Southwest France Six-And-A-Half-Pack Sampler
A lovely set of wines from the Southwest, featuring a couple of captivating and thoroughly delicious dry whites based on the local variety Gros Manseng along with a half-bottle of a medium-sweet dessert wine made from 100% Petit Manseng. All three wines are unwooded, showcasing the Manseng's exotic varietal character (think citrus fruit, stone fruit, spices and floral notes that suggests a Riesling-meets-Viognier-meets-Grüner Veltliner amalgam).
The reds feature two Malbecs from Cahors, essentially the same wine (but different vintages), with the Extra Libre version made entirely without the use of Sulfur. The Extra Libre is a real eye-opener, both for its vibrant colour (Sulfur bleaches colour) and just how good it is. Then from the Alain Brumont stable, two wines from the Madiran appellation: Château Bouscassé and Château Montus. Both built on Tannat, the Bouscassé is dense, dark and juicy, whilst the Montus could double for a Barolo with its less dense colour and beautifully ripe, yet formidable tannins.
