Reliable, independent buying advice from the wine anorak
March 2003

Wines under £8 | Wines over £8

Previous months' recommendations: February 2002 | March 2002 | April 2002 | May 2002 | June 2002 | July 2002 | August 2002 | September 2002 | October 2002 | November 2002 | December 2002 | January 2003 | February 2003

My rating system explained. Use www.wine-searcher.com to locate a stockist in your area. 

Bargain picks

James Herrick Syrah 2001, Vin de Pays d’Oc, France
This new world-style Syrah from the south of France is unoaked, which allows the vivid, slightly spicy berry fruit to shine. Rich and concentrated with a nice savoury edge, this is a dense, attractive red. Great value for money. Very good+ (£4.99 Oddbins) 

Graham Beck Coastal Shiraz 2000, South Africa
Deep red/black colour. The nose shows forward berry fruit with a stern, spicy edge. The rich, concentrated palate has an attractive liquoricey edge to the spicy fruit, with some tannin. A modern, delicious wine. Very good/excellent (£6.99 Asda)  

Château Mourgues du Gres Costières du Nîmes 'Les Galets Rouges' 2000, France
A concentrated, deep-coloured red wine, this has an enticing meaty, slightly cheesy nose—sounds bad, but it’s actually very appealing. The palate shows lovely medium-bodied savoury character, with meaty dark fruits and some tannin. Real savoury character here. Very good/excellent (£5.99 Ballantynes)

Asda South African Sauvignon Blanc 2002, Western Cape, South Africa
If you can look past the rather naff label design, then this is hard to beat at this bargain basement price. Don’t expect profundity: instead, enjoy the crisp, bright fruit character, backed up with a subtle grassiness that’s a common signature of this grape variety. A great house white. Very good (£3.22 Asda)

Inama Soave Classico Superiore 2001 Italy
Soave is normally a dull, thin, joyless, cheap white wine. Not this example, from one of the region’s leading producers, Inama. Made from the little-known Garganega grape, it is a concentrated, richly flavoured dry white wine with herby, minerally character. Distinctive and quite individual, but worth every penny. Very good/excellent (£7.99 Sainsbury)

Wines over £8

Glen Carlou Pinot Noir 2001, Paarl, South Africa
South Africa isn’t well known for its Pinot Noir, but this example, from the Paarl region, is simply brilliant. The assertive nose shows cherryish, herby fruit with just a tinge of pleasing medicinal complexity. There’s lovely bright fruit on the palate with good acidity keeping things lively. A sophisticated, thought-provoking wine. Very good/excellent (£8.99 Oddbins)

Craggy Range Les Beaux Graviers Vineyard Chardonnay 2001, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
The first of the prestige range of wines from this pace-setting New Zealand producer, this is fantastic. Deep coloured with a beautifully elegant creamy, toasty nose and vivid fruit. The palate is very classy with integrated fruit and oak, nutty complexity and an intense character. Excellent (expected to retail around £20, contact Capricorn wines on 0161 909 1300 for more details)

Inama Binomio 2000 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy
As well as making stunning Soave, Stefano Inama has turned his hand to Montepulciano, and this concentrated yet elegant blockbuster red is the result. It has an intense, exotic nose of ripe liquoricey fruit with spice and menthol notes. The palate is super-concentrated and spicy with intense berry fruit and some well integrated oak. Modern, supercharged style but full of character. Excellent (contact Winetraders UK on 01865 251 851 for availability details)

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