French red wine values tasted in 2008

The selected French bottlings have given me much pleasure for the price. I have purchased them again for personal consumption. I would consider doing so even with a 50 percent mark-up. (My criteria are explained here.)

This page skips the tasting notes of the wines that are not imported into the USA. The complete page of french wine values can be found here.
 

The below wines were tasted in France, in 2008 (between April and December).
 

 Vin-de-pays-des-Coteaux-de-l'Ardèche - Vignerons ardéchois - (en cubitainer ou en vrac) - gamay

2007 - USD 7.4 - aromas of ripe strawberry - the palate is conventional (unlike a natural wine), firm

 Vin-de-pays-des-Coteaux-de-l'Ardèche - Vignerons ardéchois - Cuvée Modestine - gamay

2007 - USD 8.1 - cherry on the nose - cherry in the mouth, the fruit is not clean, as if pummeled, the balance is firm

 Côtes-du-rhône - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Le Pape noir

2006 - USD 11 - served at a cool temperature, this wine has more intensity of fruit than Le Pape noir 2005 tasted at the same age - the nose primarily shows black fruit and 'garrigue' - the mouth is dense (but less so than the 2005), showing black fruit and spice, the wine feels round, tender (no tanins), supple

 Cahors - Clos Siguier - (Malbec, 95%)

2005 - USD 13 - this wine improves with airing, it is a beauty of delicacy, balance and perfume - it's like you go out to a garden after a shower: dust, raspberry, flower, an herbal note, then black licorice and a hint of cocoa, very pure and enticing - so lively in the mouth! flavours echo the nose, the wine dries the palate, with a nice texture, light on its feet (unlike a cahors or a Malbec): firm and a great complement to food

 Crozes-hermitage - Cave de Tain - [syrah]

2005 - USD 14 - a wine with structure and a complete maturity of the grapes - the nose shows blackcurrant, blackberry and roasted notes -b rich on the palate, red fruit, violet, firm, dries the palate, balanced, a keeper - final notes of blackcurrant, cherry and spice

 Saint-chinian - Jean-Marie Rimbert - Les Travers de Marceau - (cinsault, syrah, mourvèdre, carignan)

2006 - USD 14 - nicely perfumed - the nose is very fruity (plum) - a muscular entry, red fruit, cutting acidity, ponderous and yet very lively

 alsace - Audrey et Christian Binner - pinot noir

2006 - USD 20 - Morello cherry dominates the nose - little onctuosity, Morello cherry, a note of fur, light, firm, asks for more!

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