial publications She was a food editor at Food & Wine for eight years Kristin is the author of two cookbooks and co-host of the Everything Cookbook podcast These wines have good acidity and can display honeysuckle flavors tend toward weightier fruit such as mango and baked pears giving the wines an added textural dimension mainly due to the thick-skinned Petit Manseng Food pairings for Mansengs – Petit Courbu wines include: Today, the varieties and viticultural approach Plaimont has championed are held up as an example of how to face the challenges of climate change and market saturation through the prism of history and nature – while building a sustainable business that supports the livelihoods of a large community of growers and collaborators. The alignment of market trends with Plaimont’s original mission has long proven the cooperative’s founders and growers right – but they are not resting on their laurels. ‘There’s so much work to do,’ Bourdet-Pees continues. ‘We’ll keep working on drinkability, with a special focus on reinventing the reds. And we hope to remove the use of pesticides across all our vineyards. Above all, we want to remain true to our mission.’ This centuries-old grape from Jurançon could be on the verge of a 'Viognier moment', says Jane Anson. She meets a Thai winemaker in the shadow of the Pyrenees who is helping to tame Petit Manseng; immortalised by French poet Colette as one of the wine world's great seducers - partly because of its fabled status as a source of strength to philandering King Henry IV of France. ‘An accident of nature’ is how owner Robert Alday describes Château de Cabidos. Cabidos is found in a beautiful rolling valley in the Béarn department of southwest France, in the foothills of the Pyrénées mountains, somewhere in between the AOC vineyards of Madiran and Jurançon. But it doesn’t belong to either of them, and instead finds its own way under the IGP Comté Tolosan. All of which makes Cabidos a small vineyard – 8.5 hectares – with some serious challenges. Alday, who lives in St Jean de Luz on the French-Spanish border, is currently heading up numerous large building projects in the ever-expanding city of Bordeaux but this is his first vineyard. A proud Basque native – is there any other kind? – he seems ready to invest where necessary. And to leave things as they are when no change is needed. ‘I have been clear since first arriving here that Méo is the heart of this place,’ he says as we take a long walk through the steeply-sloped vineyards under the still-intense October sunshine. Progress is cheeringly slow as Sakorn-Sériés stops every few minutes to examine the readiness for harvest of the golden-hued, copper-flecked bunches. And then there is the fact that Petit Manseng is fast becoming a sommeliers’ favourite. It’s running the risk of having its Viognier moment, a grape that was almost extinct in the mid 1980s and is now successfully thriving across much of the Rhone and southern France, Australia, California, South Africa, and further afield. And now winemakers around the world are starting to take notice of the overlooked charms of Petit Manseng. Critics, too, are watching and fans of also include the co-founder of The Sampler wine shops in London, Jamie Hutchinson. Already by 2015 Petit Manseng had reached number 260 in the global grape rankings, a 100-point climb within a decade that is worth cheering, as its structure and personality make it worthy of attention. It has surfaced in regions as disparate as Portugal, New Zealand and Australia, and become sought after by winemakers in the fast-growing vineyards of Virginia (funnily enough as has Viognier). Unusually here at Cabidos it is used for both sweet and dry wines – in Jurançon, winemakers more usually turn to Gros Manseng for the dry whites. ‘We decided here that Petit Manseng is the noble variety and it is the one that we want to focus on,’ says Sakorn-Sériés. ‘It has the structure and the acidity for making great dry wines, if you are careful with vinification’. The challenge is walking the line of balance for getting enough sugar to counter the acidity without risking stuck fermentations through a syrupy must. The sweet spot is not lower than 14.5%abv and not higher than 15%abv, giving a very small margin of error. This is labelled as dry, and certainly has the clean balance to justify it, but in fact has 13g/l of residual sugar. Expect an enjoyable blend of rich pear against bracing citrus fruit, with the sweetness coming through most clearly in the mouthfeel and texture. This would be great balance to spicy food – including, yes, a fragrant Thai curry. For me it offers the complexity of a Gerwuztraminer as an accompaniment to this style of food but without the heavy floral fragrance. 92 points / 100 Here you get the full expression of what Petit Manseng can achieve, with notes of white truffle and gently spiced toffee apple. A sour lemon and lime edge keeps the palate clean. The intensity builds slowly but surely; never staying into heaviness. We tasted this with tiny slices of cystallised ginger, and I can not recommend the pairing highly enough. 11.5%abv, 130g/l residual sugar. 95 Edit: Decanter.com staff edited this column to include notes on Colette and Henry IV, and Jamie Hutchinson’s interest in Jurançon. has it all planned in his cleverly titled “Cured de France” guide Illustration by Jessie Kanelos WeinerKick off the tour with La Chouffe a Strong Pale Ale from Brasserie d'Achouffe in Belgium a fifteen-month-aged Gouda from a small organic family-owned farm.More commonly available: Good aged Gouda and a quality Belgian ale should not be hard to find in most areas Illustration by Jessie Kanelos WeinerJuly 7–9: Northwestern FranceThe far northwest of France is a cold Fortunately the people here make the most amazing apple brandy in the world: Calvados paired with a small-production Livarot: a soft pungent cheese seemingly made to be enjoyed with a sip of brandy after dinner.More commonly available: While Calvados Notre Dame is specific there are many delicious options out there keep your eyes peeled for more commonly available Normandy Camembert Illustration by Jessie Kanelos WeinerAs the Tour heads further west refreshing zip and cuts through food like few other wines And what better food to cut through than butter from legendary producer Rodolphe Le Meunier His Beurre de Baratte is made from fresh cream and sprinkled with a pinch of sea salt from miles away What a treat.More commonly available: Muscadet is available at most fine wine shops and ask your local grocer for a good French butter—it likely comes from this region Camin Larreyda’s Jurancon Sec is a textbook example of some of the amazing wines made from hearty the relatively new Bleu de Basques from the Berria de Onetik co-op is an 80-day-aged blue from sheep’s milk that has already won a gold medal from the French Concours Général Agricole.More commonly available: While wines from this region often require a hunt Look for petit Basque or other