Good cheap wine: Faggio Montepulciano and Montana SB

After a long day, involving a lengthy trip to Ikea to buy some new beds for the boys (they're getting too big for their high-up bunks), it's time to enjoy some inexpensive wines with a BBQ.

Il Faggio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2007 (on offer at £5, Asda) is a deliciously modern interpretation of this Italian red style, with focused, spicy, dense lush ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit. It's not the most complex ever wine, but for this price it over-delivers a good deal. [Geeky closure comment: interestingly, when I tried this 6 months ago I'm sure it had a tin/saran liner to the screwcap and tasted a bit reduced; this one has a saranex only liner.]

Montana Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (available just about everywhere, but this was on offer at £5.99 in Morrisons) is a wine I've commented on before. It's really good, and shows wonderful balance. Yes, the 2008 vintage in Marlborough isn't a great one, but Montana have a nice wine here, with some fresh grassiness and a bit of passion fruit richness, too. Crisp and lively.