Julienas Duboeuf 2010
8.99
Nicely Gamay onnose. Makes me want to shake out my picnic rug. Nicely fruity, without being sweet. Very good example.



Tesco Simply Côtes du Rhône 2011
3.79
Not a great deal on the nose. This is about the same colour as the beaujolais above. Quite tart and definitely needs food. This would work for a picnic as well.

Finest* Plan de Dieu 2011
6.99
Low on aroma. Nicely spicy and savoury taste.  Very good.

Les Dauphins Châteauneuf du Pape 2010
16.99
Lovely label. An attractive aroma. Dark and spicy taste.  Good. However, for home drinking, I'd prefer the Plan de Dieu and spend the extra tenner on something else.

Finest* Crozes Hermitage 2009
9.99
Nice, ripe raspberry aroma. Actually, the taste is rather lovely.  Sweet, but savoury.  A nice combination and juicy. Good.

Tesco Simply Malbec 2011
4.99
Toasty aroma - pretty good for this price. Dark, liquorice taste. A good little wine.

Finest*  Malbec 2011
7.79
Not a great deal on the nose. Gentle in the mouth with smooth, spicy oak. This is French and rather good. Lovely gold label.

Finest* Côtes Catalanes Carignan 2011
6.99
Sweet nose, with some violet. Lovely taste. Just the right oak/fruit balance. It has some body, some ripeness. Very good and a snip at £6.99.



Finest* Château Fonguillon Montagne St Emilion 2009
9.79
Interesting nose. Not in the least bit cabernet on the nose. Actually, not terribly merlot either, but nice. The palate has more claret about it. It's quite nice, if you don't want it to be typical.

Finest* Côtes Catalanes Grenache 2010
7.79
Quite a farmyard nose. The alcohol's a bit warm.  I much prefer the CC Carignan to this Grenache.

Finest* Château Le Barrail Médoc 2010
7.79
Cedar and blackcurrant on the nose. Lovely. Absolutely as it should be.  This is a great little house claret. Should become even better over the next couple of years.  Don't leave it longer than that.

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mel