"Sandwiched between the Mediterranean and the Cévennes, dramatic Pic Saint Loup is the eye-fillet of the vast Coteaux du Languedoc appellation in southern France with lots of fine-value bottles based on the syrah grape. As witness, this excellent blend of syrah with grenache and cinsault whose smoky, aromatic quality and juicy blackberry fruit richness are tinged with spice and rounded out by oak."

"This syrah-based blend from the Languedoc is warm and supple, smells as comforting as fig tart baking in the oven, and has a slight garriguey scent. Generous without being heavy, and just the sort of thing you want to have several bottles of stowed away for the coming months."

"Wine makers are divided between those who, for reasons of taste or tradition, make wines that are an expression of a single grape variety while the rest create blends of what they think will achieve the most seductive flavours and aromas. Producers in the South of France are masters of this art, combining varieties to create wines such as this delicious mix of syrah, grenache and syrah that has a rich warming flavour infinitely greater than a sum of its parts. Serve with gusty winter dishes such as grilled meat, stews and sausages."