White Loire wine from France: 2012 : http://tinyurl.com/3qjhotd

Wine name: Sur Lie Producer: GAEC Bouchereau, L’Anesse, 44330 Le Loroux Bottereau Vintage: 2012 Purchased from: Stall in Notre Dame De Monts Price: £0 Appearance: Very pale pastille yellow, crystal clear, thick and viscous on the glass Aromatics: Quite light with a touch of candy cigarettes. Attack: Fresh and light. Evolution: Becoming more interesting – green grape skins, star fruit and green apple flesh. Finish: Star fruit in nose and a bitter rose-type taste on the swallow. Sweetness: 0 Acidity: 3 Tannin: 0 Texture: Thick and rough. Length: Patchy. Balance: Nice summery wine. Closure: Synthetic Alcohol: 12% abv Notes: “Cheap and cheerful” - it cost about 3 euros from a stall in the Vendee and is pleasant, light summer drinking. Nothing fancy but enjoyable! FrenchWineGuide score: 81 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk

Red Beaujolais wine from France: 2013 : http://tinyurl.com/3qjhotd

Wine name: Beaujolais Nouveau Producer: Les Vins Georges Dubœuf, 71570 Romanèche-Thorins Vintage: 2013 Purchased from: John Lewis Food Hall Price: £7 Appearance: Deep smooth purple, thick and viscous on the glass. Aromatics: Blackberries. Attack: Quite sharp and juicy. Evolution: Old socks. Not in a really bad way, but certainly there’s a hint of them in there. It’s not very fresh tasting. Finish: Blackberries in the nose and on the swallow. Sweetness: 0.5 Acidity: 3.5 Tannin: 3.5 Texture: Quite rough Length: A little patchy Balance: Over-sharp and over-extracted from slightly under-ripe grapes? Either that or there’s some stalk in there. Closure: Synthetic Alcohol: 12% abv Notes: Not bad but certainly not good. BN is not my favourite wine so perhaps I’m a little biased. Definitely a “food” wine. FrenchWineGuide score: 77 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk