Abbaye Sylva Plana Faugères Les Novices 2012, Languedoc, France (N/A in the UK)
Lovely fresh wine which wouldn’t object to quarter of an hour in the fridge, abundant red fruit with earthy, sandy overtones and a tangy citrus freshness to perk it up. S-

Domaine Les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Les Trois Soeurs 2012, France (contact Le Verre Gourmand/Supertravel)
Fresh, bouncy youngster, rustic in the best sense of the word, with generous earthy blueberry and winberry fruit backed up by chewy but never OTT tannin. S(-)

Abbaye Sylva Plana Faugères La Closeraie 2011, Languedoc, France (N/A in the UK)
Rounded and confident style, plenty of southern herb character – bay, thyme, etc – with bold bramble & berry fruit pepped up with notes of orange peel and gingerbread. Lovely mouthfeel and a dense, warm finish. S

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Couronnes 2011, Rhône, France (£16.29 Spar)
Wasn’t expecting much here, but I really enjoyed the soft, spicy bear-hug this wine gave. Iron-tinged berry and plum, with a touch of bracken and a warm, generous finish. S-