Côtes du Rhône Villages
Vintage 2007
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Grenache, syrah
Tasting notes Great value southern Rhône blend with floral, violet-scented aromas and a meaty, concentrated palate
Drink with Beef, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Sainsbury’s
RRP £4.99 Photograph: Guardian
Jaboulet
Vintage 2005
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Syrah
Tasting notes Top-end French syrah from steep, terraced vineyards with vibrant, peppery fruit and firm grip on the finish
Drink with Game, pork, poultry
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £45.95 Photograph: Guardian
Châteauneuf du Pape
Vintage 2006
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Mourvèdre, grenache
Tasting notes Modern style Châteauneuf, with the emphasis on ripe, spicy fruit and subtle oak rather than tannin
Drink with Beef, game, poultry, lamb
Where to buy Wine Rack
RRP £19.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2004
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Syrah
Tasting notes Elegant for Cornas (but still pretty robust) this has a lovely texture, with smoky, berry fruit and seamless oak
Drink with Game, lamb, vegetarian
Where to buy Great Western Wine Company
RRP £16.95 Photograph: Guardian
La Petite Ruche
Vintage 2006
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Syrah
Tasting notes Smoky, aromatic, gluggable syrah from bio-dynamic vineyards, with supple tannins and a hint of oak
Drink with Beef, game, pork
Where to buy Asda
RRP £10 Photograph: Guardian
Cuvée Alberic Bouvet
Vintage 2005
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Syrah
Tasting notes Supple and smooth on the palate, this lovely, plummy Crozes has savoury, autumnal fruit and fine tannins
Drink with Game, lamb, pork
Where to buy Great Western Wine Company
RRP £14.85 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Grenache, syrah
Tasting notes Robust, fiery grenache-based red with rich, black fruits and well-integrated oak. Still needs some time
Drink with Poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Waitrose
RRP £5.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2005
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Syrah
Tasting notes Spicy, structured, peppery, aromatic young syrah with toasty oak and a sweet, fruity finish
Drink with Game, lamb
Where to buy Berkmann Wine Cellars
RRP £28.49 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2005
Region Rhône Valley
Grapes Grenache, mourvèdre
Tasting notes A punchy, stylish, densely wound gigondas with oodles of fruit and great depth and concentration
Drink with Beef, game
Where to buy Ellis of Richmond
RRP £21.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Carignan, grenache
Tasting notes Rich, robust, beautifully aromatic red from the wilds of he Languedoc, with dark fruits and subtle oak
Drink with Lamb, pork
Where to buy Waitrose
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Merlot
Tasting notes A serious rival to inexpensive bordeaux, this Languedoc merlot has powerful tannins, good structure and a smooth finish
Drink with Beef, lamb, poultry
Where to buy Alliance Wine
RRP £5.49 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Syrah, grenache
Tasting notes Fleshy, flashy and ripe, this brilliant Languedoc red is even greater than the sum of its considerable parts
Drink with Beef, game poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Adnams Wine Merchants
RRP £12.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Mourvèdre, grenache
Tasting notes Lovely savoury, sun-kissed aromas, followed by spicy, rosemary, thyme and blackberry fruit intensity
Drink with Beef, game
Where to buy Swig
RRP £9.95 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Merlot
Tasting notes Impressive Languedoc merlot, with plummy, brambly fruit, medium-weight tannins and good concentration
Drink with Beef, lamb, pork
Where to buy Sainsbury's
RRP £3.99 Photograph: Guardian
Saint Chinian Bardou
Vintage 2005
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Syrah
Tasting notes From the up and coming Saint Chinian area, this is bright and concentrated with lots of gutsy fruit characters
Drink with Game, lamb
Where to buy M&S
RRP £14.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2005
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Syrah, grenache
Tasting notes Rich, aromatic Languedoc red with violets, black fruits and a hint of minerality. Nice tannins and excellent length
Drink with Beef, lamb, pork
Where to buy M&S
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian
Shiraz Merlot
Vintage 2007
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Shiraz, merlot
Tasting notes An unusual, but highly successful, red blend with flavours of blackberries, raspberries and subtle spice
Drink with Beef, lamb
Where to buy Threshers
RRP £4.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Grapes Carignan
Tasting notes Juicy, supple, easy to drink red made from the underrated carignan grape
Drink with Game, pork
Where to buy Tesco, Sainsbury's, Co-op
RRP £4.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2005
Region Bordeaux
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, merlot
