Jeff Carrel, Puydeval, Pays d'Oc

Incredible value; it's super cheap given the high quality. Very enjoyable blend of 56% Cabernet Franc, 30% Syrah and 14% Merlot; it's the best of France in an avantgard blend. Spicy with dark fruit; black plums and black cherry, with generous quantities of roasted meats, sandalwood, middle east spices, garique and smoke. At this age (10 years) it tastes a bit reduced; it has very light sediment but the tannin level is substantial, so drink it now if you have …

A broad shouldered wine with decent structure and balance, smells like a cozy campfire next to the funky barnyard/forest floor, delivering an austere minerality and balsamic-bacon-saline driven palate. Still showing plenty of tannins, seems it would be helpful to have the black raspberry fruit emerge more forcefully to bring this into its peak, we'll see in 1 - 2 years.

Eh...what do I know. I thought this was excellent from front to back...lots of floral and spice in the nose. Lots of fruit on the tongue and a powerful tannic wallop. The bottle never had a chance!

The hommage to his history - his history of making Cabernet Franc in Loire. Spicy, big strong, lots of tannins,

Some smokey barnyard on that. And some rough edged fruit. Tastes like its from the Pays d'Oc, which I suppose is to its credit since that is indeed where it is from.

Smooth, great with cheese and olives, very good drinking wine