more commonly available sheep’s-milk cheeses from this region at your local specialty grocer Illustration by Jessie Kanelos WeinerThis region in the center of France is often overlooked but it’s a stunning rough-and-tumble part of the country with incredible resources On the western side lies Cahors—the homeland of Malbec—and Chateau la Caminade is one of the finest Pair it with Puits d’Astier from Rodolphe le Muenier—a doughnut-shaped cheese aged from the famous Auvergne region that’s aged on a bed of hay It’s an exceptional delight.More commonly available: Cahors is a region most wine shops will be familiar with and Bleu d’Auvergne is a delicious and widely available example of cheese from this area As the race heads down the Rhône and into Provence it’s hard not to think of rosé “Premiere” from Saint Andre de Figuière is a favorite this powerfully structured Provençal rosé is tailor-made for cheese most of the exceptional cheese made in Provence is consumed there and what we get from the region here in America is less than exciting we’re highlighting a cheese made in Oregon but inspired by Provence: Rivers Edge Chèvre’s Siltcoos An ash-ripened round with fern leaves on top Siltcoos is one of the finest goat’s milk cheeses in the world.More commonly available: Ask for French rosé and there’s a good chance it’s from this part of the country And ask your cheese monger for a great American example of lightly ripened goat’s milk cheese to try It seems that in the summer every nook and cranny of the Alps is filled with animals heading to the high country in their annual transhumance And as cheese enthusiasts we’re all the luckier for it Start with Jeune Autize from Rodolphe le Meunier a new French cheese from a legendary producer that is similar to Morbier but instead made from goat’s milk Enjoy a bottle of Eugene Carrel’s Jongieux Rouge a mondeuse-based red that could be one of the best cheese-pairing reds I’ve ever tasted.More commonly available: While Savoie reds aren’t on shelves everywhere Illustration by Jessie Kanelos WeinerAnd Sunday July 26: ParisThere are few pairings more celebratory than Brie and bubbles and cap off the Tour (and culinary tour de force) with two of the finest Fougerus is named for the fern that graces the top of this gorgeous cheese from just south of Paris family-owned house and its Grande Cuvée—100 percent Pinot Noir—could not be a more perfect close to the three-week adventure.More commonly available: For Brie and champagne you can find an example of each almost anywhere To purchase the entire Tour directly, contact Cured. This website utilises cookies to improve your user experience provide social media features and for traffic analysis We may also share information about your use of our site with commercial partners Other tools may also be used to help us improve our services Our privacy policy has been updated to reflect changes in the law on cookies and tracking technologies used on websites you consent to our use of cookies and similar tools Primoz Roglic took a commanding lead of the Vuelta a España with a dominant victory in stage 10’s individual time trial The Team Jumbo-Visma rider stopped the clock on a 36.2km course from Jurançon to Pau in 47:05 which was 25 seconds quicker than runner-up Patrick Bevin (CCC Team) and 27 seconds faster than third-placed Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) Roglic made huge gains on his general classification rivals beating Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) by 1:38 Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) by 2:00 and Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) by 3:06 It means Roglic leads overall by 1:52 from second-placed Valverde and 2:11 from third-placed Lopez Terms & Conditions Privacy & Cookies From the continued rise of English wine to cans making Michelin-starred menus Hannah Crosbie names the trends to look out for this year Going Out | Food + Drink Sign up for our expert view on everything that’s worth eating My intentions are impure so I’ll keep this introduction short Articles that profess to look into the future and deliver its uncertainties with certainty are often the tireless work of informed forecasters and analysts So, as much as these following ‘trends’ are observed from growing sections on wine lists and increased interest from buyers would love to see gain further popularity this year this article is as greedy as it is informative — but everything mentioned is undoubtedly worth your palate For wine lovers, acquiring the wines you want to drink at a good price can feel like a deeply tiring game of cat and mouse multifaceted wines to the latest up-and-coming area only to be priced out and ushered along to the next The current semi-hidden gem is Juranćon — a region in deep southwest France where white wines are based on the gros manseng and petit manseng grapes Honey Spencer, sommellier and co-founder of Sune (129A Pritchard's Road, E2, sune.restaurant) notes why she builds them into her wine lists: “Jurançon is killer Combining the comforting depths of Burgundy woven with the Jura’s electrifying acidity dry wines from south-west France’s Jurançon region are white wine’s sure bet of 2024 Dry wines from south-west France’s Jurançon region are white wine’s sure bet of 2024 If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of a city’s wine trends, look no further than its restaurants’ by-the-glass list Ever-evolving to reflect current tastes and interests if a restaurant is confident that it can sell at least six medium or three large glasses of a wine before it spoils it’s a safe bet to put on by the glass (and was likely already selling well by the bottle) Long may our restaurants continue to back this horse Look, yes, it's been said about years past but I’m calling it: 2024 will finally be the year that sherry shakes its semi-geriatric image and is embraced by wine lovers of all walks of life Sherry is not all syrupy Granny-juice: styles range from dry saline fino and manzanilla to the velvety black of pedro ximinéz though general perception of sherry is often dominated by the latter but some are so certain of its quality they’re actually putting them on wine lists Hotel Mas De Torrent: a super luxe farmhouse stay for autumn sun and a Michelin menu no joke: Is Endo Kazutoshi London's most serious chef beer and spirits deals to expect in the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale Make more of London this autumn with these exciting experiences Banks Brothers — a canned wine brand owned by restaurateurs Tommy and James Banks — can now be found on the wine lists of their restaurants, comprising Roots, the Abbey Inn and the Michelin-starred Black Swan (where it’s currently the only canned wine you can find at a Michelin-starred menu) I daresay owning a restaurant helps in getting your wine on its list but it’s surely a total vote of confidence in the rising quality of canned wine with increasing pressure on restaurants to reduce glass waste and move towards