I’m not entirely sure of Aldi’s wine-buying policy across national frontiers, but here in France they are knocking out a 2007 Cotes du Rhone Villages at 1.67 Euros. Out of fascination, I bought one today. To my surprise it was wonderful.

This is despite all the signs being wrong: not Chateu bottled, at 13.5% ridiculously strong for this sort of Rhone red, and branded with the probably invented name of Charles Adelia. But it works for me.

It has a two-tone brown label, and in the UK I suppose this price would translate to a £3.99 – £4.99 price tag. This isn’t what you’d call a noble wine, but it’s bloody amazing value for money.