Wine
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Where?
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Why?
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Torres Viña Sol 2008 Catalunya, Spain
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Just about everywhere (Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury,
Tesco for starters), although price varies – frequently listed
at £6, but often promoted to £5 or lower.
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This is our house white. It’s really fresh and
bright with lovely fruity flavours and no oak. There’s lots of
interest here, and it’s also relatively low in alcohol (11%).
2007 is also excellent, but given the choice opt for the 2008.
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Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Marlborough, New
Zealand
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£8.99 Waitrose, Sainsbury, but sometimes promoted to
£6.99
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A superb example of New Zealand Sauvignon, which
combines riper peach and passionfruit notes with lovely crisp
grassiness. Rich and fresh at the same time – delicious.
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Marks & Spencer Alsace Gewürztraminer 2007
Alsace
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£6.99 Marks & Spencer
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A brilliant interpretation of this offbeat grape
variety, which is off-dry and shows lovely grapey, lychee
character. Benchmark.
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Babich Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2005 Hawkes Bay, New
Zealand
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£8.19 Tesco
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I really like this: bright, fresh, pure sweet fruit
with a white pepper spiciness. Just delicious.
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Dr L Riesling QbA 2007 Mosel, Germany
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£6.99 Sainsbury, Asda, Somerfield, Tesco - also
Oddbins, Great Western Wine, Adnams
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This is benchmark Mosel Riesling – just off-dry,
laser sharp, precise and refreshing. Low in alcohol, too. Great
value.
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Tesco Finest Fiano 2007 Sicily, Italy
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£5.99 Tesco
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A delicious – and different – dry white wine from
Sicily, with nutty, waxy, peach and pear fruit, and a fresh
finish.
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Nero d’Avola Villasetta 2007 Sicily
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£4.98 Asda
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A smooth, focused red from Sicily with sweet dark
cherry and raspberry fruit. Lovely weight and balance here –
tastes like a more expensive wine.
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Pleyades Shiraz 2007 Carinena, Spain
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£4.98 Asda
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A brilliant Spanish Shiraz with lovely ripe, pure
dark fruits. Big time over-performer, this. Buy, Buy.
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Casillero del Diablo Carmenère 2007 Chile
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£6.98 Asda, but often promoted
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The
best of the excellent Casillero del Diablo range, this is dark,
autumnal and mightily nourishing.
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Paul Mas ‘Cau de Val’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Vin
de Pays d’Oc, France
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£5.99 Waitrose
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Deep
coloured, dense and delicious with lovely pure blackcurrant
fruit and excellent balance.
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