La Grande Tour Reserve Speciale Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pays D’Oc

When you’ve been around the traps making wine in the south of France for over 30 years you’re bound to have a few connections here and there. Thierry Boudinaud has pulled all the strings in crafting this rich, fruity, modern style French Cabernet blend that is some seriously good value for money.

He’s sourced Cabernet grapes from the foothills of the Cevennes (grab a map – it’s north Montpellier!) and Merlot grapes from around the Beziers region (get the map out again, it’s south west of Montpellier). These sub regions of the Languedoc in the south of France are hot, dry and just the ticket for making ripening full bodied reds!

Thierry doesn’t muck about letting this wine age in oak – he wanted a rich, ripe, totally fruit driven red that’s slides down silky smooth and that’s exactly what he’s delivered. This is a label that regularly gets the tick of approval by Robert Parker’s “The Wine Advocate” publication – but if you were after any more convincing then we’ll let you in on a little secret, this wine is imported by an NZ Master of Wine (Stephen Bennett) and he doesn’t stamp his name to it unless it gets a master class tick of approval.

Scoring 91/100 by another MW (Bob Campbell) and making Bob’s “Top Reds Under $25” during October 2019 – Bob said “From the Languedoc-Roussillon in a very Bordeaux-like package. Bright, fruity red with crisp dark berry, spice and subtle fresh herb flavours. Very New World in style – fresh and appealing. An attractive wine at an even more attractive price ($16.99)