ANYONE fancy some Old World wine in the new age era?

If so, you could do worse than trying the Chateau Cantin Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.

The history of Saint-Émilion, deep in the Bordeaux region of France, goes back to prehistoric times and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Romanesque churches and ruins stretching along steep and narrow streets. It is named after the monk Émilion, who settled in a hermitage cave carved into a rock.

The Romans planted vineyards here as early as the second century and, a few centuries later, good old monks started up commercial wine production in this now world famous wine region.

In amongst all this is Chateau Cantin, a property originally built by Benedictine monks as a summer residence for the Canon of Saint-Émilion, where the grapes must have enjoyed a godly influence.

The modern twist is that Cantin had been in the doldrums for many years prior to this century, until it was taken over by the Group Les Grands Chais de France. Their investment in the winery has since paid off in recent times, not least with this Grand Cru.

The 2013 vintage is available at Waitrose and currently on discount offer down from £23.99 to £17.99 until May 16.

The blend is about 80 per cent Merlot, 10 per cent Cabernet Franc and 10 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, with fermentation taking place in stainless steel and concede vats prior to 12 months of ageing in barrels.

Deep, dark plum in colour, it is a full-bodied, velvety, complex tipple with spice, cinnamon and coffee on the nose, hints of vanilla and chocolate, and blackberry and blueberry notes, the red and black fruitiness expertly countering the tannins.

It might be even better in a year or two, but this 13 per cent Claret is lovely enough now, and would be perfect with fillet steak and posh game, on the occasions you fancy treating yourself. It'd even pair with chocolate-based afters too.

Sticking with red wine but going much lighter (in taste and on the wallet), there's a lovely fresh Recchia Bardolino down the aisle, currently priced £5.99 - 25 per cent off - until May 16.

It's a typical Bardolino, the wine that hails from the eastern shore of Lake Garda in northern Italy, with its distinctive lightness affording plenty of versatility.

Serve it ever so slightly chilled on a nice spring day outside, or have it with pizza, pasta, red meat, white meat and even fish for a feet-up evening in front of the tellybox.