Wines of the week: David Williams

Château Maris, Organic Syrah Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2007 (reduced from £8.99 to £6.74, Waitrose) The first of three wines from Waitrose's excellent French Wine Showcase that runs until the end of the month. This is a big syrah from Minervois, in the heart of the Languedoc. Produced organically by British winemaker Robert Eden, it is monumental stuff: heat-baked and fruit-driven, it needs a large piece of roast meat or a hearty vegetarian stew to show its best. Pinot Blanc Réserve, Cave de Beblenheim, Alsace 2009 (reduced from £8.99 to £6.69, Waitrose) At the opposite end of the vinous spectrum from Château Maris' heat and power, Cave de Beblenheim Pinot Blanc's charms are much more discreet. Produced from a grape that is often unsung when compared to Alsace's more celebrated riesling and pinot gris, it has just a hint of sweetness and a very appealing spring blossom character. Château Lillian Ladouys Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux 2007 (reduced from £17.49 to £12.99, Waitrose) Though not a particularly good vintage in Bordeaux, this is a classic, slightly old-fashioned claret at a very good price. On the palate it's very dry with dusty tannins, but it has a lovely seam of blackcurrant and pencil-lead flavours and it is ready to drink now.