Here is a 'vin de pays' wine from the Rhone. Above 'vin de table', but below appellation d'origine controlee (AOC), and therefore giving producers a bit of freedom from rules in production. Often 'vin de pays' is excess produced by big domains and cooperatives, snapped up for blending by large European wine companies, and can be very varied in quality.

The bottle has a simple white label and low curvy shoulders. It looks gentle and unassuming. The closure is a screw top and it is a bearable 13%ABV.

On first gulp I thought that at £6.50 this wine was punching way above its price. It was not overpowering, but still retained that spicy Rhone edge (mainly Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre).

The wine is Adnams own brand and I like their approach to wine. I quote from their website -

"We have a core range of wines that make it on to our annual wine list, but these wines are supplemented by one-off purchases that we only have in stock for a month or two. Often these wines are from small producers who don't have enough wine to supply us for a whole year, or we will buy a small parcel if the wine is of particular interest. Many of our wines are produced using organic or biodynamic methods (these are indicated by a green leaf symbol in our wine list). Unlike our beers, which are all made in Southwold, we do not make any wines ourselves - we buy from winemakers from all over the world - some of which are bottled under our own label under the Adnams Selection range."

This particular bottle is flagged a 'organic'. So what exactly is 'organic' wine anyway?

From Jancis Robinson's Oxford Companion to Wine:- "an imprecise term for wine made from grapes produced by organic viticulture using a minimum of chemicals during wine making."

This asks more question than it answers.

The southern Rhone is popular for organic wines as the hot dry climate facilitates the lack of need for chemicals, so it would be unsurprising to see this on a Rhone blend.

I recommend this wine, a great price point.

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