more eco-friendly wine buying I wouldn’t be surprised if others follow suit this year Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary Ever since the 1990s, Biarritz had been a city with two faces, like so many other tourist destinations. Located just 40 kilometers from the thriving San Sebastián it suffered from that bipolar condition consisting of euphoric summers and melancholy winters It was partly because of the rainy weather but mostly because of a spiritless offer for visitors seeking accommodation and cultural activities Fortunately – and it wouldn’t be outrageous to talk about the influence of Spanish hospitality and gastronomy trends in this renewal – this French-Basque town of 27,000 souls is a reborn place that taps into the pulse of life in summer Start the day by soaking in the grandeur that Biarritz once had The city was a favorite with kings and emperors such as Napoleon III who ordered the construction of the Hôtel du Palais (1) for his wife stop at the Pâtisserie Miremont (2) (Georges Clemenceau Square which has all the old charm of Biarritz and breathtaking views of the sea King Alfonso XIII figured among its customers who would come down on foot from the Du Palais a museum designed by the architect Steven Holl whose spatial configuration serves its purpose of informing and raising awareness about ocean-related issues but a good bet is Les Arceaux (7) (Edouard VII Avenue The wood-fire oven pizzas from this pizzeria-trattoria  are light and crunchy but they also offer other dishes such a no-frills but very respectable steak tartar The establishment has several rooms and the mood is always lively drive five minutes out of town until you reach Gaztelur (8) (gaztelur.com) 2015 after the Atelier team – with a Michelin star to their name – moved there the restaurant occupies a mansion surrounded by three hectares of land and dating back to 1401 the building houses a space dedicated to antiques founded in 1660 and famous for its macarons at Place Clemenceau Right next door we can find a bookstore ironically named the Bookstore belongs to former cyclist André Darrigade and stocks new releases the latest editions from Gallimard and the local press Walking down the elegant Georges Clemenceau plaza we can aim for the inner part of the city and visit shops such as the Maison Arostéguy (11) (Victor Hugo Avenue they sell traditional French-Basque products A few meters from here is Les Halles (12) food market Walk up to the Rue des Halles to enjoy the bars and renovated dining scene The area offers the best of the boisterous yet sophisticated Biarritz spirit visitors will discover the Iberian essence but with a French touch of je-ne-sais-quoi that makes the legs of ham hanging from the ceiling no longer seem vulgar grilled squid and arrays of Iberian cold cuts illustrating the fusion of Spanish and French cuisine now available in this region of France Other noteworthy establishments in this same area include Le Comptoir du Foie Gras (14) Enjoy a good homemade burger for €10 at places such as Bonheur (17) (Victor Hugo 30) after having a few tapas - something that was impossible to do in France not so long ago reminds us about the different faces of Biarritz the city is showing is liveliest side again ¿Quieres añadir otro usuario a tu suscripción ¿Por qué estás viendo esto? cambia tu suscripción a la modalidad Premium Cada uno accederá con su propia cuenta de email lo que os permitirá personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAÍS ¿Tienes una suscripción de empresa? Accede aquí para contratar más cuentas En el caso de no saber quién está usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contraseña aquí. Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrará en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que está usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aquí los términos y condiciones de la suscripción digital. Wines you’ve loved on holiday abroad don’t always travel so well but today’s selections might stir a few memories Since there’s still a comparatively small amount of homegrown wine in the UK and much of that isn’t what you’d call cheap you probably spend most of your time already drinking wine from places you go One factor in the rise and rise of Provence rosé I’m guessing not many Brits venture up to the hinterland behind Venice so holiday nostalgia is perhaps not the only reason for a wine’s popularity is that the wine you found so entrancing on holiday simply isn’t that good once you get it back home It was probably a lot cheaper in its homeland and there’s nothing wrong with that: holiday drinking is about wine that slips down easily rather than the kind that demands attention and respect to its enthusiastic young buyer Matthew Horsley are mainly in the centre and north of the country but if you can’t get to one of my favourite places The galling thing if you’ve just been on holiday – or still remember what one of those was like – is how much cheaper wine is in its home environment than it is back home in the UK just think what you’re saving on air fares and Covid tests … bright seafood white to drink with grilled sardines or other barbecued fish Kompsos White Karavitakis 2020 £9.95 The Wine Society My tasting note for this exotically scented Cretan assyrtiko blend was ‘“screams Greek holidays”’ Perfect sipping for a late summer evening with a selection of meze Barbadillo Solear Manzanilla widely available in indies, including Gusto Wines at £6.60, £6.99 Latitude but great with croquetas or calamari anywhere Imagine drifting down the Douro with this warm Good with baked pasta dishes such as lasagne For more by Fiona Beckett, go to matchingfoodandwine.com Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world gratuity included: Château de Léberon Vin Muté de Gascogne ($15) Château d’Arlay Macvin rouge ($16), Domaine de Souch Jurançon ($15) a growing number of sommeliers in the U.S.—both in fine-dining and more casual restaurants—are hoping to tap into today’s taste for after-dinner drinks with dessert wines Daily news, insight and opinion from the world of restaurants 23-Feb-2023 Last updated on 23-Feb-2023 at 15:56 GMT Tell us about the moment you first became interested in wine Over the course of your career, have you had any wine-related disasters? Luckily, no major issues so far. But I’m always afraid of dropping one of our decanters with a very expensive wine in it. Noble Rot’s list is my ultimate favourite, the list is dynamic with a regularly changing offering by the glass. Trivet also has a great list, the format is unique and a history lesson itself that transports you back in time. Selene restaurant in Santorini is also impressive.  Who do you most respect in the wine world?  Konstantinos Lazarakis, who was the first MW in Greece, he initiated wine education in Greece and has been a milestone for my wine career. Yiannis Karakasis (another Greek MW) internationally raised the profile of Greek wines by establishing 50 Great Greek Wines, so he is another inspiration. What’s the most interesting wine you’ve ever come across?  