Box of joy

I'VE been a bit dubious about wine boxes, thinking that their content would probably be better used as paint-stripper rather than as something you'd drink unless absolutely desperate..

But a couple of friends have just presented me with one after returning from their holiday home in the south-west of France.

I had a glass last night with a plate of roast chicken and have to say I was very impressed - it was an amiable, well-balanced red that would be easy to drink on its own or with simple food.

It was from a decent vineyard close to their house in the Languedoc and showed all thae traits of wine from that area.