Tasting notes Deeply coloured, structured red with plummy fruit, attractive vanilla oak and firmish tannins
Drink with Beef, poultry
Where to buy Stone, Vine & Sun
RRP £15 Photograph: Guardian
Saint Emilion Grand Cru
Vintage 2005
Region Bordeaux
Grapes Merlot, cabernet franc
Tasting notes Light in colour but quite intense, this has a soft plummy style, with smoky oak tannins and a warmth at the end
Drink with Beef, game
Where to buy Averys Wine Merchants
RRP £10.99 Photograph: Guardian
Château Leoville Poyferre
Vintage 2004
Region Bordeaux
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, merlot
Tasting notes A scented, if restrained, red bordeaux with fresh acidity, well-integrated oak and youthful cassis fruit
Drink with Beef, game, poultry
Where to buy Averys Wine Merchants
RRP £12.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2005
Region Bordeaux
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, merlot
Tasting notes An attractively drinkable claret, quite forward for the vintage, with leafy blackcurrant fruit and fine-grained tannins
Drink with Beef, game
Where to buy Noel Young Wines, Cambridge Wine Merchants
RRP £14.95 Photograph: Guardian
Les Tuffeaux
Vintage 2006
Region Loire Valley
Grapes Cabernet franc
Tasting notes Fresh, pure, elegant Loire red, with delightful berry freshness and gentle tannins on the palate
Drink with Fish, game, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Majestic Wine
RRP £7.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Loire Valley
Grapes Cabernet franc
Tasting notes Classic Loire cabernet franc, with bright, brambly, grassy fruit, balanced tannins and mouthwatering acidity
Drink with Beef, game, poultry
Where to buy 3D Wines
RRP £8.49 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Beaujolais
Grapes Gamay
Tasting notes A classic beaujolais from one of the area's top villages, showing notes of cherry and raspberry and supple tannins
Drink with Fish, vegetarian
Where to buy Majestic Wine
RRP £7.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Beaujolais
Grapes Gamay
Tasting notes Pleasingly vibrant, well-balanced fleurie, showing classic strawberry and rose petal characters
Drink with Fish, salads, vegetarian
Where to buy 3D Wines
RRP £9.92 Photograph: Guardian
Louis Latour
Vintage 2007
Region Beaujolais
Grapes Gamay
Tasting notes Very dense and serious for a beaujolais, with concentrated red fruits and good structure on the palate
Drink with Lamb, poultry
Where to buy Majestic Wine
RRP £9.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2005
Region South-west
Grapes Tannat, cabernet sauvignon
Tasting notes Chunky, if modern style, madiran, with substantial tannins, sweet cedary oak and plenty of ripe fruit
Drink with Game, vegetarian
Where to buy Tesco
RRP £9.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region South-west
Grapes Malbec, merlot
Tasting notes Dark, black and tannic, this juicy, meaty, spicy, south-west French red needs food to show it at its best
Drink with Beef, game vegetarian
Where to buy jlbaldes.com
RRP €8 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region South-west
Grapes Tannat, cabernet sauvignon
Tasting notes Made by one of France's best co-ops, this inky, tannat-based, barbeque-friendly blend is still in its infancy
Drink with Beef, game
Where to buy Coe Vintners, Playford Ros
RRP £7.99 Photograph: Guardian
Beaune du Château
Vintage 2005
Region Burgundy
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes A firmish, concentrated red burgundy with a firm core of fruit and oak-derived coffee bean notes
Drink with Game, vegetarian
Where to buy Cambridge Wine Merchants
RRP £17.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Burgundy
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes Still in its infancy, this spicy, sweetly oaked red burgundy has notes of black cherry and a nip of tannin
Drink with Beef, game, vegetarian
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £31.95 Photograph: Guardian
La Grande Berge
Vintage 2006
Region Burgundy
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes Youthful yet gentle pinot noir from the Chalonnaise, with smooth tannins and a sweet core of fruit
Drink with Game, poultry
Where to buy 3D Wines
RRP £11.69 Photograph: Guardian
Nuits Saint Georges
Vintage 2006
Region Burgundy
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes Youthful intense burgundy, showing red fruits and hints of chocolate and leather and a velvety palate
Drink with Game, lamb, poultry
Where to buy M&S
RRP £20 Photograph: Guardian
Côte de Beaune-Villages
Vintage 2005
Region Burgundy
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes Charming, perfumed aromas with grainy tannins, attractive wild strawberry fruit and zesty acidity
Drink with Fish, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Booker Cash & Carry
RRP £9.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Burgundy
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes Pale, beguilingly scented pinot noir with supple tannins, sweet fruit and a hint of smoky oak
Drink with Fish, game
Where to buy Patriarche Wine Agencies
RRP£13.99 Photograph: Guardian