What are the three most overused tasting notes? What’s the best value wine on your list at the moment?  A Riesling and Chardonnay from Winnica Turnau, in Poland. Both are reasonably priced and have a great texture and finesse to them, the flavour is unusual and not what you might expect from a Riesling and Chardonnay. I like to introduce guests to unexplored territories, Polish wine is a great example of this. What is your ultimate food and drink match?  We serve a dish at Da Terra called the Romeo & Juliette which is a goat's cheese and guava flan - I like to pair this with Gonzalez Byass Apostoles 30 (a rare Palo Cortado Sherry).  Depends on the occasion. I appreciate the tradition behind Old World winemaking but in the New World, there are less strict regulations, so there is much more potential for experimenting with varieties and techniques that give unlimited styles of wine. What is your pet hate when it comes to wine service in other restaurants?  My sparkling wine not being topped up, especially if the ice bucket is left far away from the table. Who is your favourite producer at the moment and why?  Claus Preisinger, a biodynamically-certified winemaker from Burgenland (in Austria). He combines Georgian amphorae and skin contact in the wine production. Claus keeps his vineyard and cellar intervention to a minimum, but makes the indigenous grapes shine through. The name of the wine has so much character, who else in the wine world would have the courage to call their wine Fruit Loops or “Sunny Cide Up”.  As a head sommelier, what question do you most get asked by customers? After 'can you explain the wine pairing?' the most common question I get is 'where is your accent from?'. People find it hard to guess I am Greek. Which wine producing region or country is currently underrated at the moment and why? Greece, there is so much more than Assyrtiko and Xinomavro. The combination of the influx of young people entering the wine industry and the growing popularity of 50 Great Greek Wines will encourage restaurants to champion the lesser-known regions and grapes internationally.  It’s your last meal and you can have a bottle of any wine in the world. What is it and why?  Nothing can beat a Vintage Champagne. Probably one from the 1993 Vintage, well-developed, textured, with notes of ripe citrus, honey, brioche, yeast, mushroom and dried herbs. That would make me really happy! Uncorked: Ross Trueman16-Feb-2023By Joe LutrarioThe Belfast-born general manager at recently launched Brighton restaurant Furna on working for Gordon Ramsay in Bordeaux and Slovenian producer Marjan Simčič. Uncorked: Jessica Monetti09-Feb-2023By Joe LutrarioThe head of operations at Macellaio RC on her group's Italy-focused wine list, Vega Sicilia's Mariano Garcia and Rhône's Famille Perrin. Uncorked: Charles Carron Brown26-Jan-2023By Joe LutrarioThe head sommelier and restaurant manager at Aulis London on pairing skin contact wines with Marmite toast, Californian Counoise and ‘smooth’ wines. Whet your appetite with beers from the European UnionPaid for and content provided by European Union Lost Revenue from Downtime: How It Cripples Your Delivery App Visibility and SalesPaid for and content provided by Deliverect Staffing costs rising — how smart hiring solutions are helping UK restaurantsPaid for and content provided by YoungOnes with a variety of wines presented in an informal atmosphere without the snobbishness usually associated with these types of tastings.The entrance fee of 75,000 won per person (65,000 won for Dine@Hyatt members) may seem hefty but if you do the math this is actually the best deal you can get for a few hours of wine tasting and food this initial event was a complete sellout and an undeniable success.This indicates that interest in wine is once again growing just like the way the Korean traditional drink of “makgeolli” is experiencing a renaissance Young professional career men and women alike want to gain more knowledge and try more wines as evinced by the crowds of people sipping wine at the event Representatives at each table explained in detail about the characteristics of the wines the grapes used and the climate conditions of the vintage The mixed crowd of Korean and expat wine lovers had a chance to sample wines from boutique importers such as Terroir Selection who served an impressive Jurançon Sec 2008 from Domaine Nigri (around 50,000 won per bottle) and Tiwi Trade Korea offered very nice wines from New Zealand including a soft Pinot Noir 2008 from Wooing Tree (75 It is no surprise that the audience voted these wines as the best white and red wine Although it is labeled a “Club” there is no membership as people are expected to sign up for events to their liking and flexibly without feeling any pressure to attend because of a membership fee.Gavin Adda director at Samsung and resident in Korea for nearly 4 years applauds this initiative “I admit it was quite a challenge to get to the Grand Hyatt from Gangnam so hopefully the next event will start at 7 p.m instead of 6 p.m.”Besides tasting the audience also had the option to purchase wines of their likings the best thing is you know what you are buying after you tasted it I bought a mixed case of New Zealand wines because they tasted great and now I don’t need to look for them in the stores,” said Troy Barnes a native of Australia who is the regional director at ING Life.The hotel has outlined other tasting events for the year such as “Pinot Noir at its Best” and the “Big Reds.” The next event called “Shiraz around the World” will take place on March 3.For more information about the Wine Club call (02) 799-8403 and visit www.terrroir-selection.com or www.tiwitrade.com to find out more about the winning wines.Recommended Contents For YouTaboola 후원링크 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker THERE was some cracking fare at Saturday’s Route Harriers meeting at Portrush even if there were just 33 runners at the scenic coastal circuit The Warren Ewing-trained Jay Bee Why (3/1 - 4/1) indicated that a stellar season lies ahead by giving a superb display of fencing to make a winning return to points duty in the open under the care of Colin Bowe beat Lifetime Ambition on debut in a Loughanmore four-year-old maiden in April 2019 before going on to win two hurdles for Alan King later attaining a career-best British handicap mark of 137 He was bounced out smartly in front by Dara McGill with his fencing both breathtaking and assured throughout The eight-year-old was however closely attended to by Wowsham and Vaucelet on the approach to the second last winner of the previous two runnings of this race The eventual winner went in the region of three lengths clear approaching the last only to make his only semblance of an error here The chasing pair though were unable to capitalise in any way with runner-up Wowsham some one and a half lengths in arrears at the line Vaucelet meanwhile still