Not something you see much of in the South of France is Cabernet Franc - the grape and country of choice for this months Wine Blogging Wednesday. Rare enough to be interesting despite not being totally Cab. Franc; although...

Wine Tasting Note: Château Laures Blanc, 2006, Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France Available from Bordeaux-Undiscovered [more] for £6.75 (normally £9.64) The Semillon really comes though on the nose giving a lovely herby touch to the lemon-citrus that dominates. Palate is nicely...

More banging on from me about how we should look to the independent merchant for the more interesting wines - small producers, interesting flavours, unknown grapes etc etc but such purchases do not have to be the idiosyncratic, often you...

I don't recall which wine Rick Stein was drinking at the Mediterranean end of his barge tour through France. Perched on a balcony overlooking the Bassin de Thau there was a large platter of seafood in front of him over...

After discovering the delights of Chianti it was to the Loire that my burgeoning interest in wine led next. Much fun was had working from the Atlantic coast East and inland along the 620-odd miles of the river discovering each...

Always amazing how few people consider Alsace when selecting their wines. OK, so they come in those suspiciously Germanic-looking bottles (with all those negative associations) but at least they have the grape variety on the label. Maybe Pinot Blanc and...

One of my favourite Bordeaux blanc wines, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (a 65%/35% split), showing grip, style and versatility in matching with food. Wine Tasting Note: Chateau Brown Graves, 2005, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France. Just waiting on retail...

Laporte Le Bouquet de Laporte Sauvignon 2005, Loire, France WineRack/Threshers £6.99 Not hugely aromatic, despite the rear labels claim of a 'enticing gooseberry and lime aroma'. The palate though is rather good, with a strawberry complexity to the apple, melon...

Clean and fresh, with citrus, floral and mineral notes and a crisp finish. Drink now. 20,000 cases made.

I'm still thinking a a Sauvignon Blanc or a Viognier would be the better match but here we are with a Southern French white; a blend of Grenache, Bourboulenc and Marsanne. Interesting to be sure. The food, a Spanish...