- 2006 Domaine Les Hautes Noëlles Muscadet-Côtes de Grandlieu Sur Lie - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet-Côtes de Grandlieu (8/2/2008)
12% abv; 14,85€. Leesy, very ripe nose - lacking the mineral intensity I hope to see in Muscadet. Gladly a lighter palate than the nose suggested, but still a rather clunky and soft style for this area. Expensive, too. Pass. - 2006 Perusini ronchi di Gramogliano Colli Orientali del Friuli Cabernet Franc - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Colli Orientali del Friuli (8/2/2008)
13%abv; 24,90€. A lovely scent of wet tobacco and sweet red fruit. It has the refreshing, slightly greenish aromas of Cab Franc but in a very ripe (but not over-ripe) expression. Quite a full bodied wine for the grape, but not over-done in any way, lovely refreshing tannins; quite low but sufficient acidity. The aftertaste is tangy and savoury and varietally very true. Not a Loire Cab Franc, but a lovely and honest example of the grape.