2008 Côtes-du-Rhône, Cuvée Les Trois Soeurs, Domaine Les Grands Bois, Southern Rhône, France (£7.95, www.fromvineyardsdirect.com). I tasted through a range of the FVD wines, with the team, at their eclectic offices in the City, a few weeks ago and I was very impressed with their taste and their prices. This is a company that seems to do exactly what it says on the letterhead. One of the newest wines on their short, but punchy list is this spectacular, dark, swarthy Grenache blend. There isn’t a wine to touch this red at the sub-eight quid mark this season. Not only is the nose worthy of a far smarter appellation (like Gigondas, Cairanne or Vacqueyras), the palate is liquid velvet with charry, smoky notes and dense bramble fruit. The balance is so complete that there is little or no obvious tannin on show and yet it will surely live for five years if it gets the chance. At this everyday price you can feel safe in going long on this wine because it will never let you down and given a swirl around a decanter it could even step up to posh dinner party duties without giving any secrets away. Hurry though, because I am on the warpath for a few cases, too!
