Le Versant Pinot Noir 2015

A Languedoc Pinot from Foncalieu

Pinot Noir is the David Bowie of wine grapes - androgynous, hedonistic and chameleon-like. But not every Pinot can be Ziggy Stardust; some are more Alvin Stardust. Or even Alvin and the Chipmunks.

I like Foncalieu's wines a lot - I have tasted them extensively and been impressed.

This one, for me, is OK but nothing special; it's pleasant and inoffensive, technically well-made. Just kind of ... OK. But then, I'm not a Pinot-phile generally.

For under-a-tenner Pinot, this is probably about right; if you want good Pinot, why would you even consider looking below £10?

In search of an objective second opinion, I checked around to see what others have made of this wine - a "Commended" from Decanter for this vintage seems pretty much to sum it up. It does improve with aeration, so don't be afraid to stick it in a decanter.

Les Vignobles Foncalieu, Le Versant Pinot Noir 2015 (£9.95, independents) cherry fruit, some green, minty herbs; fresh and soft with slightly grippy tannins and oaky spice; technically well made.

A versatile food wine, match with roast red meat, game, salmon or tuna.