The wine sample was accompanied by the ubiquitous press release which mentioned value for money among other things.

Value is a bit of a challenge to me. Does it just mean cheap (sorry, inexpensive)?

Value is “the worth of something compared to the price paid”, and the worth is judged by the buyer not the seller. So, if it’s mentioned anywhere other than a review, I’m a little suspicious.

Anyhoo, the subject of this value for money wine is the Château Boucarut Côtes du Rhône 2009 from Molloys in Dublin who seem to have undergone a rather smart rebrand, at least online.

Côtes du Rhône is the basic classified wine from pretty much anywhere within the Rhône area and it’s normally in the range between €7 and €15 and the quality also ranges.

Grape growing & wine making

The winemaker Christophe Valat has set a premium on using natural wine growing methods and respect for the environment particularly by adopting the use of organic manure and natural pest management.

The grapes are Grenache and Syrah

This can, but not always, be coupled with a premium price, but not in this case, the wine is €9.

Tasting note

Bursting with great fruit, a nice fresh acidity, a hint of the rustic and finishes with a very generous amount of pepperiness. After my first glass, I thought the pepper was a little too much, but on going back to the wine the following night, it had opened up nicely and everything was in check, and nicely balanced.

So, back to the question of value.

Would I be happy with the wine, if I paid €9 for it? Definitely.