Nicolas Perrin Syrah Vin de France 2010 (£13.99 Wine Rack)
Vibrant, juicy oak-free Syrah, bouncy and fragrant, with a savoury edge to the smoky berry fruit, delicious and refreshing red wine. S(-)

Château d’Anglès La Clape Rouge Classique 2008, Languedoc, France (£11.99 Wine Rack)
On the mellow side, with the plummy berry fruit showing a slightly raisinny side, and with herby garrigue and brown sugar notes too. Good stew-friendly winter warmer, which still has some freshness. S-

The Comeback Kid Shiraz/Cabernet/Merlot 2008, McLaren Vale, Australia (£9.99 Virgin Wines)
Simple but satisfying style, slightly leathery with a savoury notes to its gentle dark plummy flavours, touches of chocolate, coffee and liquorice, and a generous, laidback finish. B(+)

The First Chapter Shiraz/Viognier by Nico Vermeulen 2010, Paarl, South Africa (£9.99 Virgin Wines)
Viognier adds a touch of peachy freshness here, but the rounded meaty berry flavours are marred by the ashy Cape edge smokiness. B-

The Big Mo’ Shiraz 2009, Barossa Valley, Australia (£12.99 Virgin Wines)
Has plenty of rich warm berry flavours pepped up with hints of mint and vanilla, quite a hearty style that starts off  slightly bolshy, with a confected and creamy vanilla too much to the fore, but then gets more subtle and better behaved with time. S-