Tesco Finest* Gigondas 2008 (£13.29 Tesco)
Good mix of fresh berry, bramble and plum with a more developed fruit-cake-y raisin edge, a ripe yet fresh bear hug of a wine with a herby tang to the finish. S-
Also tried the 2009 at the recent Tesco press tasting, similar in style, lively yet with rustic, earthy appeal – gave it S(-)

Tesco is holding its annual Wine Fairs this autumn in Manchester (10-11 Sept), Brighton (24/25 Sept), Bristol (1/2 Oct), Edinburgh (15/16 Oct) & London (22/23 Oct). Tickets are normally £10, but Drinking Outside the Box fans can get 4 Sunday tickets for the price of 3 at any Fair. Book now – call 0845 330 5072 or visit www.tescowinefair.com and quote TWF-SW-11

Domaine de la Soléiade Vacqueyras 2009 (£13.20 Theatre of Wine)
Lovely floral and herb aromas, then a wealth of powerful, savoury red berry, plum and tomato flavour pepped up with notes of liquorice & spice, fresh but also powerful, delicious now but with lots of potential, seems to get more fragrant the longer it’s open. S(+)

Domaine de la Curnière Vacqueyras 2009 (£11.99 Marks & Spencer)
Very shy to start with, then opens up to show a warm herby heart, a core of dark berry and blackcurrant flavours, plenty of pepper and spice, dense and tangy but falling short of real class. B(+)

Domaine de la Verde Vacqueyras 2009 (£12.49 Laithwaites)
Hairy-chested youngster, deep warm and herby, with dark berry and blackcurrant fruit and more developed raisin and dried cherry notes too, maybe the alcohol pokes out a little too much, but it’s still an honest, grunty pleasure. S(-)

Domaine Notre Dames des Pallières Gigondas 2009 (£13.49 Majestic)
Rich, dark, savoury wine, starts off with its 15% alcohol a little too prominent, but then the warm herby berry fruit, notes of spice and garrigue, and an iron-like minerality take over – a brooding bruiser with a promising future. S