Maison Johanès Boubée has a strong reputation for producing your classic French numbers without all the fluff. The Fin Bouquet is a prime example of French claret, in the form of a Merlot, Cabernet Franc blend. This wine shows its character with red fruits and savoury tannins that have a nice grip to finish.

Origin: It’s believed that the first wines made were in the Médoc region, in the west of France. Mainly Grown In: France is king here, with Bordeaux the big one. California, South Australia and Argentina also contribute in a big way. Key Facts: Merlot is a survivor. Planted pretty much everywhere in the world, it was big in the 70s and 80s before falling out of favour in a big way recently. Look out though, it's coming back. It is the ideal grape to build blends around - loads of soft plummy fruit, richly textured but it needs either acid or tannin from a grape friend to make it into the complete package. Often Cabernet Sauvignon (tannin) or Cabernet Franc (acid) join the party, but there are reports of Petit Verdot and Malbec being invited along every now and then as well. Look for blue fruits like plums and blueberries and a wonderful velvet texture. Perfect if you love a smooth red. Fun Fact: After a rough start to the century - Merlot is now the most popular red wine in the USA!