Cotes de Rhone Villages 2013 - Wine Review

I first started to write this wine review over a year ago, and as we haven't drank it again since, I'm struggling a little to remember exactly how it tasted.
Not sure why I didn't complete my initial blog post? Possibly because I was too busy drinking wine. Haha!

Cotes de Rhone Villages 2013 is made using a blend of Grenache and Shiraz/Syrah grapes.
And having mustered my little grey cells into action, I have this to say, it's a smooth wine with big fruity flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, raspberry, gooseberry, blueberry, and lovely deep spice, black pepper, a pleasant floral taste of violet, and I tasted liquorice too.
A very nice medium-bodied red. I think it cost about £5.

From the label -
French Dry Red Wine.
This well-balanced wine is produced using a blend of Grenache and Syrah grapes.
It is characterised by its soft tannins and crispness on the palate. 
Once opened, consume within 3 days.
12.5%vol.
Have you tried Cotes de Rhone Villages 2013?
What did you think of this red wine?

Château Venus 2011, Graves AOC - Wine Review

Mr.R bought a bottle of Château Venus 2011, Graves AOC, from Lidl, it cost £8.99.
He bought this wine a while ago, before Christmas, but I've only just got round to blogging about it.

This Château Venus 2011 is from the Graves region of Bordeaux, its name comes from the gravel-rich soils of the region which are known for producing elegant, perfumed wines.
It's predominantly Merlot, hence the dark juicy plums on the palate, and a slightly tart finish from the tannins.
It's definitely a wine with an enticing aroma that makes you eager to taste it; blackcurrant, cherry, and plums, and a subtle hint of leather.

This wine is one of almost fifty new wines that Lidl now stock as part of 'The Lidl Premium French Wine Collection'. The prices range from £4.99 to £25.99.
Here's is what Lidl say about this wine -
Graves is one of Bordeauxs oldest appellations, producing wines that offer a good balance of flavour and freshness. With dark, plummy fruit and real crispness, this would be perfect with rare steak or fattier meat like duck. 

As soon as we opened the bottle and poured the wine into a glass the gorgeous vibrant violet colour certainly got our attention, closely followed by the beautiful aroma. We got delicious blackberries, juicy plums, ripe cherries, and damsons - our taste buds were tingling.
Château Venus 2011, Graves was quite dry, of medium acidity, and plenty of ripe tannins.
Although it a few years old, it still tastes very young and quite light, it would probably mellow and develop more depth if you kept it for a few years.
But as I'm sure you know if you've read any of my other wine review blog posts, that's not how we treat our wine. We buy it. We drink it. And this was a very drinkable wine.
If you haven't tried it yet, go and get a bottle, now - while stocks last.

So, yep, once again Lidl has done good.
This is, as I've already said, but feel like repeating, a very enjoyable and drinkable wine.
Château Venus 2011, Graves, 13% vol.
CHATEAU VENUS, 3, Pertigues – Brouquet 33720 Illats – France.
Have you tasted Chateau Venus 2011, Graves?
What did you think of it?