Château Fage, 2004; Château Cadillac 2003 and Domaine de Courteillac 2001.
Château Fage, 2004, Graves de Vayres, 12%, €11.50This light wine from a small, little-known appellation shows the kind of value to be had from Bordeaux's backwaters: rounded Merlot fruit with a mellow mouthfeel and a soft, savoury finish. A weekday pleasure. From Mitchell & Son, D2 and Glasthule, Co Dublin.
Château Cadillac 2003, Bordeaux Supérieur, 12%, €13.50Well made, rich in Merlot, with generous plum fruit and reasonable acidity - remarkable considering the fierce heat of the vintage. From Mitchell & Son, as above; Worldwide Wines, Waterford; Douglas Food Company, D4; and Anderson's, D9.
Domaine de Courteillac 2001, Bordeaux Supérieur, 13%, €19.99Classy, good-value wine of rich plum buttressed by well-rounded tannins. Delicious. From Cheers, Delgany, Co Wicklow; Bin No 9, D14; Redmonds, D6.