Brouilly is the largest and furthest south of the Beaujolais crus. It has a good south eastern exposure, at the bottom of the Saône Valley at an altitude of 200 to 300 metres. The subsoil consists of granite debris and blue-tinged schist. This also ranked the full 5 stars in my abbreviated-for-iPad rating system! Immediately exuberant, with a diverse array of floral notes, theres also some white pepper and crushed cherry notes. Gamay varietal by Dominique Piron.

For this Grenache blend, grapes are hand-picked, with double sorting at the vine, followed by a third sorting at the winery. Gentle crushing and selective destemming, followed by 25-40 days' traditional fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel and wooden vats. Pneumatic pressing, then systematic malolactic fermentation. A classic red Châteauneuf-du-Pape by Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, very fine and elegant. The best vintages will age for 25 years and more.

A Rosé with the structure of a prestige Cuvée, Charles Heidsidck Rosé Reserve has a subtle, yet complex aromas of strawberry jam mixed with ripe peaches on the nose. It is delicate at first on the palate but the raspberry and blackberry slowly became apparent. They are well-balanced with the right amount of acidity. The wine is well structured and made to match with food.

Delicate & crisp, Pigoudet Rosé is a balanced blend of traditional varieties of the appellation Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence - Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

La Belle Pierre are contemporary wines from earthy Southern France; grown and cared for traditionally yet they embrace technology in the winery to offer a good quaffing, uncomplicated yet juicy wine.

Michel Chapoutier continues to produce wines of unbelievable value and his Cotes du Rhône is the leader of the pack. For under $20, medium bodied reds don't get better than this.

A more serious wine from the Southern Rhone. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault roots grow in reddish, brown soils through limestone and reach deep, deep down. Vinification is traditional in concrete vats with daily pumping over, followed with ageing for six months in old large foudre, then bottled without fining and no filtration. The resulting wine is a triumph and a jewel in the crown for the Rhone.

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron has become simply known as

Shiny pink with pink petal reflections. Luminous in colour. The nose develops notes of mouth-watering strawberries and raspberries while also releasing light tones of exotic fruits. The palate has a well-balanced structure, full and fresh, with a lingering aromatic finish.