(2017) The wine commemorates Tom Simpson, and English rider, Olympian and first British cyclist to don the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. Sadly, he collapsed and died on the rigorous Mont de Ventoux climb in the subsequent Tour aged just 29. A donation from each bottle sold goes towards the upkeep of his memorial. The wine is mostly Syrah with a little Grenache, opening with a ripe and nicely lifted nose of red plums and violet, a bright fruit character with a hint of white pepper. In the mouth it is full, ripe and serious, a little creaminess detected on the nose giving way to a more taut, mineral-infused palate, but that gives lovely drive towards the finish.

(2016) Regarded as the most powerful of the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, this Cairanne weighs in with 15% alcohol and certainly packs plenty of oomph. The nose has lots of black fruit, but a meatiness too, some herb and pepper hints, but it immediately strikes a muscular pose. Indeed, muscularity runs through the wine in the mouth, with plenty of structural tannin and a grip of acidity underpinning the ripe, savoury but sweet fruit. A huge mouthful of wine, and a very good one. Watch the video for more information and food-matching suggestions.

(2015) Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Carignan in this organic wine from one of the Rhône Villages, and one of its top estates. Very light on its feet at first sniff, with a real Rhône lift of cracked pepper and violet, a graphite and cedar quality and good berry fruit. Really juicy on the palate, with a wonderfully mouth-filling plumpness to the fruit, a bit of chocolaty depth and rounded, plush tannins and moderate acidity. Yet it is without a doubt structured for a few years of cellaring, but the fruit and spice of the finish is delicious now.

(2015) Watch out for the beefy 15.0% alcohol in this Rhône red, a Châteauneuf-like blend of 70% Grenache plus Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan. There's a decidedly woodland character to this: twigs and bracken, scrub and broom. The distinctive aroma makes way on the palate for sweetness and plushness of fruit. Its silky texture and ripeness teeters on being jammy, but a fine tannin grip takes the finish, spice and good acidity too, the whole thing tugged and cajoled into a taut, juicy finish. The price is good on offer.

(2015) Grenache makes up half the blend of this Aldi exclusive, along with Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Syrah and the seldom-seen Vaccarese. It weighs in with 14% alcohol. Schisty, raspberry-touched aromas have plenty of briar and earth, and there is a cool feel to this. There is a touch of chocolate on the nose too, and it has some spices to add complexity. The palate is rather lean, but it is juicy, and although there is a slightly stripped feel to this for some reason, that leanness does add to its sense of freshness into quite a tangy, bittersweet finish.

(2015) Bottled for Asda by négociant firm Leon Perdigal, the name behind many an own-label Rhône wine, this again has a modest 13.5% alcohol and a very primary purple/crimson colour. On the nose it is all lift and cherry brightness at first, an almost Beaujolais-like character before a bit of darker fruit and gentle meatiness emerges. On the palate a similar juicy, but uncomplicated profile continues, and whilst hardly a Châteauneuf of great seriousness or structure, it is balanced, forward and drinks well.

(2015) This older vintage of Asda's own label has a nicely saturated ruby colour and masses of soft, quite jammy red fruit that is appealing and generous, just edged with briary spice. With 14.5% alcohol it is beefy stuff though, that fluffy sweetness suggested by the nose giving way to a palate with much more muscle and structure, the tannins and stripe of chicory acidity giving a savoury finish. 88

(2015) Bottled for Morrisons by Ogier, this also has 14.5% alcohol and perhaps a slightly darker, more crimson colour. The nose is darker and firmer too, much more about dark blueberry and cassis aromas than red fruits, with liquorice and a sheen of coffeeish oak. Firmer in the mouth too, with a racy edge to the tannins and acidity, defining the bold black fruit and more of that endive and meaty savouriness. 89

(2014) >From vineyards fifteen kilometers north-west of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Carignan and 5% Mourvèdre and Cinsault. It pours a striking and vivid deep purple colour, with a beautiful lift to the nose, a real white pepper fragrance, touched with herbs and flowers, and sappy cherry fruit. On the palate it has delightful juiciness and a creamy red fruit flavour, the ripeness and fruit sweetness is apparent, and the finish quite gentle, with spice and pepper, smooth tannins and a freshness to the acidity. Really delicious stuff.

(2011) Note the hefty 15.5% ABV of this Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah blend, aged 18 months in a combination of vats and smaller barrels. Lovely intensity on the nose, the mineral-focused cherry and blackberry fruit quite tight and hints of chocolate, coal dust and roses adding subtle complexity. This is firm and racy on the palate, the juiciness of the fruit combining with the tannins and a certain broadening richness to give an umami savoury quality that is chewy and dense on the finish.