Michel Chapoutier continues to produce wines of unbelievable value and his Cotes du Rhône is the leader of the pack. For under $20, medium bodied reds don't get better than this.

Jean-Luc Colombo has forged an international reputation as one of the most visionary and imaginative winemakers in France's Rhône Valley and especially in Cornas. My passion is to create wines that give people pleasure. I want eachglass to be like a song praising the simple but important things of life: observing nature, enjoying food and sharing with others. Les Abeilles (the Bees) is a complex, multi-faceted wine that evokes the image of these fascinating creatures, often seen around our vineyards. A blend of red southern Rhone grapes, Les Abeilles originates from25-year-old vines grown in the regions ancient, terraced vineyards. This medium-bodied, velvety red has intriguing aromas and flavours of red fruit, liquorice and spice against a backdrop of smooth, silky tannins. Enjoy anytime! 50% Grenache - 30% Syrah - 20% Mourvèdre.

This is a vibrantly aromatic and juicy, red fruited wine, with energy and a refreshing, tangy backbone. The long, spicy finish has plenty to keep you engaged.

Guigal Côtes du Rhône has always been the beacon for quality in the southern Rhône. This is one Grenache blend you must get your hands on. An attractive nose of cinnamon, liquorice and wild herbs, the palate is medium-bodied and balanced with a spicy savoury mid-palate and clean finish.

Classic Côtes du Rhône from Famille Perrin: Fruity and fleshy with beautiful tannins. This wine is a blend of Grenache (mainly from our Prýbois vineyard in Orange), Syrah from further north (from our vineyard in Vinsobres) and Mourvýdre. Produced by the Perrin family, using the same viticultural and wine-making techniques used at Chýteau de Beaucastel.

Domaine Santa Duc Famille Gras Les Plans Vin de pays de Vaucluse is produced by one of the greatest wine producers in the Rhone Valley. They are especially known for their stunning biodynamic grenache-based Gigondas wines. The nose hints at raspberry and cassis, white chocolate, light truffle, spices, licorice roots. The palate is round with good acidity on the finish. Sour cherry, raspberry, strawberry, milk chocolate, vanilla. Smooth tannins.

This Domaine Paul Jaboulet Côtes du Rhône takes its name from the 45th North parallel which runs two kilometres from the cellars of Maison Paul Jaboulet. Their wine has had this name since the beginning of the 1950s. Elegant and aromatic Grenache blend, with red fruits blended with spices. Well-structured on rounded tannins, with a final spicy note.

Recently promoted from AC Village to a fully-fledged Cru (to rank alongside Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Tavel, Lirac and Chateauneuf-du-Pape), exciting changes are happening in the hamlet of Cairanne. Denis Alary - a quiet thoughtful man and one of the nicest people you are ever likely to meet. The first Alarys arrived to cultivate the vines here in 1692; ten generations on, Denis, supported by his family, produces exceptional wines.

This Estate was created in 1960, at the place known as Crès Ricards, in the village of Ceyras. In 2010 Jean-Claude Mas acquired the 27 ha (69 acres) belonging to the Château, extending the estate to 42 ha in 2013. He was fascinated by the fantastic terroir of the Terrasses du Larzac, which produces silky wines with intense flavors. At the foot of Mont Baudile, 35 km to the west of Montpellier, this vineyard offers a unique geography. Yields are low because of the strict grape selection and carbonic maceration is used to produce generous wines. Made from 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache and matured in new and older French oak for 10 months. The wine is at once full bodied and fresh, with notes of intense black currant, black cherry and mocha gliding to a silky, rich finish.