Louis Jadot Côte de Nuits Villages ‘Le Vaucrain’ 2008, Burgundy, France (£18.75 Hailsham Cellars, Leamington Wine Company, Luvians, Nailsworth Wine & Spirits, Village Wines, Thomas Peatling, Booze Bargains, Globe Wines, Le Parc Delicatessen)
Smells as if it’s going to be lighter than many Jadot reds, with a fragrant rose petal edge to the gentle red cherry and raspberry fruit, but when you come to taste it, there’s a backbone of slightly peppery/stalky tannin and fresh acidity to prop up the lithe red fruit flavours. Good now, better in a couple of years. S-
(have to say the page on Jadot site doesn’t reveal much about this wine, here are the notes on the white from the same vineyard)

Louis Latour Marsannay Rouge 2008, Burgundy, France (£13.99–£15.99 Majestic Wine, Ann et Vin, Forth Wines, Flourish & Prosper, Hailsham Cellars, Winedirect.co.uk, Medina Wines, William Mason Fine Wines, Eaton Wine Company, Partridges, Sipp, The Southwell Vintner, Tanners, The Wine Cellar)
There’s more of that red fruit freshness here, but overall this is just a touch too gentle and simple, with the strawberry flavours coming across as a little fey and slightly jammy. B-

Louis Latour Domaine de Valomoissine Pinot Noir Vin de Pays du Coteaux de Verdon 2009, France (£9.99 – £12.99 Whole Foods Market, Bablake Wines, Bon Coeur Fine Wines, Eden Fine Wines, Francis Fine Wines, Great Horkesley Wines, Hammonds of Knutsford, Hennings Wine Merchant, Medina Wines, Majestic Wines, Slurp.co.uk)
Reasonable dark berry flavours, but there’s a slightly off-putting sulphury/medicinal edge that verges on the meaty, plus a green edge to the tannins. Does improve with time in the glass, but not a stunna. C+

Waipara West Pinot Noir 2010, Waipara, New Zealand (£18 Waterloo Wine, Lords Wines, Martinez Wines, Greensmiths)
Quite a voluptuous style, with cherry and raspberry fruit (in both fresh and liqueur form) backed up by mocha-ish oak, with touches of cola and green apple lurking in the background. Rich but not complex. B

Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand (£17.99, Tesco, nzhouseofwine.co.uk, Matthew Clark)
Fleshy style of Pinot, with no shortage of juicy black cherry, loganberry and blackberry flavours, but let down by a slightly bitter/stalky finish. B(+)