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)

Marks & Spencer Crozes Hermitage 2003 Northern Rhône, France
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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