Les Grands Chemins Old Vine Carignan Pays de l’Hérault 2011, Languedoc, France (£8.49 Virgin Wines)
Just too smooth and bland, with hardly any of the spice of the south, and a rather sickly vanilla overlay. I’ve noticed that others have made far more positive comments on this wine – I retasted it a couple of times, but still couldn’t muster much enthusiasm… C(-)

Bodegas Murviedro GSM NV, Valencia, Spain (£4.49 Morrisons)
An alarming aroma akin it the smell of the dentist’s drill, then more appealing warm dusty berry fruit. I like the plump juicy fruit, but am less keen on the hard finish. C

Le Sanglier Sauvage Coteaux du Languedoc 2011, France (£9.99 Virgin Wines)
Combines warm, spicy blackcurrant, bramble and plum flavours with an uplifting earthy herb and pepper freshness and a touch of violet. Nice wine. S-

Réserve Combes Saint Chinian 2011, Languedoc, France (£7.49 Waitrose)
Not much to say initially but then blossoms to show classic peppery garrigue aromas, quite plush blackberry and blackcurrant flavours with a touch of orange peel, and a rich but fresh earthy finish. An hour in a jug before serving works wonders. S(-)

Les Jamelles Réserve Mourvèdre Vin de Pays d’Oc 2011, Languedoc, France (£6.99 The Co-op)
Has some of the earthy plummy stubbornness of Mourvèdre, but the flavoured are muddied by (again) a false vanilla character which doesn’t diminish with time. C+

Borsão Mítico Old Vines Garnacha Campo de Borja 2011, Spain (£8.99 Virgin Wines)
Wild, slightly hairy-chested wine, with warm dusty berry and herb characters. Decent enough, but it feels like some of the fruit has shrivelled on the vine, evidenced by a dry tannic feel to the finish. B

Les Clefs Croises Châteauneuf du Pape 2011, Rhône, France (£15.99 Co-operative)
There’s a sandy aroma here amid the more typical herb/spice notes, plus an exotic lychee-like character in with the flavours of plums and berries. Ripe, friendly and juicy, but I expect a little more complexity from Châteauneuf. B+

Torres Salmos Priorat 2009, Catalonia, Spain (£17-£20 Waitrose, George Hill)
Initially seems a touch volatile, with a slightly dank/earthy feel to the wood, but then the fruit emerges – powerful , head and rich, blackberries, damsons and sloes, with spicy violet notes to add further personality. Nice style, not too modern, not too old-fashioned. S(+)