Domaine Guion, Bourgueil, 2018

€24.99

One of the best-value French wines we've had all year!

Which is to say that it is one of the best-value wines from anywhere that we've had! A really delicious medium-bodied red from one of the Loire valley's brilliant villages, that delivers layers of flavour, complexity and a gorgeous, long finish that complex, intense and fantastically balanced. Acid and tannins are features of the Cabernet Franc grape and here they are excellent support characters rather than main stars: the dark fruit flavours really shine with spice nuance from oak barrels. 

If you haven't tried Loire valley reds before, I seriously implore you to do so. This is one of the most approachable and rewarding that I've ever had at this price point. If, on the other hand, you know this region and its wonderful ability to expose unexpected superstars, then this one is for you too! A very welcome surprise addition to our collection - plus it's from a vintage showing impeccably well at the moment.

Made from Cabernet Franc in the small, brilliant village of Bourgueil, this wine is full of dark fruits and pencil-lead-like spice notes, without a significant herbaceous, green-leafy quality that marks out so many of its neighbours. Not that the green scale of flavours is a bad thing, just that this wine doesn't show them as much as the dark fruit. The complexity and layers a fruit and spice flavour really makes it wonderful to match with food.

This comes from one of the most wonderful clusters of villages in France for producing Cabernet Franc. Though probably originally from south of Bordeaux (where it is an important blending component), it is here, just off the Loire that Cabernet Franc has become red wine's shining star.

Never massively full-bodied and seldom made to be overtly powerful, theLoire delivers on the elegant and finesse parts of Cabernet Franc. Stylistically, it's a bit like a hybrid of the structure from cooler Bordeaux appellations with the complexity and elegance of Burgundy. The Loire is distinctly cooler climate and as a result there isn't as much warmth in the grapes, nor the resultant wines, but that's no bad thing (even if climate change is leading to more and more vintages with fuller, riper fruit). Alcohol levels are often more moderate and there is structure and complexity from the dark grape skins (certainly in the Cabernet Franc wines) that really makes them stand out in the crowd.

Cabernet Franc stands out on its own because of of its idiosyncrasies: tannic, dry, blackcurrant, redcurrant, leafy and above all else a sense of pencil lead and, in under-ripe vintages, green bell-peppers.

The red wines of the Loire can be light, fruity and fragrant, just as they can be darker and more extracted. This one is definitely on the darker and fuller side, but retains freshness and a sense of a lifted texture that really increases its approachability. Cabernet Franc is certainly a food wine in all of its styles and this one in particular would be a super match for game and cheeses as well as on its own.

Our match? Well, we've said this before but... if it's not duck, throw us baguette, some decent butter and a whack load of pâté.

Region: Loire Valley

Country: France

Grape(s): Cabernet Franc

Style: Vibrant, Organic, Medium Bodied, Fresh, Complex, Bright

Best food matches: Venison, Tuna, Tapas, Roasts, Poultry, Mature Cheeses, Hard Cheeses, Grills, Duck, Cheeses, Charcuterie, Beef

Alcohol: 12.5%

Why buy from us?

When you buy wine from The Allotment Wine Co. you're helping a small Irish company that in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers who grow the grapes and make amazing wines. We only work with partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.

Delivery & Returns

You'll get free delivery when you buy 12 x 75cl bottles of wine online from The Allotment, saving you €7.99.

We charge €7.99 per delivery for quantities less than that.

Our hours for processing orders are between 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

We pack your online wine order along the following timelines:

Wine orders for delivery in Dublin, received before 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected the next working day.

Wine orders for nationwide delivery, received by 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected two working days later.

Customer reviews

★★★★★
Great choice and excellent service. Received my delivery the next day.
Paul H.
★★★★★
Amazing service from the get go!
I emailed Chris looking for wine recommendations for a birthday gift. Got a really speedy, helpful reply and not only that but he hand delivered it on time to the birthday girl wishing her a happy birthday. Absolutely bowled over by the service. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Michelle McM.
★★★★★
Could not recommend The Allotment enough. The selection is fantastic and each wine that I've drank from them has been utterly phenomenal. Delivery was no hassle and I had the wine at my door in 2 days. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Luke B.
★★★★★
Good range of interesting wines. Good personal attention to their orders. Very customer focused. I would be happy to recommend this company to any prospective customer.
Jim D.
★★★★★
A great experience ordering from The Allotment Wine Company. A wide variety of wines to try something new and at good prices with super quick delivery! Really convenient too as opposed to trying to find parking!
N. Dowling
★★★★★
Delicious and interesting range of wines delivered promptly to my door. Not far off that lovely feeling of coming back laden from a good wine store but without any of the traffic or the worry of breaking the wine en route (very impressive travel wrap).
M. Dorman
★★★★★
Chris fields a fine range of excellent, keenly-priced wines. Orders are safely packaged and dispatched efficiently and promptly. Strongly recommended.
David M.
★★★★★
Great selection of wines, hassle free ordering, payment and delivery. Highly recommended.
Patrick H.
Hi, I'm Chris Gifford.

And you're very welcome to The Allotment Wine Co.

When you wine from me, you're supporting a small Irish business which in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers, as well as other small, dedicated Irish wine importers.

When selecting wines, I look for partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.