Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer Old Vines Grenache Noir 2003
Roussillon, France
Hand picked grapes, old vines, unoaked, and
less than a fiver a bottle: a good combination. This is a delicious red wine
showing rounded, juicy fruit with a nice savoury, spicy twist. An impressive
Grenache. (£4.99 Marks & Spencer)
Marks & Spencer
Macon Rouge 2003 Burgundy
A forward,
charming red made from Gamay grapes. Lovely intense,
fresh, cherryish fruit on the nose, which is vivid and full. The palate is bold
and juicy with lovely ripe, savoury bright fruit. Fantastic for the price. (£5.99
Marks & Spencer)
This savoury red is a really good example of Northern Rhône Syrah.
Taut, spicy liquoricey fruit on the nose leads to a palate that is dense, spicy,
generous and expressive with lovely structure and fruit quality. (£7.99 Marks
& Spencer)
older picks
Navardia Rioja 2001
Spain
This organic Rioja shows intense, spicy fruit with a chewy texture.
Modern-styled but still lots of personality. (£5.99)
Château du Parc 2002
Coteaux du Languedoc, France
A satisfyingly rich southern French blend that displays a good concentration
of spicy berry fruit. Really good value here. (£4.99)
Banwell Farm Riesling
2002 Eden Valley, Australia
Made by Barossa-based producer St Hallett, this striking white wine shows
lots of savory, limey fruit with a spicy edge. Delicious, bone dry and great
with seafood. (£7.99)
Dorrien Estate Bin 442
Shiraz 2001 Barossa, Australia
This big red wine packs a good concentration of seductive sweet black
fruits. Bold and sweet, this might be a bit much for traditionalists. (£7.99)
Canale Merlot Reserve
2001 Rio Negro, Argentina
This is expensive by Argentinean standards, but it offers lots of forward,
classy ripe fruit with some well integrated spicy oak providing a stylish
backup. Intense stuff. (£9.99)
Zamora Zinfandel 2001
Lodi, California
Zinfandel is California’s own grape, and here it is blended with 25% Petit
Sirah. Rich and vividly fruited, there’s an appealing herby edge to this
characterful Californian red. Interesting stuff. (£6.99)
Villa dei Furesi
Primitivo di Puglia 2000 IGT Puglia, Italy
Lots of flavour here – this red wine is bursting with sweet, herby
liquorice-laced fruit. Vivid and intense. (£6.99)
Torresoto White Rioja
2001 Spain
You’ll either love or hate this full flavoured white. Most of the
character comes from the oak barrels this was fermented in, and it displays
sweet vanilla, coconut and cream flavours, backed up with good acidity. (£5.99)
Terra Douro Albariño
2002 Rias Baixas, Spain
Hailing from the northwest of Spain, this is a delicate yet full flavoured
aromatic white wine displaying taut, savoury, lemony fruit. Great with fish. (£7.99)
Safra Nova 2001
Ribatejo, Portugal
Sweet edged cherry and berry fruit dominate this chewy, savoury red wine.
Much more flavour than you’d expect for the price. (£3.99)
Solorico 2001 Ribatejo,
Portugal
The Ribatejo is emerging as a great source of flavour-packed reds at
wallet-friendly prices. This wine shows ripe, liquoricey fruit with a spicy
edge. Appealing. (£4.99)
Vinha Padre Pedro 1999
Ribatejo, Portugal
This is an interesting Portuguese red: it’s quite traditional, with its
restrained, rather earthy flavours, but it’s also got plenty of fruit. Quite
complex and thought provoking. (£5.99)
Quinta
da Fafide Estate Reserva 2001 Douro, Portugal
From the hot Douro Superior
in northern Portugal. Vivid red purple in colour, it has a spicy, herbal nose
with some complexity. The palate is savoury, with lovely vivid fruit. Delicious,
and showing lots of Douro character, yet in a relatively modern style. (£7.99)
Le Moulin des Cossardières
Muscadet 2002 Loire, France
With high acid dominating the fresh, lemony fruit this is a really useful
food wine. The antithesis of a rich Chardonnay. (£4.99)
Domaine Pierre de
Prehy Chablis 2001 France
This is brilliant. The appealing toasty, nutty, herby wine leads to a palate
that shows lots of nutty fruit. Savoury and full – textbook Chablis. (£9.99)
Château Planèzes
2000 Côtes du Roussillon Villages, France
A brilliant example of the new wave of red wines emerging from the south of
France. Lovely liquoricey, sweet-edge berry and black fruits dominate, with a
spicy, savoury edge. Fruity, but with a serious side, too. (£6.99)
Château de Surville
2000 Costières de Nîmes, France
A deep coloured red wine with a lovely sweet herbal edge to the chewy, spicy
fruit. Savoury and appealing. (£6.99)
Domaine de Deves 2001
Côtes du Rhône
This organic red has aromas of smoky, spicy fruit with a slightly cheesy
edge. Sounds odd, but it’s nice. The palate is vividly fruited with some spicy
complexity. Tasty. (£5.99)
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