Southern France's Languedoc region is a treasure trove of good value, well-ripened reds. And the grapes are often almost identical to those of the southern Rhône – here we're talking about Grenache and Syrah, although there are plenty more like Carignan and Cinsault that also shine. Thanks to the sun-filled Mediterranean climate, varied soils and drying wind, the Languedoc is an excellent region for making really appealing, warm-fruit wines. Using a blend of Grenache and Syrah, this appealing red combines juicy blackberry and raspberry fruit with ripe tannins, long sweet spice and liquorice notes. With its soft, velvety texture, this goes with just about anything – from pizza and pasta to grilled meats. It's great on its own too and top choice at a barbecue.

Jean-Marc Sauboua first made this unique wine for the team at a special Castillon cellar – as a treat to enjoy after late-night working. All the best 'off cuts' that any discerning butcher (or in this case, winemaker) would keep back for his own dinner, hence the wine's name. They made the mistake of showing it off and the secret was out. La Part du Boucher comprises small amounts of wine left at the end of bottling, carefully blended, then stashed away for a while in barrel. It’s a magnificent blend – we couldn't tell you exactly what, but a little Pomerol, Pauillac perhaps and Saint Emilion rubbing shoulders with other stars from the southwest. What we can tell you is that it's a big, warming red. Decant and serve in large-bowled glasses.

If you thought that Argentina was the only place to find fine Malbec, think again! Zonte's Footstep have triumphed with this luscious Langhorne Creek example boastinga berryfest of flavour, FIVE Gold medals and 93 points from Halliday: "Violets, boysenberries, redcurrant and leather. Bright and characterful at once. Sweet and vibrant through the mouth, dry and firm through the finish. Mid-weight. In lovely form...93pts" (Halliday).

John Quarisa is a Jimmy Watson Trophy-winning winemaker, with a "long and distinguished" career (Halliday). Here he's provided a beautifully rich, lush and full-flavoured Shiraz, a triple Gold-winner laden with ripe fruits, delicious exotic spice and a smooth, long finish.

Tuck into an opulent Gold-medal McLaren Vale Shiraz with 93pts and 94pts, brimming with regional richness and complexity from the perfectly-sited vineyards of Dowie Doole, now in the confident and skilled hands of winemaker Chris Thomas. “Sweetly ripe with attractive complexity, the wine shows blackberry, raspberry, toasted spice, and hazelnut aromas on the nose, leading to a flavoursome palate that's succulent and plump. Generous and beautifully rounded with layers of polished tannins, finishing sturdy and lingering. 93pts.” (Sam Kim, Wine Orbit). Of the previous vintage Ken Gargett WinePilot wrote: “Wines like this leave no question that Shiraz is divinely suited to the McLaren Vale region. This is from the Blewitt Springs and Tatachilla sub-regions…” Campbell Mattinson calls it: "…a warm-hearted Shiraz from McLaren Vale with dark chocolate, asphalt, black licorice and peppercorn characters flowing evenly through the palate… rich and satisfying…" Founders Drew Dowie and Norm Doole, both visionary and passionate about sustainability, have always been nuts about McLaren Vale geology – the sandy soils of Blewitt Springs and the ancient rocks of Tatachilla in particular. They paired up to form DOWIE DOOLE in 1995, and then, in 2015, sold it to their chief winemaker and fellow devotee Chris Thomas, who has worked at many top wineries including Fox Creek and Serafino Wines in McLaren Vale – as well as in Burgundy, France. Norm and Drew own neighbouring estates, one in each locale mentioned above, and both have sold one of their premium vineyards to ‘DD’ in order to boost its overall potential. Norm Doole’s California Road vineyard and Drew Dowie’s Tintookie vineyard at Blewitt Springs.

If you’ve never tried a red from the Cévennes, you’re not alone. This wild, remote region is best known as the setting for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Travels with a Donkey. Our southern French wine scout, Mark Hoddy, lives locally and is a big fan of the area’s fresh, vibrant reds – and he’s keen for them to gain the recognition they deserve. He discovered this particular gem while hiking along Stevenson’s famous route – now the GR70. Brimming with aromas of wild herbs and plum liqueur, it really does deliver a taste of ‘bottled poetry’ (to borrow a phrase from Stevenson).

This is delicious, a beautifully layered and lively red. Here's the tasting note from Bleasdale – complete with a terrific occasion-match (as opposed to a food-match! "Medium weight red wine with lifted blueberry fruit and cherry cola notes, wild thyme, savoury & earthy characters. Depth and personality from the Shiraz with notes of rain on hot gravel, clove and citrus. Rich fruit flavour with a fine chalky finish. Perfect when watching a summer thunderstorm..."

The savoury and smooth Tempranillo is complimented by thespicy fruit and structure of Graciano. The resultant wine has greater intensity, depth and length.

We managed to secure the last stocks of this Trophy and double Gold-medal winning vintage. In the winery: Selected bunches were hand picked in the third week of March and gently crushed into open top fermenters.In the glass: Vibrant, dense red black.On the nose: Appealing mix of super-ripe black fruit with classic mint herbaceousness. On the palate: Excellent balance with a powerful black fruit core cloaked with bright spice and herb and underlying cedary oak.