Tons de Duorum Tinto 2008, Douro, Portugal (£8.49 Real Wine Company, Halifax Wine Company, Duncan Murray Wines)
Smells of uncooked cake mix, followed by flavours warm plush plummy berry and vanilla, OK, but just a touch too plush and smooooth for its own good. B-

Tagus Creek Shiraz Trincadeira 2010, VR Alentejano, Portugal (£5.99 Asda, Tesco, Classic Drinks)
Nice combo of quite rich, sweet ripe blackcurrant and berry with a chewy, spicy backbone, the liquorice notes speak of the warm climate, but it still has freshness. B+

Marquesa de la Cruz GSM 2010, Campo de Borja, Spain (£6.99 Sainsbury’s – 2 for £10 until Aug 9th 2011)
A Spanish take on Côtes du Rhône, with a lovely fragrant violet and herb scent wafting over the berry and damson flesh, juicy and generous but with a sense of soil, and a refreshing finish. S(-)

Torres Sangre De Toro 2009, Catalunya, Spain (£7-£7.55 Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, Majestic)
A delicious juicy reliable glug, laid back, with warm, dusty, ever-so-slightly jammy berry fruit, a touch of vanilla and a tangy savoury finish. S(-)

Villa Serra Minervois 2005, Languedoc, France (£11.28 Private Cellar)
A draught of the warm south, with juicy plum and savoury tomato flavours, but a touch of bandagey brett takes away the freshness and dries out the finish. B(+)

The Red Rattler Shiraz 2009, SE Australia (£12.99 Virgin Wines)
Sweet, rich and honest wine, packed with liquorice and bold red berry flavours, but just a touch simple. B