Domaine de la croix de Chaintres, Saumur Champigny, 2008

£9 (Waitrose). Superb value. Genuine raspberry burst on the nose (bit of cranberry also?) Earthy, yet light flavour. Becomes progressively more savoury as it develops in the mouth. Fine example of what reasonably priced Cabernet Franc can do. Shades of higher end cru Beaujolais, perhaps without the black cherry edge and more of a soil-like, woody  finish?
In terms of supermarkets, Waitrose really are in a league of their own when it comes to interesting wine at a fair price.

Chateaux Grand Tayac, Margaux 2005

One from Dad's birthday box. He would not have been happy with this. Rather rannic with a fairly rustic edge. Little in the way of any fruit. Absolutely nothing on the nose. Too young perhaps? Possibly, but it's getting on for seven years...being a 2005 Margaux, I dread to think what this cost. It does highlight the rising risk levels associated with buying wine over a tenner.

WS's Malbec (Mendoza, 2010)

Hard to judge this one. At £7 it's reasonable value. Fairly tannic finish, some fruit up front. Much like the Damaine du bosc but more rustic perhaps. Another marker of similarities between South America and the Languedoc?