"CUVEÉ FANNY 2023" Rosé  IGP Pays d'Oc  Domaine Puech-Berthier 
This is made from a blend of Cinsault and Grenache. Pretty, pale colour; dry, perfumed; faintly perfumed finish. Similar to Provence rosé in style. Particularly good in this vintage, 2023. 

Ch. LASTOURS 2020 AC Gaillac 
This wine has been a mainstay of Fingal-Rock's list for over 20 years. Still as reliable as ever - nicely balanced, mid-weight, easy drinking, an excellent substitute for, and better value than, petit château claret. Grape varieties: Braucol, Duras, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon. 

"LA MINETTE" Rosé  AC Ventoux 2022 Domaine Vintur 
Pale, dry, mainly Cinsault, with 10% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre, organic. Fresh and refreshing, better value than rosés that bear the word "Provence" on the label. 

BEAUJOLAIS VILLAGES 2021 Domaine des Marrans
Mathieu Mélinand runs this estate based in Fleurie. He took over from his father a few years ago, and I have watched his winemaking improve in each succeeding vintage. 

CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON VILLAGES 2015 Dom Brial
A blend of old-vine Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Goes really well with venison.

"LE CROIZILLON" AC Cahors 2022 Ch. les Croisille
Fresh, lively, delicious Cahors - not heavy and black! Lovely winemaking. 

MINERVOIS 2020 Pierre Cros 
This is a treat, though I've had to rebuy and pay a bit more for it - but still well worth its modest price. Lovely texture, sort of mouthcoating, lots of blackcurrant fruit, notes of cinnamon, and a touch of earthiness. Monsieur Cros, ex-professional rugby player, describes himself as a "vigneron-militant" and rails against the pseud marketing rubbish put out about how vines were cultivated by monks in his area since time immemorial, blah-blah-blah. And he has no time for petty bureaucrats who won't let him plant grape varieties that he wants to plant, so he plants them anyway and gets fined by the authorities for doing so, and goes ahead and makes wine out of them. 

"CALCAIRE" AC Cahors 2020 Ch. les Croisille
More serious than "Le Croizillon" above, this spends 18 months in oak barrels, and can be cellared for a few years yet, but is completely approachable now. This estate is up in the hills, not down in the valley, giving the wines a bouncy freshness due to the altitude.

FLEURIE 2022 Domaine des Marrans 
This estate is based in Fleurie, and this is their main wine. Copybook Fleurie - fresh, floral and bouncy.