Château Millegrand Minervois 2014 Cuvée Aurore Review

Château Millegrand Minervois 2014: a smooth and spicy Languedoc red

A short gallop east from the medieval town of Carcasonne, in the Languedoc region of southern France, lies the 12th century Château Millegrand winery — producers of one of my current favourite good-value red wines.

UK wine buyers from the likes of Co-op and Aldi have been bagging some bargains from the Languedoc in recent years, where you tend to get more bang for your buck than in, say, Burgundy or Bordeaux.

This blend of Grenache 50%, Carignan 30%, and Syrah 20% (called the Cuvée Aurore, which I think translates as “dawn blend”) hails from the Minvervois AOC in central Languedoc. It’s an area known for its Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, as well as two of my favourite aromatic white grapes, Marsanne and Viognier. I’ll have to pay it a visit some day.

It’s a wonderfully vivid, deep plummy red colour, with flavours of blackcurrant, cherry, menthol, violet and a wee hint of tobacco. It’s velvety smooth and fruity, with a subtle touch of oak and hardly any trace of tannic bitterness. It’ll suit lovers of good-quality Shiraz who are looking to expand their horizons.

You might also enjoy… Aldi’s Grande Alberone organic red wine (if you can find it)

Château Millegrand Minervois 2014. 13% vol. £9.99 at Co-op (also available elsewhere)

4.5 STARS