Discovery Box – French Reds

From the southern part Beaujolais referred to as 'Golden Stones' (hence Pierres Dorées). Meticulously hand-harvested and de-stemmed, grapes from vines of over 50 years old are used to great effect. An elegant wine, with fine, soft tannins. Supple red fruit: raspberry & redcurrant.

Red, purple, dense, clear with deep purple glints. The nose is powerful and complex, dark, spicy, red berries and a delicate floral touch. On the palate it is powerful, concentrated and has a structured attack with a tinge of silky tannins. Red fruit aromas.

Lussac is an up and coming satellite appellation of the renowned Saint Emilion region on the the Right Bank of Bordeaux. There is no doubt that one of Lussac's most prized properties is Château Lucas, owned by the Vauthier family of Château Ausone fame. From just 18 hectares of vines, three cuvée are produced. The top wine, aptly called Château Lucas, is produced from a 12-hectare vineyard, comprising equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. While so much of the Right Bank focuses on Merlot, the high percentage of Cabernet Franc brings a polished lift to the cuvée, vintage in and vintage out.

A light to medium body wine with wonderful aromas of small red fruits, spices and vanilla. Light garnet in colour, a traditional characteristic of Pinot Noir. An elegant and complex palate.

Food match, great with lamb, mild cheeses and salads.

Cotes du Rhone Terre de Mistral from Vignerons d'Estezargues is a hearty, full bodied, fruity, Natural Grenache blend. The Terre de Mistral is Cotes du Rhone with great character and plump fresh fruit, named after the cold wind that is funnelled through the Rhone Valley from the North. Trademark blackberry and pepper, but also fresh with lighter nutmeg and liquorice tones. It is made with no intervention, wild yeast and no fining or filtration. This is pure gutsy Rhone, a bit 'Sauvage' round the edges, imagine a large terra cotta jug of the stuff with some stew of wild boar in a blustery winter night when the mistral is blowing and you get the picture. Very moreish and very good value.

Les Vignerons d'Estezargues is a super little Co-Op located near Avignon. Like other Co-Operative wineries, they receive grapes from members and use them to make bulk wines, usually Grenche, Syrah and Mourvedre. Here they work a little differently though, as since 1995 the members' grapes are vinified separately, highlighting the individual terroir of each of the 10 estates. They have also been making natural wines, and not just gimmicky, box-ticking natural wines - proper natural wines. Only indigenous grapes are used here, no filtration, no fining and an absolute minimum of sulphites. Whilst not certified, the growers restrict chemical use on the vineyards. Working in this way allows them to produce wines of incredible character but at probably the best price you're likely to find for a wine like this.

The Domaine Mas Bahourat Merlot is smooth, ripe and good. Deliciously ripe fruit with flavours of prunes, a touch of herbiness and pepper spice, the tannins are smooth and supple and the finish is fresh
Match with Sirloin steak in peppercorn sauce or grilled lamb chops.