Save your money for fromage. Take our intel on 5 French wines that are an absolute steal.
Welcome back to ‘I Want Great Wine But I’m Poor Anonymous’ – a very important and real support group that I just invented. This month we’re taking a trip to France (in our minds only, soz) to pick up some absolutely cracking wines all under $20 – in fact, most of these are far less. Excusez-moi? You heard me.
France is the OG home to many of the styles you know and love – chardonnay, merlot, sémillon, cabernet, Champagne, and pinot gris, to name-drop but a few. No other country has wine so ingrained into its culture and everyday life and few would argue that the international home of fine wine is anywhere else. And yes, Italy, I hear you screaming over there, but it’s France who supplies the incredibly high benchmarks against which all other wines are judged. When it comes to wine – just like big towers, cycling and revolutions – nobody does it quite like the French.
So, my dear savvy sippers, when the overall quality and expectation is so damn high, there’s a real opportunity for you and I to find a bargain. Because while France’s top drops do command top dollar, that same passion, history and skill is applied to wines across the full price spectrum. And if you think I’m pulling a fast one on you, just hold it right there – I’ve interrogated the best of the best for this intel: Dan Murphy’s Wine Merchant Rich Doumani.
This legend has worked right across the wine industry from production in small local wineries like TarraWarra Estate to some of the biggest brands in Europe (think Jacobs Creek and Campo Viejo). He’s a particular fan of the Frenchies and promises me there’s value to be found in wines that cost $8 to $800. So what else was there to do but whip out my high school French (“Pouvez-vous s'il vous plaît recommander un bon vin pas cher?”) and get you the inside word on the best French wines you can get right now for less than a Gold Class ticket to Ratatouille.
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1. Numéro Un: Maison de La Villette Grenache
Why should you try it?
Look, if you’re not already around grenache – why not? It’s taken over Australia and for good reason. Rich likens it to a Barossa pinot. “It’s a way to experience lighter reds that still carry some flesh.” (I promise “flesh” in winespeak is a good thing.) This particular wine is, well, very grenache-y, so it’s an ideal way to get yourself familiar with the grape. It’s also bloody delicious.
Tastes like?
“A heap of red fruits, spice and confectionary. It almost smells like Red Ripperz – très inviting”, remarks Rich, “with a nice herbal finish to boot.”
What to sip it with?
If you want to keep it français, don’t go past a boeuf bourguignon. But Richo reckons it would be even better with a shepherd's pie or gourmet burger. Either way, you’ll be satisfied.
2. Numéro Deux: Famille Bougrier Chardonnay
Why should you try it?
I’m a sucker for a great chardonnay and this one’s got me in a tizzy. “If you’re pining for the 80s and 90s (in terms of Chardy, not hypercolour),” says Rich, “then this wine might be for you.” There’s big, rich flavour to be found here at a price way lower than you’d expect – especially for a wine that scored 93 points from the Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel. Rich calls it “varietal definition on the nose and palate”. I call it “oooh, gimme”.
Tastes like?
You’ll smell flowers and pears, but taste ripe peaches with a creamy and slightly nutty finish.
What to sip it with?
“This wine is perfect with roast chook. I’d use nuts and tarragon in the stuffing and plenty of butter.” Ever the man with a plan, Rich also offers an alternative: “If you can’t be bothered cooking, just grab a BBQ chicken from the local and it’ll be just as good.”
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Click image to shop
3. Numéro Trois: Pierre Brévin Selection Rosé
Why should you try it?
“The trend in rosé is a never-ending quest for uber-dryness,” Rich tells me. “This wine bucks that trend and offers something a little more – it has a lovely little fruit sweetness on the finish which compliments the texture of the wine. It's almost like you've just finished some yellow nectarine or a few raspberries.” French rosé is often a good bet, but this is particularly juicy and reliable.
Tastes like?
Rich stone fruits and red berries. About a medium on the rosé sweetness scale with a teeny tang to finish.
What to sip it with?
Whip up some salt and pepper squid on a warm day and you’ll be laughing. Or if you’re heading out, “this wine is a no-brainer to take to your local BYO Vietnamese restaurant.”
4. Numéro Quatre: Famille Bougrier Gamay
Why should you try it?
Richo’s one-line description of gamay hits the nail on the head: “It’s like pinot noir’s cooler cousin – the one with all the tatts and piercings.” This one, hailing from the stunning Loire Valley, is ideal for those of you who like a chilled red. It’s lighter, refreshing as all hell, and scored a sexy 90 points from the Wine Panel. Proving, once again, that the Bougrier family are top dogs when it comes to value for money.
Tastes like?
Cherries and cranberries and, if you concentrate, a hint of tea (Richo assures me). All I know is I want another glass.
What to sip it with?
“I often get asked what red to have with Indian food,” says Rich. “This works well because you don’t have any tannins clashing with the spices.” Hot tip.
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5. Numéro Cinq: Famille Sambardier Le Cuvee des Jean Gamay
Why should you try it?
Well for one, it made Richo’s face light up. “It’s got more going on than the gamay from Bougrier [above]. It’s the perfect stepping stone towards more serious gamay. Next step is Beaujolais Villages, which will eventually get you to Cru Beaujolais on your wine journey.” Crafted from 50-year-old vines, this wine will happily cellar for four or five years (if you’re the Hulk of self-restraint).
Tastes like?
It’s spicy, it’s earthy, it’s structured. Like a party in your mouth and all the ripe red currants, cherries and plums are invited.
What to sip it with?
Pizza, pizza, pizza. Then maybe some more pizza.
