"disappointed did not live up to the descriptive hype"

"Pretty mean, with underripe, hard green tannins - quite remarkable in 2018 - must be massively over cropped. I quite like angular, savoury wines, but not this - avoid! "

"Just received a couple of bottles of this and opened one last night. Sadly it reeked of brettanomyces with an unpleasant aroma of antiseptic (think Germolene or Band Aid). I appreciate that in some reds a touch of Brett can bring something interesting to the wine but this was excessive and killed the other flavours in the bottle. Bottle two will have to end up in a cooking pot."

"It’s not great. Odd lingering smell. The dustyness of an old bottle but unlike an old bottle when the smell fades it’s always there. Very light. Definitely not robust. There’s better value out there. Alcohol is too prevalent. Too disjointed even at this price point. Reminds me of a rustic Beaujolais, bought in a big box for €3/l. Holiday plonk."

"When first opened, I thought this was terrible - smelled a bit like vomit. Left for a while, and became somewhat drinkable. We did finish the bottle, but would not buy again."

"Perhaps I received a bad bottle, but this was undrinkable"

"Excellent value."

I would recommend this wine

"Fruity and definitely a Pinot but found it quite light. Easy drinking but didn’t really have the body and structure I've had from other regional French Pinot's (like the Mougeottes ). Described as a gentle red in another review and that’s about right. Perfectly drinkable but a tad expensive for what it is"

"Although described here as a full-bodied wine, little could be further from my experience. It is a perfectly drinkable wine, but equally very light. I imagine it would go very nicely with some light terrines, maybe a rillette, and generally with various cold luncheon dishes when lightly chilled to about 16C. However, it lacked the depth for a typical unoaked Pinot Noir match: duck with sour cherries. Their Gamay can be similarly described, but might appeal to a slightly wider range of dishes. Both wines are worth the money if a very gentle red is what you want, but the Society has plenty more-rounded, fuller-bodied Pinot Noir at similar prices from Burgundy and beyond."

"Colour: Bright, light ruby red. Aroma: Initially very funky, a little unpleasant like a babies nappy. This disappeared after a while to reveal cherry, raspberry, cola, plum, an earthiness (mushroom, tobacco, dry soil) and a little spice. Taste: Med-light, lively acidity with a little tannin adding some grip to the texture. An appealing sweetness to the cherry fuelled palate, moderate finish. Overall: Started badly but improved with a little time. Only average IMO, nothing deep or complex going on here, a little bland and it feels a bit weak. Not a re-buy and can't recommend."

"Interesting mixed reviews. I tasted and reviewed the 2015 and the 2018 is very similar - though with a little more alcohol due to the hot summer. Still a lovely wine for value iro PN from regional France (and I've tried a few!). Its not sophisticated but is sappy and tannic on opening with some grip and opens up to light berry fruits . No overt stewed strawberry flavours which can dominate New World equivalent wines in the same price bracket. "

"Not exciting. Not a mini-Burgundy either, but OK and fair value. Fruity, and light-bodied for its alcohol level. I won't recommend it as there are so many better and more interesting wines from south/southwest France on the Societies list. "

"Going in to this not expecting Burgundy, I was a bit disappointed to be honest. Veering on the jammy side, but not quite, is one thing, but the acidity was overly high, leaving what was, for me, an imbalanced wine. Fruit flavour (plenty of strawberry in there) present but not sufficient to counterbalance the acidity and alcohol. "

"Crackling little wine. Some nice fruit but also elegant minerality and a hint of smoky bbq. You're not going to mistake it for a fine Burgundy but for under £10 you can't really go wrong with this. Will be buying again!"

I would recommend this wine

"It is certainly not Burgundy, but it is a very satisfying French country wine. Plenty of fruit and character."

I would recommend this wine

The Observer 15th Nov 2020

"There’s something of Beaujolais, perhaps a hint of Burgundy, in the slinky Cave St Verny Pinot Noir,  a really characterful combination of juicy red berries with a sappy, thirst-quenching quality. - David Williams"

The Sunday Times 26th Jul 2020

"Understated country wine can be a joy when crafted by the French — in this case the growers of Cave St Verny in the mountainous Auvergne region. Well balanced, robust and packed with fruit, this is worth seeking out. - Will Lyons"

The Observer 22nd Mar 2020

"For serious French pinot value, however, it’s hard to beat the pinot grown further south on the volcanic soils of Puy de Dôme in the Auvergne, which positively explodes with lithe, cherry-berry fruitiness. - David Williams"

Henry's World of Booze 15th Mar 2020

"Cheap pinots seem to fall into two categories, the insipid and the jammy. Somehow this wine from the Auvergne (which I always have to google, it’s nearly in the middle of France just to west of Lyon) manages to be neither. It’s a bit rustic and stalky with masses of dark cherry fruit. Not elegant but always delicious. - Henry Jeffreys"

2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"If you like Pinot Noir but are looking for something with a bit more edge and bite, this is a great, old-world option. It has plenty of crunchy fruit with a dry, saline heart that opens up in the glass into iodine minerality. Very interesting Pinot (2016 vintage)."

