2009 BOURGOGNE ROUGE Pinot Noir Domaine Joël Rémy

Mixed Cases

simply BOURGOGNE

Simple "Bourgogne" Blanc or Rouge is, theoretically at least, the most basic of Burgundy's hierarchy of appellations, but that's not to say it should be overlooked. Whilst the words "Premier Cru" and "Grand Cru" may stir the imagination, and villages like Gevrey Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée and Puligny Montrachet may look familiar and inviting, they don't come cheap and may prove too extravagent for more than occasional drinking. A simple Bourgogne allows you to dip into a cheeky little Burgundy without breaking the bank. Any vigneron worth investigating will put in as much care with his "basic" wine as he will with his grandest Grand Cru. You can see the House style in a Bourgogne Rouge or Blanc, you can see clues as to how the more expensive "special occasion" wines are going to taste. It's a wonderful world, so often overlooked by those in search of familiar names. And, whilst no Burgundy can be said to be cheap these days, it's a wonderful world that is still open to those of us of less inflated means.

some LIGHTER reds

Good red wines don't always have to be thumping great affairs full of tannin, deep fruit and interminable ageing ability. Sometimes you want something softer, lighter, more refreshing to charm you through your evening or to accompany a lighter meal. Here's a selection of some of our brightest, lightest and most charming red wines.