FrenchDuck UK - Latest

Since retiring as a wine merchant and importer of French Regional wines, we have drunk well-enough from the modest cellar accumulated over 15 years of tasting and buying. But I confess to missing the buying and tasting trips which always provided delights, surprises and sometimes disappointments.Not least in meeting winemakers with their passions and idiosyncracies.
Until now I had never rated French wine merchants - the Nicolas chain probably one unexciting exception, and predominantly found in and around Paris.
But other independent wine merchants were often disappointing - usually a reasonable selection of local wines, but inevitably a predominance of fine Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, Seldom much from elsewhere in France, and certainly no more than a token from outside Fran
A recent article bemoaned the absence of Languedoc wines on many French restaurant lists, and yet the wines of the Languedoc are gaining an increasingly impressive reputation for superb quality and great value for money - even in the higher price brackets.
I was therefore pleasantly surprised (and even a little envious) of a new discovery in the small village of Montcuq in the Lot departement (46 Midi-Pytrenees).
Now admittedly this area tends to attract a rather more cosmopolitan crowd than some other parts of the South West,but few businesses will survive if they rely only on northern European visitos and second-home owners. So inevitably the a proportion of the customers throughout the year will be local French.
And yes the Vins et Saveurs shop on rue de la Promenade (tel:05 65 35 57 15) does stock an impressive range of the local Cahors AC wines, but only a modest selection of well-choses Bordeaux and Burgundy - matched by an impressive selection of wines from elsewhere in France (little from outside France) - especially the Languedoc - such as the superb wines of Domaine Piccinini in St Jean de Minervois AC. Chateau l’Hortus in Pic St Loup AC, the Madirans of Chateau d’Aydie, Basque wines from Iroleguy AC plus Loire, Rhone, Alsace and Beaujolais - and all at reasonable prices.
Jerome, the genial owner clearly knows his stuff, and works on the same principle as I used at Allez Vins! - i,e, he only sells wines he likes!! He is very approachable. very knowledgeable and his English is good - so don;t hesitate to ask for his recommendations.

I’m tempted to ask for a job there - doing something I could enjoy in a quiet part of South West France - don’t tempt!

Montcuq has a small but lively farmers market on a Sunday morning which is well worth a visit - fresh fruit and vegetables, local Agen prunes, Cabecou cheeses, Quercy Melons - even a couple of wine stalls selling Cahors and Coteaux du Quercy wines from small independent producers.