Just so open, simple and enjoyable, the sort of youthful French country wine of old. Vibrant purple. A ripe scent of crushed blackberries and blackcurrants prefaces a joyous gush of refreshing, juicy fruits, with the merest hint of supporting tannins. That attractive black fruit returns on the finish. A transparently honest wine; and it could be served lightly chilled in summer.  Consume regularly. "Simple, straightforward with nothing to object to. Fruit forward, full of family honesty. Good value. 16/20" - Jancis Robinson MW on www.jancisrobinson.com, 2nd Dec 2011. Now-2012

Product Code: GRV110

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.