Le Petit Ballon

If you haven’t heard of Le Petit Ballon before and you’re a wine lover, you’re seriously missing out! They’re a wine subscription service which sends you a box of two bottles of wine every month, straight to your doorstep. The wines are all hand selected by Jean-Michel Deluc, a famous master sommelier who has worked at the Ritz in London, so this man certainly knows a thing or two about fine wines.

What I like the most about Le Petit Ballon is how their website and the literature that comes with the wines (a fantastic little magazine called The Gazette and a set of Tasting Notes are included every month), are all written in an engaging, friendly and passionate tone that really gets you excited about wines and leaves you wanting to learn more about them. It’s definitely a subscription box that beginners to wine (like I am) and connoisseurs alike can sign up to and happily enjoy.

Each month, Le Petit Ballon feature a different theme which allows you to fully explore the rich culture that wine is so firmly attached to, as well as being introduced to more niche wines. Organic produce is something that I fully support for a healthier and more sustainable environment, so I was very pleased to see Le Petit Ballon championing the cause by using Organic as their theme for this month’s box.

I received two bottles of organic wine, one red and one white, both of which arrived in perfect condition via courier:-Domaine La Tour Boisée Minervois Rouge 2015 (14%)

Made by the famous La Tour Boisée family estate in the rich French vineyards of Minervois (Languedoc-Roussillon wine region), this exceptional red wine easily demonstrates why there is such a growing demand for organic produce. It’s made from a blend of Grenache and Syrah grapes which gives the wine a soft ruby colour with such a lovely bright violet shine to it.

On the nose, this wine has a complex but refined aroma of ripe fruits, spices, a little smoke, tobacco, chocolate and peony, which set the senses up for a powerfully fruity taste sensation. This is a very rich and juicy red wine that has a delicate aftertaste, and it pairs well with a range of cheese, meats and vegetables so it’s ideal for summer brunches and barbeques. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Château Tour des Gendres Cuvée des Conti 2015 (13.5%)

A chilled glass of high quality white wine is the perfect accompaniment to any meal on a hot summer’s day, but I have to say that this one felt like an extra special treat. Created with a blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle grapes, this white wine from the Conti family is one of the best that’s produced in the Bergerac appellation in South-West France. It’s an area that’s often overlooked but is starting to gain in popularity thanks to some incredible wines that are being released from this small region, so keep your eye out for future releases.

This Conti white wine has a bright golden colour with a hint of brilliant green in the glass, and it has a wonderfully fresh, fruity and floral aroma, with lots of hints of citrus fruits, acacia, mango, pineapple, pear and peach coming through. When I first opened the bottle, I was really hoping that it would taste as good as it smells and it certainly does! In fact, it tastes the same as its aroma with the mango, pear and pineapple being the most noticeable at first, and a pleasant aftertaste that has a touch of mint and honey blended in. A truly lovely refreshing white wine that goes well with salads, goat’s cheese and seafood.