Famille Amirault-Grosbois Bourgueil La Croix d'Avault

Bretty once again, but not unpleasantly so - perhaps meatier and more closed than before, it did need decanting. Still very impressive for the price, with concentrated forest fruits, quite a full body and a long finish.

Again, a little brett on opening, but it didn't stay around long. Notes of red cherry on the nose this time, with a little meat and leather, before the same fulsome mouthful as the last bottle, dark cherry and blackcurrant, but with some real backbone and substance backing it up. It got better and better over the course of the evening and my score is probably a little conservative. This is a cracking wine for 8€ which would put many …

A year later and this is starting to reach cruising speed. Blackberry, violet and a little brett at first on the nose, replaced by dark cherry and herbs, then a broad, quite fulsome mouthful of the same, with some decent blackcurrant on quite a cool, confident finish. This is a very decent wine at a very decent price.

This is very similar to a Jacky Blot at half the price. Quite spicy but fresh fruit, a hint of brett and after a bold attack, quite a relaxed, broad middle section and a fresh finish. It still needs another year or two.