performed with credit by returning a similar margin adrift in third spot he just lost his way a bit,” reported Ewing of Jay Bee Why whom Derek O’Connor purchased on Ballynure-based owner Shane Wilson’s behalf for £32,000 at the Goffs UK spring sale “I have him three months and he’ll go hunter chasing someday Dara McGill was the only individual to partner two winners with last season’s champion under-21 rider teaming up with his father Gary to collect the preceding five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden aboard Springtime Promise (evens – 4/6 favourite) much to the chagrin of the 16 bookmakers present Springtime Promise brought the best form to the table considering that she was previously placed three times in points whilst she returned from an 18-month absence to finish fifth in a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle in late August on her initial start for current connections Springtime Promise always travelled with purpose and she eased to the front with two fences remaining She did give her supporters some cause for alarm though by blundering when well in command at the final fence She returned with six and a half lengths to spare over long-time leader Ballygelly “Her jumping just took a bit of warming up and she’s a mare that we hope to go chasing with but we’ll let her have a few more runs in points first,” said handler McGill of Springtime Promise returned to a rousing reception on recording an initial career success aboard her own horse Mountorra (7/1 - 10/1) in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden who finished a respectable fourth at Toomebridge back in May edged ever closer on the run to two out and he joined issue at the final fence The son of Scorpion then asserted on the flat to eclipse long-absent pacesetter Coothill by three quarters of a length COLIN Bowe struck with his only runner of the afternoon by sending out Jurancon (5/2 - 9/2) to collect the four-year-old maiden in hands of Barry O’Neill having shaped with clear promise by coming fifth to Off The Jury on his only previous start at Dromahane in late April always travelled well and he moved through to pick up the running before two out with well-supported newcomer Jimbo Sport holding every chance in second on the outer only to blunder here whilst running somewhat green approaching the last still stormed clear over 100 yards out to dispose of Jimbo Sport by a widening eight and a half lengths Drumnasoo meanwhile hinted that he will be winning before long by returning a further seven and a half lengths adrift of the Ben Halsall-owned bay in third Winning rider O’Neill remarked of Jurancon a half-brother to Git Maker that has won five out of his eight starts to date for Jamie Snowden: “He’s a smart horse he jumped a bit big at Dromahane last season and we just ran out of time with him then He’s still green and will now go to the Cheltenham November sale.” The formidable Colin McKeever-Wilson Dennison combination was on the mark with the Conor Abernethy-ridden Clashhill (5/2 - 3/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden The Ocovango-sired Clashhill went one better than he did on his Durrow debut last term by easing into the lead on the incline from three out and he was clearly travelling best from the second-last Whilst runner-up Syr Maffos closed somewhat on the flat he was still some four lengths adrift of the victorious half-brother to British listed placed hurdling mare Miss Fairfax I’d have been disappointed if he hadn’t put up a performance like that today,” commented handler McKeever of Clashhill also a close relation to Thisthatandtother and Carlingford Lough who landed last season’s €5,000 winners’ race at Dromahane made a stunning return under handler Liam Kenny’s son James in a competitive renewal of the winners’ of three Gray Rock disputed the running virtually throughout with Annaghbeg until edging into a fractional advantage from four out The victorious French-bred produced yet another fabulous leap two out and readily asserted from the last to see off the unexposed Ballybrentragh by two lengths Annaghbeg posted an effort rich in promise by finishing a further neck adrift in third Winning rider Kenny indicated that his mother Noeleen’s Gray Rock will now graduate to open company with a hunters’ chase also probably on the agenda Christie): This six-year-old half-brother to Bright New Dawn stayed on well to secure second spot on his initial start for owner David Maxwell in the winners’ of three He’s bound to come on for the experience and should easily conquer winners’ grade on this evidence About us Contact us Advertise with us Company information Careers Privacy statement Terms of service Commenting policy Change cookies settings It looks like JavaScript is not enabled in your browser 21 SEP 2019BookmarkJurançon (£8.99) and Harrogate Blue (£1.99): Sweet yet mouth-watering this perfectly balanced white features notes of honey and quince ideal to pair with a strong blue cheeseSupermarket chain Lidl is attempting to challenge the long-held belief of foodies that only red wine should be paired with cheese The discount store has introduced a list of whites specifically chosen to complement cheeses often see white wine as the better accompaniment and several new varieties have been launched as part of Lidl's latest wine tour explains: “Although many think that it’s red wine that goes hand in hand with cheese often see white wine as the better accompaniment - especially for the creamier variants such as brie and camembert "This is because dry white wines tend to have that extra twist of zest and freshness which cuts through the creaminess of the cheese And indeed sweeter white wines are often the perfect foil to the saltiness found in many blue cheeses.” Hitting shelves nationwide from September 26 the latest Lidl Wine Tour starts from only £4.99 For a great all-rounder to match your cheeseboard try Lidl’s Jean Cornelius Riesling (£7.99) Its lightly citrus-scented and fruity flavours strike the perfect balance between sharp and sweet making it a fine match for a wide variety of cheeses Jurançon (£8.99) is a perfectly balanced white that features notes of honey and quince and is ideal to pair with a strong blue cheese These are just two of a wide range of whites the store hopes will change perceptions of cheese and wine Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right This article was amended on 17 June to reflect the fact that Valtellina is in Lombardy, not Piedmont. This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025. The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media. This week two wines from the latest Aldi summer range. Both come from lesser-known regions of France and offer better value for money than some of the  bigger names. The white wine would be ideal for spring or summer drinking, outdoors if the weather permits, while the red is one to enjoy alongside more substantial foods. Specially Selected Jurançon Sec 2019 Limited Edition, €7.99 From the Pyrenees, in southwest France, a wine that might be familiar to pilgrims visiting Lourdes, down the road. The main grape variety is Gros Manseng, which has been planted elsewhere in France and abroad in recent years. Broad, lightly honeyed pear fruits with fresh citrus. Perfect with poached or grilled salmon and spring vegetables. Specially Selected Cairanne 2019, Chassaux et Fils, €9.49 Cairanne is a small region close to Châteauneuf-du-Pape that produces similar wines from the same grape varieties. This is a warming, full-bodied wine with ripe, spicy dark fruits and a rounded finish. Try this with steak, a rich beef casserole or roast aubergine with tomato. Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC Oh no! It looks like JavaScript is not enabled in your browser. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Michael BroadbentVin de Pays de l'Aude Berry's House Red NV £4.50Berry Bros & Rudd (T: 020 7396 9600)Exceptionally good value and delicious Sarah Jane EvansVin de Pays d'Oc Domaine Paul Mas 2004 £4.99Aldi (www.uk.aldi.com/wine)Just to highlight the fact that J-C Mas has had a great year; great value; good quality; just right for the market Patrick SchmittAC Côtes du Rhône-VillagesDomaine Chapoton £5.99Ex Cellar (T: 0800 083 8075)Given a bottle unceremoniously at a dinner party and later opened it Had it with steak/salad/girlfriend - perfect match £6.00The City Beverage Company Ltd (T: 020 7729 2111)The best Côtes du Ventoux I've ever tasted £6.49Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd (T: 01923 298 200) Great value Charles MetcalfeAC Corbiéres Château du Vieux Parc £8.50 Jeroboams Ltd (T: 020 7985 1560)Smooth A great example of the reds coming out of the South of France Clive PlatmanAC Minervois La Livinière Château Sainte Eulalie Andrew JeffordAC Costières de Nímes Terre de Feu £7.45 Les Caves de Pyrene (T: 01483 538 820) Andrew JeffordAC Costières de Nímes Terre d'Argence £7.00 Les Caves de Pyrene (T: 01483 538 820)Beats most Châteauneuf hollow Maggie McNie MW AC Côtes du Rhône Chapoutier,2004 £6.49Waitrose Ltd (T: 01344 424 680) Majestic'Biodynamic production Michael Broadbent AC Beaujolais-Villages Louis Jadot Tim Atkin MWVin de Pays de l'Aude Alicante Bedales (T: 020 7403 8853)Old vine Alicante Bouschet is an endangered species £9.59Direct Wines (T: 0118 903 0903) Dark transparency Hunter's of Helmsley (T: 01439 771 307)Had a chilled glass in France - decided perfect summer red Drank gallons and no hangover - ultimate sign of good winemaking Matthew JukesAC Côtes du Rhône-Villages Sylvette Bréchet £8.95 Jeroboams and Laytons Wine Merchants (T: 020 7985 1560)It is awesome Rosemary GeorgeAC Saint Chinian Château Cazal Vieil £6.99 Waitrose (T: 01344 424 680)Everything that the Midi shoud be Natasha HughesAC BergeracTerre de Pique-Segue Rouge 2001Watch this space Dublin There's more than a few Bordeaux producers who'd give their right arms to be able to make a wine as classy as this at these kind of prices Andrew JeffordAC MadiranDomaine Berthoumieu Philglas & Swiggot Ltd (T: 020 7924 4494)I adore the 2001 and I see the 2002 has a gold medal from Paris so he must have made a good job of the vintage John Downes MWAC Saint-EmilionUnion des Producteurs de Saint-Emilion £10Bedales (T: 020 7403 8853)Another wine I recently enjoyed as a generic St Emilion Patricia LangtonAC Nuits-Saint-Georges David Duband £24.49Oddbins (T: 020 8944 4400)The charm of Burgundy is IRRESISTIBLE Charles MetcalfeAC Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot £17.95Lea & Sandeman Co Ltd (T: 020 7244 0522)Savoury Clive Platman AC MinervoisChâteau Villerambert-Julien £10.10Tanners Wines Ltd (T: 01743 234 500); Lay & Wheeler group Ltd (T: 0845 330 1855)Smooth & sophisticated Natasha HughesAC CahorsDomaine Cosse-Maisonneuve £11.99AdnamsWine Merchants (T: 01502 727 200)From a 100% biodynamic domaine in the Cahors region but very quickly former rugby player Matthieu Cosse and his partner began to make waves Michael BroadbentAC BordeauxChâteau La Grave-Figeac £17.99Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd (T: 01923 298 200)Very typical Claret John Livingstone-LearmonthAC Côtes du RhôneDomaine des Escaravailles £6.50Lovely fruit and definition; ideal with a variety of salads Clive PlatmanVin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne,Domaine de Pellehaut CA Rookes Stratford upon Avon (T: 01789 297 777) Booths Supermarkets (T: 0800 197 0066)Light Maggie McNie MWAC MuscadetCôtes de Grandlieu 2004Waitrose Ltd (T: 01344 424 680) Loaded with fruit and to show how much this region has improved its wines Stephen SpurrierAC Muscadet sur Lie Château Touche 2004 £4.99Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd (T: 01923 298 200)Classic Muscadet from an organically farmed family estate Jamie GoodeAC Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine sur LieSainsbury's Classic Selection Muscadet sur Lie £4.99Sainsbury's (T: 020 7695 6000)Muscadet used to be cheap Liz SaguesAC Touraine Première Touraine Sauvignon Blanc £5.25Sainsbury's (T: 020 7695 6000) Just the sort of wine where France shows the New World the way forward Vine and Sun (T: 01962 712 351)I want to tell many Sauvignons to go and stand in a corner take a deep breath and only come back when they've calmed down But here's one that manages to be tangy and fresh but doesn't forget that wine is supposed to be drunk Asda Stores Ltd (T: 0113 243 5435)Modern benchmark white Bordeaux Natasha Hughes AC Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet Bedales (T: 020 7403 8853)This Languedoc white has a real tang of the seashore to it Not only does it make the ideal partner for the local fish its depth of flavour and crisp acidity allow it to take on more complex fish dishes too Joanna SimonVin de Pays des Côtes de GascogneAlain Brumont £5.64Les Caves de Pyrene (T: 01483 538 820)Shows how good - and good value - Gros Manseng can be Rosemary GeorgeVin de Pays d'OcLa Baume Sauvignon Blanc Charles MetcalfeVin de Pays d'OcLabeye Chardonnay Viognier £5.69Oddbins (T: 020 8944 4400) Excellent example of what the flexibility of Vin de Pays rules allows you to do Hugh JohnsonVin de Pays du Jardin de la France Marquières £5.49Direct Wines (T: 0118 903 0903)Pale and smoky More dimensions than the usual Sauvignon Blanc Matthew JukesVin de Pays d'OcDomaine Begude Chardonnay,2004 £5.77Goedhuis & Co Ltd (T: 020 7793 7900)It is awesome Patricia LangtonVin de Pays d'Oc Arrogant Frog Chardonnay Viognier £5.99Unwins Wine Group (T: 01322 272 711)A fine example of a modern Tim Atkin MWAC Côtes de Saint-Mont Saint Mont,2004 £5.99Marks & Spencer (T: 020 8718 4075) Unusual rare varieties; fantastic flavours AND a brilliant cooperative Martin IsarkAC BurgundyMarks & Spencer Chardonnay Stephen SpurrierVin de Pays du Jardin de la FranceLevin Sauvignon Blanc www.virginwines.com)A new benchmark for Sauvignon blancs from the Loire and beyond £7.95Great Western Wine Co Ltd (T; 01225 322 800) Charles Steevenson Wines (T: 01822 616 272)Criminally