Previous months' recommendations: April 2003 | May 2003 | June 2003 | July 2003 | August 2003 | September 2003 | October 2003 | November 2003 | December 2003 | January 2004 | February 2004 | March 2004 | April 2004

My rating system explained. Use www.wine-searcher.com to locate a stockist in your area and my directory of UK wine merchants for details of those listed here. See also: the wineanorak's shopping list - recommended wines from each of the main UK retail outlets. These recommendations are truly independent: I don't accept payment or other favours for inclusions, nor do I sell wine.

Jacobs Creek Dry Riesling 2002 South Eastern Australia
Is Riesling the new Chardonnay? Perhaps. If you are faced with a limited selection of branded wines, you could do a lot worse than opt for this Jacobs Creek Riesling. It's not a great wine, but it's far more interesting than a branded Chardonnay at this price point, offering subtle, slightly perfumed spicy lemony fruit. Crisp and balanced - a good food match. Very good+ 87/100 (£5.60 Tesco; widely available elsewhere) 

Louis Latour ‘Duet’ Chardonnay–Viognier 2003 Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l’Ardeche, France
Reasonable deep yellow colour. Fat, peachy nose leads to a rich, rounded palate with very forward, softly textured tropical fruit character. This is a striking, full flavoured white with a nutty edge to the very smoothly textured fruit. Interesting and quite sophisticated. Very good+ 88/100 (£?? availability details to follow) 

Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo 2001 Maipo, Chile
I've criticised Chilean wines in the past for being too 'samey'. However, the following two wines show some personality and I'm happy to recommend them. The first is this nicely packaged effort from Rothschild (a name that comes from 'Red shield' = escudo rojo). Ripe, taut nose with sweet, pure black fruits and some chocolatey notes. The palate is midweight with appealing blackcurrant fruit, spicy structure and good acidity. It's nicely poised and quite classy in a midweight, food-friendly style. Very good+ 88/100 (£8.99 Berry Bros, Costco, Unwins) 

Concha y Toro Winemaker’s Lot 175 Carménère Los Morros Vineyard 2002 Maipo Valley, Chile
From a vineyard at 550 m elevation, this is an inky red/purple colour. It has a seductive nose of pure, sweet ripe black fruits that leads to a richly fruited, chocolatey palate with sweet, spicy-edged fruit with a distinctive, slightly bitter black cherry tang and firm, spicy tannins. It’s a classy, concentrated, rich style that may lack a little sophistication but is sure to win many friends. Very good/excellent 90/100 (Oddbins £7.99) 04/04

Baglio Curatolo Villa Tonino Nero d'Avola 2002 Italy
Vivid red black colour. Sweet red fruits, spice and tar on the nose: forward and appealing. The palate is vividly fruity with some sweetness and spice, vanilla and tar notes. It's all wrapped up in firm, savoury tannins. A modern, forward, spicy wine that is very attractive and represents a brilliant bargain. Very good+ 89/100  (£5.36 Moriarty, www.moriarty-vintners.com)

Château des Cres Ricards Les Hauts de Milesi 2002 Coteaux de Languedoc
Indigo wines are a new outfit offering an interesting selection of quality southern French wines to both the trade and private customers. Ch des Cres Ricards is also new to the UK, and this is a wine showing that the 2002 vintage wasn't a complete write-off in southern France. It is beautifully balanced, showing a nicely defined nose of spicy, meaty fruit. The palate is spicy with good acidity and more of that delicious bloody, meaty fruit. Very good/excellent 90/100 (£8.75 Indigo Wine, www.indigowine.com)

Château des Rontets Pouilly-Fuissé Clos Varambon 2001 Burgundy, France
This is fairly serious white Burgundy. Minerally, nutty nose is expressive and intense. The palate is full flavoured, minerally and deeply fruited with lovely savoury complexity. Very good/excellent 93/100 (£15.99 Waitrose)

Ojai Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah 2002 Santa Barbara County
A striking Californian Syrah, oozing character. Inky red/black colour. There's a lovely savoury, spicy intensity to the pure fruit. Alluring. The palate shows a bold, chewy, spicy structure to the lovely rich, pure fruit. Great concentration here. Very good/excellent 94/100 (£25 Amercian wine merchants, www.americanwinemerchants.co.uk)

E-mail me with your recommendations or suggestions at jamie@wineanorak.co.uk