Mr Richard Dennis (29-Oct-2019)

"As an avid consumer of Burgundy I thought I would work my way through some budget Pinot Noir wines to see what they have to offer. Having tried three low cost offerings from Chile, Hungary and California all I had learned is that Pinot Noir is not a grape that travels well. Thank God that next on my list was this good value offering from the Auvergne. Unlike the previous three bottles this actually tastes of Pinot Noir and even displays a hint of the characteristics of a low end Bourgogne. It is quite a lean, austere wine, but that's the way I personally like them; slightly chilled, fresh and crunchy. It's not a wine to serve up at a dinner party, but for an everyday or mid-week quaffer it's excellent. It went down a treat with the pizza. I shall be getting some more. (Rated according to the WS guidelines: A good wine that left me feeling quite pleased with the value, and which I'd be happy to vouch for). "

Mr Nigel Skelsey (26-Sep-2019)

"Agree with the less complimentary review - little fruit and surprisingly tannic. Not a good Pinot - at least not this bottle."

Dr P A Flecknell (11-Aug-2019)

"I have bought previous vintages of this wine and enjoyed them. Thus, encouraged by the two reviews here, I bought one bottle of the current vintage as a "tester". I fear, indeed I hope, that my bottle is not typical; very odd un-pinot like taste. An odd dud bottle perhaps ? I will not buy more of this vintage."

Mr Ian Day (04-Jan-2019)

"This slips down all too easily! A gentle, smooth and fruity wine, it is very very moreish, both on its own and with food. At £8.50 a bottle, I can't see a downside...other than what I mentioned in my first sentence. "

Mr Peter Minns (19-Aug-2018)

2016 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS

The Observer (8th Dec 2019)

"A gorgeously vibrant red that is both made and sold by co-operatives. - David Williams"

Sunday Express (13th Oct 2019)

"In the Auvergne, that interesting volcanic wine region at the heart of France, pinot noir is frequently blended with gamay. This luscious offering, however, is a straight pinot. It is mineral-laden, with savoury red fruit flavours, some brooding darker notes and excellent acidity. - Jamie Goode"

The Daily Telegraph (9th Mar 2019)

"50 best wines under £10: It isn’t easy to find a pleasing bottle of pinot noir for a tenner, but here is one: very much on the lighter side, sappy, leafy and redcurrantish. From a cooperative in the Massif Central. - Victoria Moore"

Living France Magazine (17th Nov 2018)

"Once again this co-operative has made one of the best pinot noirs in the world at the price - far better than the most 'affordable' red Burgundies. A notoriously fickle-variety, pinot noir is all too often thin and flavourless, but this one captures all the red fruit fragrance and refreshing lightness of the variety. - Richard Hemming"

2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"Delicious fruity wine which I will be buying again. Better with the Manchego than the Brussels pate I shared it with. "

Mr Ray Mount (07-Jun-2018)

"Delicious wine from the Auvergne. However I’ve never heard ( and don’t think the locals have either ) of the term ‘Auvagnats’ for the inhabitants as suggested on the label..... I think you mean Auvergnats.... I’ll keep drinking though.."

Dr Paul Baskerville (30-Apr-2018)

"Disappointing, after earlier reviews which raised my expectations. A poor Pinot Noir to my taste - it's thin and stony with little to recommend it I'm afraid. There's minerality on it, and stoney plum flavours, with the stoniness predominating on the residual palate. Bouquet and colour are both very light for a S. France P/Noir. Not a wine on my re-order list."

Mr George Clothier (12-Dec-2017)

"Light colour and body, but full of cool-climate Pinot flavour. Not austere or unripe in any way, thanks to excellent 2015 vintage. Red cherries and almonds. Delicious, cheaper alternative to Burgundy."

Mr Edgar Bettridge (30-Oct-2017)

"I have tried many 'cheap' pinots from around the world looking for a regular house wine to drink for immediate pleasure and with not too much effort. I have to say that I think I have now found 'my' house wine, soft with very light tannins and no oak to overpower the fruit. For me this is a perfect drinking wine and a very reasonable price especially for Pinot Noir. Not sure where the Corsican influence comes in!!!!"

Mr David Jones-Percival (04-Oct-2017)

"Great value for the money. Pinot noir as a wine has so many faces: premium Burgundy at £100 a bottle, American can be too rich and fruity, New Zealand (indeed French) can be acidic or delightful. This pinot though suits my palate. Well made, rounded, good cherry fruit, delicious nose, good length but not really complex. I bought this as a mixed case but I'm now placing an order for a full case. Reading the reviews made me want to add my own. Enjoy!"

Mr Richard Burslem (14-Aug-2017)

"Tastes of strawberry flavours , sweet , simple and very light. Very nice with soft cheese. Would be nice slightly chilled on a summers day."

Mr Shahi Sikdher (25-Jun-2017)

Mr Chris Martin (09-Mar-2017)

"After drinking I have concluded that I am not a fan of Pinot Noir, there was nothing wrong with the wine just not my taste."

Mr Gordon Allan (09-Dec-2016)

2015 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS

France Magazine (14th Mar 2018)

"Every year, this humble pinot noir from the St-Verny cooperative in Auvergne delivers simply unbeatable value. It offers all the refreshment and delicacy of the variety but manages to avoid being dilute or confected - two of the major pitfalls of cheaper pinot noir. The result is an effortlessly drinkable light red with deliciously pure red berry flavours. - Richard Hemming"

The Daily Telegraph (25th Nov 2017)

"Successfully captures pinot noir's sappy, stones-and-summer-fruit flavours. Light bodied, but benefits from the warm vintage that puts flesh on pinot's bones. - Victoria Moore"

Suffolk Free Press (28th Sep 2017)

"If you like your Pinot Noir to be juicy and succulent, here's one for you. Red cherry and raspberry flavoured, with a soft core and easy tannins that provide instant appeal. It's great value - to drink with lighter game. - Neil Courtier"

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