Domaine Saint Francois 2003 £14.15
Now is the time to get stuck into fine Rhone reds like this. Apart from great value for money and in your face fruit, they have a tremendous diversity of flavour when compared to Burgundy or Bordeaux. Indeed the Rhone is at the forefront of efforts to meet the New World challenge - and with wines like Domaine Saint Francois it succeeds. With a complex nose of ripe black fruits, a spicy character of fresh pepper, cumin and liquorice, it possesses all the warmth and strength of flavour that characterises good Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. Lovely velvety tannins too. Serve with meat in sauces, and wild boar stew!