This Grenache blend comes from mature vines grown in the southern reaches of the Cotes-du-Rhone appellation. It's a supple, spicy number, loaded up with red cherry and blackberry, and backed up by burnt earth and a hint of lavender and cocoa. Ripe tannins swish along as well, tidying everything up.

The world of fine French wine is, as we all know, one ruled by tradition and closely-guarded regional lines and loyalties. Domaine du Parc St Charles, a superb Southern Rhone Valley winery producing some seriously exciting and seductive wines, is one which has always been willing to buck the trend and go against the grain… and the results well and truly speak for themselves. Firstly, the Combe family who oversee the Domaine are not (gasp!) from the Southern Rhone Valley, but rather from North of the river. Hubert and Genevieve Combe made their almost sacrilegious river crossing in order to resurrect a crumbling old Domaine in Montfrin, so as to have more space for their growing family to join them as winemakers. The Combe children grew up to be even more bold than their parents, with a passion for producing wines which followed a passion for flavour and character in place of adherence to tradition, alongside their more recognisable Rhone Valley releases. Sustainably produced, packed with fascinating features, and utterly delicious, Maison du Parc St Charles is definitely a winery with bottles worth exploring!