As part of our WEEKLY WINE SERIES, our resident wine columnist MARY DOWEY shares her WEEKLY BOTTLE for you to sip on this weekend… A French red, Domaine Lafage Côté Sud, Côtes Catalanes 2013
It’s taken 20 years for the news to leak out that some of the best-value wines in the world come from Languedoc-Roussillon in south-east France – and, thanks to misguided marketing, the message still hasn’t entirely got through. But maybe we shouldn’t complain too much. If this vast region were better known, prices might well be higher. 
Made from grapes grown organically close to the cool Pyrenees, this perky, juicy, peppery red offers heaps of personality without costing the earth. Mainly Grenache and Syrah with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s Mediterranean in style and medium-bodied with a nice, savoury twist. Food to suit? This is so versatile that you needn’t fret, but the first chicken, pork or vegetable casserole of the autumn with tomatoes and herbs like thyme, rosemary or basil would make a perfect starting point.
From drinkstore.ie; Baggot Street Wines, Dublin 4; Vintry, Rathgar, Dublin 6; Sweeneys, Glasnevin, Dublin 11; Hollands, Bray, Co Wicklow; Florries, Tramore, Co Waterford; Mortons, Salthill, Co Galway, about €15.
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