under-exposed in the UK Jurançon is a place that can do full-flavoured interesting whites without recourse to winemaking trickery £8.00Philglas and Swiggot Ltd (T: 020 7924 4494) Food Hall in Shoreditch (T: 020 7729 6005)A brilliant example of just how good a wine made from Gros Manseng can be this wine has complexity and terroir in spades Natasha HughesAC BergeracDomaine de l'Ancienne Cure £7.50Yapp Brothers Ltd (T: 01747 860 423) The Domaine de l'Ancienne Cure is best known for its sweet whites but has proven itself equally capable of making classy dry whites too The 2004 is not only packed with zingy fruit Liz SaguesAC Pacherenc de Vic Bihl Sec Alain Brumont £9.00Philglas & Swiggot Ltd (T: 020 7924 4494)Individual Philglas & Swiggot Ltd (T: 020 7924 4494) A rare white Irouléguy - and shows the class of the two Mansengs Patricia Langton AC LimouxLa Bégude Chardonnay £7.99Waitrose Ltd (T: 01344 424 680) Great style from the South of FranceSarah Jane Evans Languedoc 2002 £6.98Asda Stores Ltd (T: 0113 243 54 35)This producer J-C Mas has had a great year; great value; good quality; just right for the marketMartin IsarkBurgundy AC ChablisMarks & Spencer Chablis 2002 £9.89 Marks & Spencer plc (T: 020 8718 4075) Andrew JeffordVin de Pays des Bouches du RhôneDominique Hauvette £28.50Bedales (T: 020 7403 8853)I love its haunting and I've always felt that Provence may well prove to be a better white wine area than red in the long run Andrew JeffordAC JulienasDomaine du Clos du Fief £12.25Lay & Wheeler (T: 0845 330 1855)Very impressive Jamie GoodeAC RoussillonDomaine Matassa Blanc £25.00Adnams Wine Merchants (2002 only) (T: 01502 727 200) Bordeaux Index (T: 020 7253 2110)Utterly stunning full flavoured white with good ageing potential from one of the region's rising stars John Livingstone-LearmonthAC St-Joseph Les Oliviers £17.85Vine Trail Ltd (T: 0117 921 1770)Lovely width shows what the Marsanne can do (80% Marsanne John Downes MWAC Jurançon Sec Charles-Hours £9.99/£11.99H & H Bancroft Wines (T: 020 7232 5450) £12.50Oddbins (T: 020 8944 4400) Lovely Burgundy at a very sensible price £14.60Justerini & Brooks Ltd (T: 020 7484 6400)Classic chablis from a great producer Charles MetcalfeAC Rully1er Cru La Pucelle £13.95Lea & Sandeman (T: 020 7244 0522)Sweetly grassy and lovely now Tim Atkin MWAC Pouilly-Fuissé Christophe Cordier £15.99Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd (T: 01923 298 200)It's easy to overlook white Burgundy Simon WoodsAC AlsaceMuscat Grand Cru Spiegel £14.75Berry Bros & Rudd Ltd (T: 020 7396 9600)Kudos to BBR for digging out this exciting new (and biodynamic) producer but a great example of an underrated style £13.15Waitrose (T: 01344 424 680); The Wright Wine Co (T: 01756 700 886); Mills Whitcombe (T: 01981 550 028) Great classic dry £10.95Vine Trail Ltd (T: 0117 921 1770) Textbook Alsace Pinot Gris - with power and intensity Matthew JukesAC Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu L'Anclaie £12.95Lea & Sandeman (T: 020 7244 0522)It is awesome £34.95Berry Bros & Rudd (T: 020 7396 9600)Haven't tried more famous Pinot Gris from this wineyard but Riesling will do me fine Great after game - savoured it with turkey sandwiches and chips To find out more information about all the wines featured and many more visit www.wines-france.com/uk 10-16th October we are giving 15 lucky readers a chance to bag a mixed case of some of the top selling French wines on the high street Click here to enter Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies WINE lovers no longer need to break the bank to enjoy trophy-winning wines for less than £10 Discount website MyVoucherCodes.co.uk looked into the past five years of the Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge - the two most prestigious wine competition in the world a sweet wine which won the Platinum Award by Decanter last year The retailer describes the dessert wines as "lighter" and "fresher" than heavier sauternes This is £3 cheaper than Aldi's wine which earlier this week scooped a Gold Prize by Decanter beating other bottles more than double the price. But Co-op’s offer was not the only bargain offer among past winners. The Ned Sauvignon Blanc, which won the International award in 2012, is also available at Morrisons for £9 Marks and Spencer, meanwhile, is also selling a red Pisano Cisplatino Tannat crowned as the best value for money this year by Decanter Budget supermarket Aldi and Lidl in particular have recently received a lot of attention for stocking some top wines at incredibly reasonable prices A bottle of sparkling wine from Lidl that sells for £7.99 has been ranked among the best after scooping the same award as nearly 40 Champagnes costing over six times the price The same accolade was received by almost 40 top champagnes including the Veuve Clicquot 2008 vintage Champagne which sells for more than £50 a bottle at Sainsbury’s Last month, Aldi’s Exquisite Collection Côtes De Provence 2016 rosé also won the silver medal at The International Wine Challenge We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 78 24516 Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Anne Sophie © La fine équipeOKS'il est aisé de grignoter à l'heure de l'afterwork force est de constater que le basique plateau charcut' et les olives finissent par lasser. Repaire de l'aperitivo "à la française" ce charmant écrin niché au coeur de Saint Pierre l'a bien compris et propose outre un cadre incroyable Ces deux haut-normands et amis d'enfance forment ensemble une bien fine équipe Tombés tout-petits dans la marmite de la restauration ils se sont éloignés l'un de l'autre pour mieux se retrouver Et après avoir fait leurs armes et s'être inspirés sur différents continents ils transforment aujourd'hui l'ancienne bijouterie rue du cancera en perle de l'aperitivo Ici pas question de se limiter à une simple planche de charcut' fromage alors que la cuisine regorge de possibilités. Amateurs de bonne chère et de vins les deux compères ont dessiné une carte à la hauteur de leurs attentes (et des nôtres) 13€ ou 15€ on a le choix entre 3 formules aperitivo de haut niveau dont seule la boisson varie. Caviar de poivron au chèvre frais mortadelle DOC à la truffe d'été chacun déguste un plateau individuel élégamment présenté locaux - sauf les spécialités italiennes cela va de soi - et sont travaillés avec passion.  les tenanciers proposent une pertinente carte "liquide" Si les nectars de raisin proviennent principalement du bassin méditerranéen sachez que la bière bio Apach est locale et la chouffe belge On recommande fortement de tester les cocktails ce sont tous des créations qui suivent les envies de nos amis normands tout autant que les saisons Ici la vodka sans gluten s'acoquine avec le thym frais et le gin est infusé au basilic Le tout est fabuleusement assemblé et présenté sous des noms aussi évocateurs que "César à Rio" ou "Mamie Botaniste".  