In 1911, great grandfather of the current owner forsook his birthplace of Burgundy and headed south to the Rhône valley. There he bought his first vineyard. Today, Laurent Guillot is in charge, working the family plots both in Burgundy and the southern Rhône. For this voluptuous Villages red, he combined two parcels of premium quality grapes from some of their oldest vines. The Grenache is from between Orange and Avignon, close to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the soils of which produce a powerful, full-bodied style. The Syrah is from clay-limestone soils on the Rhône’s right bank, lending a silky, fresh-fruit note. Add in the quality of the vintage and this red is rich, dark and intense. A great wine to serve with roast lamb or a rich casserole.

The southern Rhône’s cru villages deliver remarkable richness as well as value – all nine of them well worth discovering. One of the best is Vacqueyras, the village watched over by the towering Dentelles de Montmirail (google and you'll find some impressive images of these iconic rugged landmarks) . Cuvée Préstigieux is from the Guillot family. In 1911, great grandfather of the current owner forsook his birthplace of Burgundy and headed south to the Rhône valley. There he bought his first vineyard. Today, Laurent Guillot is in charge, working the family plots both in Burgundy and the southern Rhône. This Cuvée Préstigieux is a full-bodied style with ripe raspberry fruit from the Grenache, while the Syrah brings herbal aromas and blackberry and a touch of Mourvèdre adds spice. Ace with roast lamb or a rich casserole.

This thoroughly appealing GSM is made exclusively for you by the Corryton Burge team under Trent Burge. The Burge family planted their roots in the Barossa Valley in the 1800s inspiring generations of devoted vignerons. Siblings Trent and Amelia Burge are sixth-generation Barossans. This rising star estate marries the family name with that of the family’s grand 1845 Corryton Park Homestead in Eden Valley. Their father, who mentors the enterprise, is none other than Barossa winemaking legend, Grant Burge. The Grenache revival is in full swing especially in the Barossa Valley where Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties are being pulled out in favour of this slightly lighter bodied grape. Grenache was once prevalent here, providing fruit for the region's extensive production of fortified wines, and hence the existence of some of the oldest Grenache vines in the world! However, with an increasing market for slightly lighter, more accessible styles of red, Grenache is a 'new' rising star both in pure form and as here in fabulous GSMblends. As in France, especially in the Rhône Valley, Grenache is often blended with Shiraz to add a little weight in the mouth, and with Mataro to give the wine structure.

d'Arenberg's Innocent Weed McLaren Vale GSM is a very tasty – and very moreish 92pt, Great Value drop. As Marcus Ellis writes in The Halliday Wine Companion, it is: "buoyantly fruitful… with notes of boysenberry, blackberry gel, anise pastille, blueberry, graphite, violet, iris, mint and wild raspberry, but it’s more contained, ripeness à point. The strut of tannin is a proprietary character, and they have considerable pull, but they will soften, and the fruit is up to the challenge. Give it a little time, but it's a fine drink" (Halliday). It's named for the rather invasive weed that grows in the same soil as the estate's Grenache – that given its throrns and numerous seeds is actually far from innocent. In 1912, horse-fanatic Joseph Osborn sold his beloved stables and horses and bought the family the d'Arenberg estate in premium McLaren Vale. “d’Arenberg kept its 100+yo heritage while moving into the 21st century with flair. At last count, the d’Arenberg vineyards have 40 varieties planted, as well as more than 50 growers in McLaren Vale. Its considerable portfolio of richly robed red wines, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and grenache are the cornerstones. The iconic 5-level Cube cellar door offers a range of wine experiences including a restaurant and a wine sensory room” (James Halliday). You'll always spot a d'Arenberg wine with its bold red stripe on the label.