Côtes du Rhône Villages: 20 great bottles to enjoy this holiday

Exceptionally smooth on the palate, which is generous but not massive, with lively acidity, finishing joyfully bright. Great finesse, perfect balance, beautifully harmonious, very fine tannins, freshness and a long finish. What more could you ask? How about ageability and an affordable price: done. Quite reductive to start with on the nose, so give it an hour in a decanter. From sandstone and limestone soils, the Grenache was only part-destemmed. Biodynamic.

Delicious, fresh and smooth, quite light in tannin, with a lovely sheen to the fruit and no recourse to oak. The alcohol is generous but this is a pure, clean and really quite serious wine. Great intensity and impact – you can see why many consider Pascal Chalon to be one of the most exciting winemakers in the Rhône. Quite reticent on the nose for now, so start drinking this from 2024 and decant. Biodynamic.

Slight herbal note on the nose, and a certain fresh leanness on the palate. Marked acidity. I like the energy, acidity and intensity of the wine, it has a certain mineral core. Surprisingly long finish. Tight, juicy, not hugely concentrated but transmits energy and freshness. Parcel selection, 3ha, 31-year-old vines.

Lightly smoky, perky and brisk on the palate, with enjoyably robust and crisp tannins. An assertive wine, predominantly Grenache, and it really grabs you by the palate; very bright and zingy, with a wonderfully thirst-quenching drinkability thanks to its bright beam of acidity. Good length and a real crowd-pleaser. Organic.

Beautifully lifted, aromatic style, with violets, lavender and blueberries. Medium-bodied, with soft, ripe tannin and vibrant acidity. Very bright and drinkable style, with or without food, from the leader of the Rasteau 'new school'. Fermented with natural yeasts in concrete, and matured in concrete. No acidification or fining and only a light filtration.

Ripe, rich, powerful juicy strawberry and blackberry fruit. Surprisingly powerful, even for a named village, this has great concentration and will really satisfy those looking for a robust southern Rhône to see them through the winter thanks to its warming alcohol. Could easily pass for a top southern cru. Enjoyably chewy and dense tannins complete the picture. Good value, 100% Grenache. Organic.

A textured, layered natural wine; very open and giving already. Dark chocolate-coated black cherries and damsons, rosemary and thyme. Succulent texture, with lightly chewy tannins, it flirts with some of the wilder nuances of low-intervention winemaking. It's not as polished as some, but it's very much a wine of place, rather than winemaking, and one with real complexity and texture.

Immediately on the nose you can smell this is going to be good – and it is. Plum, damson, a touch of sloe, a little spicy kick that helps bring interest and complexity. A lovely sense of freshness makes this concentrated wine surprisingly drinkable; good length, too. Impressive from this young estate that was bought by the Knapp family from California in 2018. Organic.

Open and expressive, with bramble and liquorice. A little bit meaty and herbal, this is enjoyably complex. Medium-bodied on the palate, which is very harmonious and succulent, with firm tannins and good acidity to support the savoury cauldron of flavour. Good length and very good value for such a characterful wine. 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, all destemmed and matured for 24 months in concrete.

Lovely fresh aromatics, delivering creamy strawberry and raspberry. The acidity is bright and there's a little vanilla touch on the finish that brings further interest. No great depth, but this is an enjoyably vivid style of southern Rhône Syrah that will win plenty of fans. Hand-harvested fruit, all destemmed, fermented in concrete and aged in barriques for nine months.

Freshly squished blackberries and raspberries, really vibrantly fruity. Exceptionally smooth tannins and tremulous acidity. Perhaps no great length or depth, but it has impact and is highly drinkable with or without food, with a lovely sense of purity. An equal blend of Grenache and Syrah, made by the aptly named Laurent Plantevin, sixth-generation family vine-grower. Organic.

A juicy and thirst-slaking style of southern Rhône, thanks to its crisp berry freshness and bright acidity. Palate-drenching juiced berries and some springy, chewy tannins make for a vibrant Visan. Made from predominantly Grenache with Syrah, from 45- to 70-year-old vines and matured in concrete tanks. Organic, no added sulphites.

Smooth berry compote flavours and a slick of tannins, all balanced by vibrant berry acidity. Syrah-dominated, it has an enjoyably edgy tannic frame that brings a textural dimension to the Grenache component. Very fresh and drinkable, will pair well with roasted red meat. Grown at 400m on north-facing slopes, aged in demi-muids and foudres. Biodynamic.

A sumptuous plum and damson nose: you want to sink into it like a red leather armchair. Predominantly Syrah with Grenache, full, rounded, with soft and sweet plum compote fruit, but it's not overly full-bodied or jammy, just enjoyably concentrated. Good length, gently warming alcohol on the finish. A good selection by Lay & Wheeler, Château Courac is the best estate in the future cru of Laudun. Outstanding value.

Strawberry and raspberry, juicy, bold and full-bodied for a 2021, very fine tannins. This is a drinkable and fresh style that nonetheless has the breadth and shape of a generous southern Rhône Grenache (40% of the blend). From an estate established as recently as 2015 but already producing very impressive wines. Vines are more than 30 years old.

With enjoyable spiced berry fruits from start to finish, this has the penetrating acidity, red fruit flavour and peppery spice that are typical markers of the appellation. An equal blend of Grenache and Syrah, tannins are a touch on the rustic side but this is enjoyably brisk, with a cleansing, textural finish. Enjoyably lively and expressive midweek drinking. Organic.