Tesco

Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Extra Dry Sherry
A brilliant wine for very little money. Let’s face it, Sherry is wildly unfashionable still, despite efforts from all quarters to get punters to change their minds. But this Fino style is versatile, fresh and food compatible, and with only 15% alcohol it isn’t any more intoxicating than many new world table wines. This is a complex, nutty wine with a bracing, marine-like freshness and good acidity. The mid-palate is kind of flat, but this is the sherry style. It’s got lovely freshness, so keep it well chilled and drink it within a few days of opening. (Tesco £4.22/half, £7.06/full bottle)

Coteau Brule Cairanne Côtes du Rhône Villages 2003 Southern Rhône, France
Grenache is the main grape contributing to this impressive southern red. Lovely savoury, spicy intensity to the nose. Great concentration of savoury, earthy red fruits with a lovely rich, spicy structure. Brilliant at this price. (£5.99 Tesco)

Fetzer Valley Oaks Syrah Rosé 2004 California
Perfect for summer. It’s a very deep colour for a rosé: almost a light red wine. Very full, weighty nose with lots of bright cherry fruit. The palate is fresh, fruity and rather appealing. A big, fruity rosé. (£5.99 Oddbins, Thresher, Unwins, Asda, Sainsbury, Somerfield, Tesco, Waitrose)

Tesco Unwind Tempranillo NV, Mendoza, Argentina
A cheap wine that's lots of fun. Deep coloured, it has ripe, smooth, slightly sweet berry fruit on the nose, framed with some spiciness. The palate shows nicely balanced savoury red and black fruits with some structure and a hint of sweetness. (£4.99 Tesco)

Mick Morris Liqueur Muscat, Rutherglen, Australia
I’m going to be horribly unfashionable and recommend three sweet, sticky wines this week. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face. This brown/amber wine has a sweet, open nose with some herbiness, leading to a supersweet palate with notes of tea and raisins. (£6.99 Tesco)

older picks

Torres Viña Sol 2002 Penedes, Spain
This crisp white is quite brilliant: fresh, aromatic and beguiling, with grassy, lemony fruit. My house white. (£4.47)

Matua North Island Red 2001 New Zealand
It’s rare to find a New Zealand red at this price point, and doubly rare to find one as appealing as this. A blend of Pinotage, Malbec, Cabernet  and Merlot, it shows lots of savoury berry fruit with good acidity. (£4.99)

Peter Lehmann Grenache 2002 Barossa, Australia
Quite pale in colour for a red wine, this is fruity, juicy and appealing with spicy edged berry fruit. Very easy to drink and quite delicious. (£4.99) 

Fairview Goats do Roam 2001, South Africa
 South African reds are deservedly popular at the moment, and this brilliantly successful blend of several different red grape varieties shows why. A vivid red/purple colour, attractive ripe, sweet raspberry fruit dominates, but there’s also some savoury, meaty complexity. Good acidity and not at all confected, this has to be one of the very best reds at this price point. The 2002 vintage is now arriving, and this is equally good. (£4.99)

González Byass Noé Pedro Ximénez, Jerez, Spain
A dark, rich, raisiny, ultra-sweet sherry. Viscous stuff, with flavours of toffee and raisins – you won’t forget this one for a while. (£10.69/half bottle)

Tesco Simply Riesling 2002 Mosel Saar Ruwer, Germany
It’s rare to find a tasty wine at £2.99, but this medium-sweet Riesling is clean and appealing with some melony fruit and nice acidity. (£2.99) 

JL Wolf Wachenheimer Riesling 2001 Pfalz, Germany
A lovely full flavoured white wine with a citrussy intensity to the fruit. Good acidity keeps things lively, and because it’s dry this would make a great fish wine. Worth every penny. (£8.49) 

Yalumba Y Viognier 2002 South Australia
Yalumba are the Australian specialists with the trendy Viognier grape, and this dry white shows lovely peach and pear fruit with a floral edge, together with a soft, rich texture. (£6.99) 

Wilkie Estates Cabernet Merlot 2001 Adelaide Plains, Australia
This full-flavoured red is a complete bargain, showing sweet, ripe black fruits with juicy intensity. (£4.99) 

Beyerskloof Synergy Cape Blend 2001 Stellenbosch, South Africa
 Cape blends are the new thing in South Africa – reds made with at least 30% Pinotage in the mix, which seems to bring out the best in this unusual variety. This example shows classy, herby berry fruit with good structure and a hint of green olives. (£8.99)  

Hilltop Riverview Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio 2001, Tolna Region, Hungary
 A wine that tries to hide its Hungarian origins a little, but which offers lots of flavour for the money. Clean, pure fruity nose with a hint of smoky bacon from the Pinot Grigio, and some fresh honeyed fruit. The palate is dry and crisp with good acidity and lots of character. Made in a modern style. (£3.99)

Perrin & Fils Vinsobres Les Cornuds 2001 Côtes du Rhône Villages
 This appealing, refined Rhône red shows spicy, herby berry fruit with a hint of meatiness. Everything seems to work together. (£6.49)

Tesco ‘Unwind’ Chardonnay, Australia
 Tesco’s screwcapped ‘Unwind’ range has been very successful since its introduction, and this nicely judged, rich nutty Chardonnay shows why. Good balancing acidity keeps things fresh. (£4.99)

La Palmeria Merlot Gran Reserva 2001, Rapel, Chile
 This is what Chile does best: sweet, concentrated, creamy cassis flavours offset with some spicy oak. Bold and moreish. (£9.99)

Domaine de la Grande Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas 2000
 This organic Rhône red shows a lovely spicy, meaty edge to the vivid raspberry fruit. It’s a delicious, authentic wine with more character than most at this price. Brilliant value. (£5.49)

Tesco Australian Finest Reserve Merlot 2002 South Eastern Australia
Lots of juicy ripe blackcurrant fruit here with a sweet liquorice and spice edge. Quite a rich style and lots of upfront appeal. (£4.99) 

Hardys Reserve Shiraz 2001 South Eastern Australia
Nicely structured, this big red wine shows minty, menthol-edged berry fruit with a spicy finish. (£6.49) 

Penfolds Thomas Hyland Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 South Australia
This is quite sophisticated, with a restrained, slightly minty nose and plenty of herby, blackcurrant fruit. Drinking well now and nicely weighted. (£8.99) 

Peter Lehmann Semillon 2002 Barossa, Australia
Fed up with oaky Chardonnay? This deliciously fresh, zippy white is full of personality and shows bright, lemony fruit. The 2001 is equally good. (£5.49)

Tim Adams Semillon 1999, Clare Valley, Australia
Looking for a full flavoured, food-friendly white? Tim Adams makes what many consider to be Australia’s best Semillon, combining complex nutty, lemony fruit with well judged spicy oak. The juicy acidity keeps things lively. Tasty and full of personality. (£7.99)

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