Un cabinet de curiosités finement décoré L'écrin est tout aussi élégant que les mets qu'on y sert Derrière une terrasse intérieure intimiste et cosy se dévoile une enfilade de tables en laiton des années 60 encadrée par un banc d'ébène d'un côté et par un étonnant bar en tôle de l'autre Le tout repose sous une grille végétale à laquelle plantes et ampoules pendent harmonieusement dans une ambiance feutrée Véritable cabinet de curiosités de pierre blonde le lieu regorge de mobilier chiné et objets de collection On s'asseoit sur des assises moelleuses de vieux barbershop ou sirote son nectar au bar à la lumières des lanternes indus' tout droit venues d'ex-Tchécoslovaquie. Mais ne pensez pas pour autant débarquer dans une brocante on s'installe plutôt dans un nid douillet chargé d'histoire et de saveurs La fine équipe32 rue du cancera, BordeauxDu Lundi au Samedi de 17h à 00h00 (jusqu'à 2h vendredi et samedi)Instagram le nouveau temple du canard au coeur de Bordeaux Tendance food : la crêpes raclette party pour réchauffer votre automne une cabane bistronomique les yeux dans la Garonne JASMINE D’AIRY finished runner-up on both her starts in points and she was strong in the betting when making a convincing start under Rules when winning a bumper at Tipperary in May She looked above average on that occasion and has since changed hands for £120,000 to join the burgeoning Harry Derham team This doesn’t look the deepest race of its type so she’s a very interesting hurdles debutante Hollygrove Cha Cha has already recorded a facile win over obstacles and is the obvious danger under a penalty A quartet to view positively but the vote goes to JURANCON who recorded win number three under Rules at Chepstow a month ago and this sort of trip may unlock even more improvement He was strong in the betting on that occasion and showed the benefit of his hurdling debut hanging to his left approaching the final flight but displaying a good attitude on the run-in and he’s bred to appreciate this longer trip Rosscahill probably needs soft ground given his action but he’ll get that here and is feared most NEO KING was a lightly-raced winner in points and made his debut under Rules in a hunter chase at Down Royal for Mrs Caroline McCaldin and he has shown promise in two starts over hurdles for these connections He has seemingly been brought along with handicaps in mind and he’s potentially well treated starting out from a mark of 108 especially as he’s sure to improve for stepping up to this longer trip He is an appealing alternative to the hat-trick seeking Grove Road By process of elimination rather than a vote of confidence Clondaw Royale is taken to claim minor place money The unexposed HOLESHOT is taken to make a winning handicap debut following encouraging efforts at Uttoxeter and Wincanton He finished with running left when runner-up to an unexposed four-year-old last time and the handicapper may have given him a chance allotting him an opening mark of 100 Our Dylan is proving consistent and is likely to give another good account while John Betjeman and Port Or Starboard also enter calculations Also worthy of consideration is Opera King who could get back on track now dropping back in trip MUMBLES is fancied to take a sizeable step forward over fences now his stamina is drawn our more so gets the verdict in this very open handicap chase He has a pronounced knee action and will relish underfoot conditions also Course-scorer Brulure Noire could emerge as the main danger on his seasonal return with the handily-weighted duo Imperial Bede and Good Friday Fairy also well in the mix Chasing-newcomer Chosen Hero completes the shortlist Not a strong race by any means and WOT YOU WEARING is taken to capitalise on the drop back in grade with a good-value 7-lb conditional on board for first time He has won in heavy ground before and can come out on top who left previous efforts behind on handicap debut when scoring at Fontwell just under six weeks ago The Evan Williams-trained pair can fight out third spot CAPTAIN CLAUDE showed improved form switched to chasing last season successful on his first two starts before continuing in good heart for the remainder of the campaign so he is taken to pick up where he left off and resume winning ways Twilight Glory ran creditably on his return and could be the main danger ahead of course and distance winner Haut Folin Home   Sport   Article Newbury Racecourse has beaten the weather and will host a six-race card on Wednesday afternoon The action gets underway at 1.25pm with a class three novices’ hurdle before the card comes to a close at 4.08pm when nine runners will head to post for the class four handicap hurdle Read below to discover the latest tips and a full meeting preview for Newbury’s card on Wednesday courtesy of Punters Lounge, who offer the latest horse racing betting throughout the season The opening contrast on the Newbury card sees a big field of 14 taking on the class three handicap hurdle over the extended two miles (1.25) Plenty in this look to have long-term prospects in handicaps but two-time bumper winner Jurancon is the most positive-looking of all cementing his good start in this sphere when chasing home a promising type six weeks ago at Exeter He is taken to get the better of Kloth Of Utopia dropping down in trip following a very good third at Ascot when last seen Race two on the Newbury card is a class three hurdle contest and eight runners look set to tackle it at 1.55 Lambourn handler Nicky Henderson has his string in excellent nick and Laughing John is taken to make a winning debut here for Henderson with number one jockey Nico de Boinville getting the ride Ludlow scorer Blue Moon Lady can give the Henderson runner the most to think about looks to be the one to ebay in race three of the afternoon at Newbury (2.25) the seven-year-old was off for two years before returning in November when last at this track but bounced back to form in a big way when second over course and distance a month ago arriving on a four-timer for Anthony Honeyball but has been hit with an 11lb hike in the weights as a result A field of 12 will head to the start for the two-mile handicap hurdle in class four to mark race four of the afternoon (3.00) with preference heading the way of Dancing In Brazil for the Nigel Twiston-Davies team A useful bumper winner that was well in contention at Huntingdon when last seen before blundering two out to cost him any chance while the penultimate race on the card (3.35) can go to Don’t Rightly Know who has been fast-tracked into Listed company by trainer Polly Gundry after making a winning chase bow at Exeter last month when bounding to a fine win the card comes to a close with a class four handicap hurdle over the three-mile trip The narrow vote goes to low-mileage six-year-old Geturguccion with trainer Alan King’s mare making a quick switch to handicaps having finished runner-up in both starts last year in novice and maiden company Last time out winner Keable rates the main danger penalised somewhat by the handicapper having comfortably landed an 11-runner Exeter handicap on New Year’s Day