Crozes-Hermitage, Les Galets Domaine des Hauts Chassis 2011

I’ve a bit of a weakness for the Rhône but was really blown away by this amazing Crozes I tasted at the Berry Bros & Rudd tasting this week - part of their Rhône sale which lasts until November 10th.

It’s young syrah at its best - heady, fruity and peppery - full of life and character or as the tasting note rather eccentrically puts it “succulent, come-hither fruit basket flavours” I’m not sure I know what a fruit basket tastes like but you get the picture. I can’t find out much about the domaine but it seems to be run on traditional lines adopting lutte raisonée principles.

You could drink the wine with confit duck, with grilled or roast lamb, with a big juicy pork chop or a bavette steak and chips - it’s the kind of versatile red to have around whenever you feel like treating yourself to a good hearty red.

Admittedly the normal price of £19.95 doesn’t justify everyday drinking - in fact I think I'd baulk at paying quite that much for it - but if you buy a case in the sale, you get it for a much more reasonable £14 a bottle . If that still seems a bit steep find a Rhône-loving neighbour and split a case.

It’s imported in the US by Planet Wine of San Francisco.