There is always the next big thing in every walk of life… music, cars, food and especially wine. These days the race seems to be to the bottom, especially in terms of price. It is getting very hard to get an interesting bottle of wine in a restaurant. House wines are all the rage these days of course, but what you get for your money is very questionable. One option might be for the proprietors to move from their classic choices. A Brave new world… well why not Provence.

They are making some really super wines now, and not just Rose. The reds are spicy and full of life and the whites can be both delicate and full bodied. Having lived in that part of France, I got to taste quiet a few and since buying them for Red Nose Wine, I get to visit and taste again. It’s a hard knock life.

Among the most interesting i have come across is Chateau Margui, made by Marie-Christine and Philippe Guillanton. They make Red, Rose and a fascinating white. They bought a derelict old house and vineyard and are making organic wines that are now on the restaurants of many a Michelin star chef, including Alain Ducasse, with his 3 star Cafe du Paris in Monte Carlo. The reds are Syrah and Cabernet and are full of upfront fruit. The nose promises much and the palate delivers even more. Huge coverage all over France.

Philippe and myself outside Margui

Among the other wines that we have come across are Chateau Paradis which Robert Parker absolutely adores.
Then there is the Irish connection wines, including Domaine des Anges and up to recently, David O Brien’s Vignelaure. Domaine de Tara has an Irish name at least and a huge following in the Luberon, and growing.

“Life is much too short to drink bad wine”