Vignobles Roussellet Pinot Noir NV, Vin de France (£4.49 Aldi)
Maybe a little jammy, but the sweet, slightly smoky briar, bramble and strawberry flesh is quite appealing, especially at this price. C(+)

Undurraga TH Pinot Noir 2011, Leyda, Chile (£15.99 Majestic)
A weird wine, there’s decent enough black cherry, raspberry and plum flavours, and a certain silkiness of texture, but there’s also a disturbing sulphury/medicinal notes that hadn’t gone away after three days. Has anyone done any research into how sulphur reacts with barrels and gives a coffee-like character? Not going to give this a mark, it confuses me…

Errázuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2011, Casablanca, Chile (£13.99 Majestic, Booths, Bacchus et Al, Kingsgate Wines, Tivoli Wines, drinkshop.com, Hailsham Cellars)
As with the above, good juicy berry fruit, but marred by that sulphury/medicinal character. And like the Undurraga, there’s that toasty coffee-cum-sulphur overlay. Again, not going to mark this…

Asda Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010, New Zealand (£11 Asda)
Honest, simple style, with juicy ripe berry and a touch of plum, and none of the stewed character that can appear in some Marlborough Pinots. B+

La Catina Pinot Noir 2009, Dealu Mare, Romania (£7.50 The Wine Society)
Gentle style, still quite fresh and zesty despite its age, with an earthy, floral overtone to the raspberry, cranberry and plum flavours, and just a touch of smoky oak. B

Marimar Estate ‘Cristina’ Pinot Noir 2008, Russian River Valley, California (£37 www.vintagemarque.com)
Deep in colour, but just too ripe for its own good, with a cooked pruney raisin and fig character overpowering the dark berry and plum flavours – top heavy wine, Pinot for Zinfandel fans. C