Wine Review: Roncier Rouge
Want to dip your toes into Pinot without breaking the bank? Look no further!
I’m starting off with the bottle that really got me thinking there is more to wine than just getting smashed whilst carrying an illusion of sophistication. That there’s more to reds than just the feeling of barely-there fruit wrapped about a brick of tannin slapped across your gob. I’m dedicating my first review to Roncier Rouge.
Wine: Roncier Rouge
Producer: Roncier
Grape(s): Pinot Noir, Gamay
Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: £10.99 from Askewine
This is a Vin de France, possibly the lowest rung of the ladder when it comes to regional terms in France, but it doesn’t act like it. When you’re looking for lovely entry-level wines, it takes a bit of knowledge. Look for entry-level wines made by great producers, who usually have a whole catalogue of spectacular wines at higher price points.
Case in point: Vielle Ferme (the viral Chicken Wine) is produced by Famille Perin. It’s a really well made range of wines at a great price point that everyone can get on board with, from novices to wine snobs! Now, Famille Perrin are also the proprietors of Chateau de Beaucastel, one of the most well-respected producers in Cotes du Rhone, and whose bottles can easily sell for over well over £100. What they’ve done is taken their years of knowledge and connections, and used it in the production of a fantastic entry-level wine that has really resonated with people who don’t want to decide between paying rent or having a decent bottle of plonk.
Anyway, Roncier Rouge has a similar lineage, being produced by L Tramier & Fils who have pricier wines and over 150 years of experience. Other examples that you can find in supermarkets are Antinori with their Villa Antinori Tuscana Rosso (£20), and Catena Zapata with their Catena Malbec (£11.99).
“But enough about pedigree and heritage, tell me what’s in the damn wine!” I hear you yell into the void. Well, it’s majority Pinot Noir, a grape which is near and dear to my heart. It takes real skill to grow, it’s very fussy, and utterly delicious. Gamay also joins the fray, really pumping up the red fruit notes to compliment the earthy tones.
And what a compliment it is! To accompany the lovely lighter red hue, the nose has really elegant red fruit notes (think raspberry or cherry). It’s not quite confectionery level, which you’d get with pure Gamay, but it’s so pleasant and easy to love. Once you taste, those red fruits continue, but in slides those earthy notes (and that’s a good thing!) offering complexity and elegance to the taste. The tango continues with a fine balance of just-enough acidity and soft tannins that remind you that you’re not just drinking fruity water. It’s like slipping into a lovely silken dressing-gown.
This is a wine that you can bring to a party and everyone will love. In the summer, this is a treat lightly chilled (just please god don’t put ice IN it) and at £10.99, it’s not going to feel like you’ve had to turf out your wallet in search of a good time. It’s my go-to wine when I don’t know what to drink, and it’s a great starting point for people interested in French wine and Pinot Noir is particular. Once you’re willing to part with a bit more money (or a lot more in the case of Burgundy), there are better examples of this grape, and from a variety of regions around the world. But I don’t think you’re going to regret having started out here.
Chin Chin,
Your Pinot-Gamay-Swigging, Producer-Wine-Range-Researching, Tesco-Waitrose-Hyper-Linking, Wine Reviewer Ben