La Porte Saint Jean Saumur-Champigny Les Beaugrands

Very pongy on opening, a really “enticing” smell of rotting manure! Luckily it quickly disappeared, replaced by some more seriously enticing aromas this time, of raspberries and strawberries, with a hint of hay and vanilla. Fresh, crunchy raspberries on the palate, then just a hint of the difficult vintage, so green pepper, before a much richer seam of blackcurrant and cranberry, finishing with a very long and satisfying medley of the three fruits. Plenty of life left and maybe room …

I love Sylvian Dittiere's wine's - especially his Cab Francs, and this was the only red cuvée of his I hadn't tried so was excited to open a bottle (despite the very difficult vintage)... There's a chance my bottle wasn't quite right, but I doubt it. I definitely pick up the manure & high acidity, mentioned by the reviewer below, along with strong bitter, green streak, but didn't share their enjoyment. Very little changed overnight. Extremely hard work, charmless, disjointed, …

BYO (Michaels place) : Sweet manure and juice fruit. Huge acidity and very easy to drink.