How is it possible to roll all these flavours into one affordable wine? Ask the Famille Perrin, one of the great winemaking families in southern France, who create this complex, fruity, earthy and fresh Cotes du Rhone from a blend of Grenache (mainly from their Prébois vineyard in Orange), Syrah from further north in Vinsobres and Mourvèdre. While many less interesting Cotes du Rhone are made from a straightforward blend of Grenache and Syrah, the addition of the dark, mocha-like flavours of Mourvèdre add depth, richness and smooth soft velvet mouthfeel. 

The grapes in this wine were destemmed and fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks between 150hl and 190hl. Extraction is done by pumping over and the frequency is determined by tasting. The separate component wines are transferred partly to oak barrels and partly to stainless steel vats for a year's maturation, prior to blending. 

The result is outstanding dry red wine flavours with rich soft fruit appeal and a long finish; all to be hoped for from the family who own Chateau de Beaucastel.

This is a great young red with medium term ageing ability and especially fresh and consistent thanks to being sealed with a screw cap.

70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre from the Rhone. A rich, well structured wine. Full of plum and stewed fruit aromas. No oak results in pure fruit expression on the palate. 

Dry, dark and full bodied wine with impressive structure, made from 100% Syrah grown on 20 to 50 year old vines planted on limestone, sand and pebbles in the appellation of St Joseph. This wine is fermented in stainless steel and was aged for 16 months in second fill oak barrels.

100% Tannat aged in oak tuns and wooden tanks for 12 to 15 months. This wine is a deep, intense red. Elegant on the nose, with aromas of black fruits (blueberry and blackberry) dominating the hint of spice. A remarkable fullness on the palate, with tannic chewiness and unexpected roundness. The long finish has vanilla delicacy. A delightful wine, both powerful and elegant. It can easily be kept for 8 to 10 years. – Chateau Aydie.

"Les Baronnes" is a wine of exotic fruit and citrus aromas; subtle yet powerful. Its persistence and harmony find their origin in the exposition and quality of the terroir. Delicate nose with aromas of white flesh fruits and citrus, this Sancerre is highlighted by its typicity. - Henri Bourgeois. 

This is one of our favourite Côtes du Rhône villages wines, thanks to being a great producer and a complex blend of grapes, including 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. This lovely blend provides this wine with its dark colour, deep rich concentrated fruit flavours and impressive structure. All of which makes Cassagnes de la Nerthe a wine to age as well as to enjoy right now.

It is made from grapes grown in Sérignan du Comtat, 20 kilometres north of Châteauneuf du Pape. 

This is a top wine from an excellent producer - worth keeping or enjoying. Better still, buy a case of it and do both. 

The Alary family's involvement in viticulture and wine production dates back as far as 1692. The estate now comprises 29 hectares of vines of which 26 hectares are Grenache dominant and 3 are Rousanne dominant - with holdings in Rasteau and Cairanne.

The wine is a deep red colour and opens with a nose of dried fruit, ripe plums and savoury notes. The palate is broad and rich with dark plum fruits and good tannin structure leading to a long mineral finish.

Unfined, unfiltered and organic.

Deep crimson in the glass. On the palate, ripe dark berries take the lead with subtle spiciness offering balance and richness. This is a smooth and persistent wine with rich red-fruit aromatics.

From the Cairanne sub-region in the Cotes du Rhone. This is a powerful yet nuanced wine with an excellent smoothness. This Cote du Rhone is defined by its ripe fruit character and peppery spice. Excellent concentration and earthiness makes for a complex, satisfying red.

Beautiful dry, refreshing, concentrated French Chenin Blanc with intense flavours of green apples, apricots, honey and white floral aromas. This outstanding wine comes  from one of the smallest and highest quality wine regions on the northern side of the Loire, which is dedicated entirely to the great white Chenin Blanc. 

This wine is great drinking now and will age well for the next two decades. 

This Pouilly Fumé is grown on chalky clay vineyards grown on sloping hillsides in the Loire Valley. This wine has a floral and smoky character which flatters the fruity aroma, roundness and long, flinty finish.

A great champagne made by father-son grower-winemaker team. The pair are based in Ay, also home to Champagne Bollinger, to which they sell approximately half of their grapes each year. The vineyards around Ay in the Champagne region are focussed strongly on Pinot Noir, which makes this wine taste toasty and rich. These alluring savoury qualities are softened, mellowed and added to in the autolytic process of ageing the bubbles in the bottle while the lees (decomposing yeast cells) break down, releasing deliciously rich flavours on the journey. 

A great champagne made in relatively small volumes, pushing boundaries of great flavour to new heights. 

Jean Foillard is one of Beaujolais’ most renowned producers. Foillard’s wines are extremely complex and deep for an area known for light, juicy reds. This is a high quality, classic expression of the Morgon sub-region. The Classique comes from vines of 20-55 years old, grown on mostly granite solis. Fermented 100% whole bunch, so some carbonic influence, ferment in concrete, then 6-9 months in aged barrique.

A refreshing dry white made from Chardonnay grown in the Maconnais region of southern Burgundy. The grapes come from the historic "Les Charmes" vineyard, known for producing wines of great elegance and finesse. Ripe stone fruit flavours are balanced by an elegant mineral finish. This is perfect as an aperitif and works well with lighter foods. 

The star of the Médoc, Cabernet Sauvignon is given pride of place in this French expression of a classic left bank Bordeaux red blend. Its structured body provides a beautiful wintery night's red to enjoy by the fire with cheddar and great company. 

This is a wine made for drinking now or over the next two to three years.