Wine of the week: class in a glass from the Rhône valley

2007 Gigondas, Font de Aeux, Domaine de la Tourade, Southern Rhne, France (£15.95, www.fromvineyardsdirect.com , 020-7490 9910).

I was asked my wine predictions for 2011 the other day, by a fellow wine writer. This Gigondas spurred me on to declare that the southern Rhne (not including Chteauneuf-du-Ppes, because they are usually too dear) will enjoy a much warranted new lease of life next year.

The value afforded in this vast wine region, which includes some famous and some lesser-known names such as Sablet, Lirac, Vacqueyras, Tavel, Rasteau, Valras and Cairanne, is incredible. Using old vines and sticking to an ancient recipe, grenache-dominant blends often include syrah, mourvdre and cinsault.

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These wines reek of breeding, complexity and history. They often flatter in their youth, but age gracefully for a decade. In short, they have it all.

With the recent superb 2007 and 2009 vintages (see Justerini & Brooks's incredible 2009 Rhne offer www.justerinis.com) I am certain that we will all be drinking more affordable red Rhnes, instead of overpriced clarets, in the next few years.

To whet your appetite, here is a stellar 2007 Gigondas. It is a snip at £16, when you bear in mind that it is sheer class in a glass.

Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year ( www.matthewjukes.com ).