This dry, crisp French Rosé is all about savoury and strawberry flavours making it the perfect late afternoon staple. Hints of cranberry, alpine strawberries and orange peel help build the complexity, while the dry, amaro like finish adds a layer of moreish-ness.

Deep purple in colour, this Merlot has an attractive nose of ripe red berries and cassis. The palate is soft and generous with plenty of sweet, juicy flavours. Great drinking and a great price!

Gigondas always seems to play the little-brother role to Chateauneuf du Pape, but these wines can be very, very good. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre vinified in the purest tradition, this wine is opulent now and will age well for the next 8 or 10 years.

Internationally recognised as one of the greatest expressions of Syrah. The La Turque by Guigal is intensely aromatic, powerful and elegant. Supple attack with a balanced supple structure, concentration and elegant tannins.

Château Lanessan continues to be a true bargain in the Bordeaux world. Lanessan produces wines that at first seem firm, but flesh out with marvellous fruit with good richness. Lanessan is also a very consistant producer, creating wines of quality from questionable vintages. The great thing is that you don't have to worry too much about 'questionable' vintage when looking at this superb 2009. The Bordeaux Gods have definitely been smiling on communes and produced wines of utmost concentration and power. Lanessan did not miss out with the licquorice, spice and blackcurrant rich wine that will reward the Bordeaux bargain hunter for the next decade or more.

A famous 5th growth Bordeaux from the classic appellation of Pauillac that has undergone many name changes over its life. Starting life as Mouton d'Armailhac before changing in 1956 to Mouton Baron Philippe which changed to Baronne to commemorate the Baron's second wife. In 1991, the Baron's daughter decided to give the Château an original name to separate it from the other Mouton's and Château d'Armailhac was born. Situated across the road from the famous Mouton, the estate is run separately, but with equal care. Wines of great concentration and intensity are produced, as one would expect from such pedigree. The 2009 is the perfect example of this with a wine of fantastic intensity and concentration. One of the finest d'Armailhac's is living memory, swathes of blueberry, roasted meats and espresso coffee characters are present early and will only further develop with careful ageing over the next 20 years.

Guigal are one of the cornerstones of the Côte Rôtie appellation after Etienne Guigal founded the estate in 1946, tending vines that have produced world class wines for over 2,000 years. The 2005 Côte Rôtie is a blend of 89% Syrah and 11% Viognier is a truly remarkable wine from vintage that was considered difficult by many. That is impossible to tell when enjoying a bottle of this 100 Robert Parker pointed Côte Rôtie that is voluptuous and complex. Still tightly wound and a little shy, the 2005 will age easily for 20+ years which should be considered mandatory.

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.

Although this is elegant and seamless by Bandol's standards, there is plenty of density with dark cherry fruit, prune, anise and peppercorn spice. Layered and intricate, a great example of Bandol (and a benchmark Mourvdre) that stylishly brings together generosity and freshness.