WTN: Two from Collovray & Terrier (VdP d'Oc)

[Otto]

Funky Wine Imports, a fairly new importer in Finland, has a pretty impressive line-up. They go for more natural, unspoofulated wines than most importers - there really are only one or two wines in their whole portfolio that I would not like to buy! Just yesterday, they introduced two wines aimed at the bargain end of the fine wine spectrum. I really liked the red, but the white turned out pretty decent as well. The 9,95€ is that of the special order selection in Alko, which because of Alko's greed is always too highly priced, so these must be dirt cheap elsewhere:

• Collovray & Terrier La Closerie des Lys Les Fruitières Blanc 2008 - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc (4/7/2009)
  9,95€; 13% abv; a third each of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Rolle (Vermentino); under plastic "cork". Some minerality, but mostly a very perfumed and floral scent - the cloying aspects of which remind me of Viognier. Medium bodied, good acidity, crisp and refreshing despite showing sunny fruit. Initially, I might have been to damning of the perfumed character, as it calms down and greener, more refreshing scents appear - it become a more balanced wine with a few hours of air. Not as interesting nor with such personality as the red, but a nice wine anyway.
• Collovray & Terrier La Closerie des Lys Les Fruitières Rouge 2008 - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc (4/7/2009)
  9,95€; 13% abv; 50% Merlot, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon; under plastic "cork". At last a wine that fulfills two important criteria in my house: 1) cheap enough that I can use, without sorrow, huge amounts of it in cooking, 2) yet at the same time good enough that I really enjoy drinking a glass or three of it! It smells like a good Beaujolais with its bright red fruit except that it also smells meaty and bloody. Medium bodied, refreshing tannins, attractively citrussy acidity - refreshing yet fruity. Not very long, but few wines at this price are. It doesn't really show the characteristics of the grapes, but it does have plenty of character for such a cheap wine. No, this is not a great wine, but it is a very pleasant one. Buy again? Definitely.

Posted from CellarTracker

[David M. Bueker]

New producer to me, but I love the name of the importer.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

http://www.collovrayterrier.com/17.php

Macon-based but have spread their wings south!

[Otto]

I've never tried their Burgundies, sadly. They apparently also make a Pinot in a cool area in the VdP d'Oc which is supposedly very good.