Scent of herbs - almost Vermouth-like. As ever, textured and quite concentrated, with nectarine, pineapple and ripe pear with almond nuances. Lively finish.  Excellent. Now-2012

Product Code: GRV610

Owned by the Orosquette family, and named after the gravelly soil on the Etang de Marseillette, Château La Grave lies in the south-western part of the Minervois, now known as Les Balcons de l’Aude. The unusual Expression white is based (80%) on a parcel of old vine Maccabeu, with Vermentino and Marsanne, which makes for a surprisingly weighty wine at the price. Their rosé, made largely from Syrah with Grenache, is always a real charmer, and is our best-selling rosé year after year. The 2009 Tristan et Julien, named after a son and cousin here, from about half and half Syrah and Grenache, was much applauded - Jancis Robinson called it “a lovely house wine ready to quaff” - but the 2010 vintage is even better.