The Domaine du Treille and Domaine de Martinolles vineyards are located in the foothills of the Pyrenees near Limoux with the famed walled hillside town of Carcassonne nearby. Over ten years of age, these naturally low yielding vineyards produce the finest French Pinot Noir outside Burgundy due to the cool climate, high elevation and similar soils." - Vincent Charleux, winemaker

An elegant and restrained nose with red and black berries mixed with floral notes and spice aromas. The palate is rich and full bodied with an array of berry flavours. The class of the vintage is shown in the delicate and precise finish with varietal red berry overtones.

Nicholas Crampton is enjoying having his hands untied. After spending eight years working for a big Australian winery, he set up his own company and created a French wine brand. It only has two wines – Le Chat Noir Sauvignon Blanc ($16.99) and Le Chat Noir Pinot Noir (($19.99) – buy they’re outstanding value. Crampton is probably right when he calls his “the best French Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy”. And there’s the clue – they’re not from the renowned French wine regions, but the Aude Valley, in the foothills of the Pyrenees. France’s wine; Industry is highly regulated – only one region is famous for Cabernet (we have at least four) and only one region is famous For Pinot Noir (here, there are at least five), and so on. But good wines are grown in other French regions, they’re just not as highly prizes – hence Le Chat’s reasonable prices. Crampton has done wine drinkers a big favour. The Wine Front

This wine has been a runaway success since its inception a few years ago but quality-wise, this 2010 is the year for it to really crack the big time. It’s grown in France’s Aude Valley (though I appreciate the way Walsh calls it, more authentically, “Valee de l’Aude”). I have a feeling Le Chat Noir might put the Aude Valley on the map.

It’s been a tough time for bargain pinot noir drinkers of late. There are a couple of exceptions but in general, the heat of 2009 and the wet of 2011 have hardly made it easy for volume producers – and it usually takes volume to keep both the price down, and the quality up. This pinot noir from Le Chat Noir steps beautifully into the breach. It has a flash of cedary oak – not something I’ve seen in previous vintages – good density of fruit flavour, a rub of tannin and better-than-decent length. Better still, it smells perfumed and buoyant and tastes fresh and vigorous. It doesn’t just scratch the pinot itch, it gets the heart racing. If you see this wine around, and you’re a pinot noir fan – BUY. 92 Points & Top value - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

Completely whole bunch fermented with a short maceration (a few hours) sufficient to impart colour and texture. Following a soft pressing, the juice is given a cool fermentation in stainless steel and allowed to ferment to almost complete dryness. Maturation on lees in stainless steel adds texture and malo-lactic fermentation is prevents to ensure vibrancy.

Sitting neatly between “Old World” (pale, dry and restrained) and “New World” (bright, fruit focussed and exuberant). The colour is pale pink, with crimson highlights when viewed across a full glass. A vibrant nose displays fruit drops, red berries and floral aromas of roses and lavender. A beautifully balanced palate combines rich fruit flavours and a round mouth-feel with soft acidity and freshness on a dry finish.

Not your average Sauvignon Blanc, this wine balances the intense fruits of many New Zealand wines with the restrained mineral acidity of the traditional French style. Sourced from the cool climate Aude Valley in the south of France, the wine retains its varietal character, acidity and freshness.

Rich and lifted with intense scents of fruit mingled with varietal aromas of gooseberries and passionfruit. The limestone soil has imparted floral nuances and a flint like “river stone” scent. The palate is fresh and pure with rich flavours balanced by delicate mineral acidity.

The Le Chat Noir Shiraz Viognier is sourced from the cool climate Aude Valley. The rich and full Shiraz is given softness and lift with the addition of a small amount of Viognier.

Still quite tight and brooding with a depth of dark fruit aromas and spice. The palate is ripe and full with beautifully textured and flavoured berry fruit. A balanced and fruit focussed wine that finishes with soft tannins and a delicate Viognier lift.

Bright purple and red fruits, some brambly notes and peppery edges, plums and summer berries; really attractive. The palate is juicy, bright and supple with an almost graphite-like dark minerally edge. Modern, with terrific freshness to boot. 92 points - Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine “200 European Wines under $50”