Cuvee Jean-Paul Sec VDP 2008

Ugni Blanc and Colombard may not be grape varietals that you are to familiar with. They are work horse grapes that often are used to produce bland, high volume, boring whites. Italian White Wine lovers Ugni Blanc is the french name for Trebbanio. This grape is often used in cognac production.

I should point out that I have often heard Mike from Curiouswines telling everyone how great his Cuvee Jean Paul is and that he doesn’t think that there is a white in Ireland that can match it quality at this price.  So this wine came with a lot of hype and fuss !

The wine itself is an honest, straight forward, tasty, dry white from the South of France. With its pale lemon colour kicking out aromas of honeydew melon, apples and citrus.

The key to finding a great value wine for, in this case €8 a bottle, is the balance. How does the wine sit in your mouth – is it to bitter, harsh, sharp or flat – like a coke that has been sitting out for to long. If you can get the right balance, with good aromas and solid acidity you are on to to a winner.

On the palate the Cuvee Jean Paul has good balance, a lovely freshness and good acidity to it. Flavours of melon predominantly for me come through which follow through to a nice finish. The crisp, freshness of this wine make this the perfect summer sipper either on its own or with lighter salads, seafood or chicken dishes. I defy anyone not to like this wine.

This wine has it all and does it all well with a minimum of fuss - to use a football analogy. John Giles and the RTE pundits are always talking about honest players that do the simple thing well. They don’t really go in for the showboating Ronaldos of this world but rather the honest workman like footballer who does the simple things well.

Cuvee Jean Paul does the simple things well at a price, considerably less then £80m, that will put a smile on your face. Take my advice and buy a case of it !

Robertfranciswine – 87+ Points

Available from  – www.curiouswines.ie

Price Bracket – €8 a bottle