Reliable, independent buying advice from the wine anorak
May 2003

Wines under £8 | Wines over £8

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

My rating system explained. Use www.wine-searcher.com to locate a stockist in your area. See also: the wineanorak's shopping list - recommended wines from each of the main retail outlets

Bargain picks

Marks & Spencer Nero d'Avola Syrah 2002 IGT Sicilia, Italy
A vivid purple colour, this displays delicious bright summer fruits with a nice savoury twist. Showing good concentration, this is a lovely vivid wine that offers great value. Some winemaking trickery (microoxygenation) has been used here. Very good+ (£4.49 Marks & Spencer)

Ken Forrester Scholtzenhof Petit Chenin 2002 Stellenbosch, South Africa
Nicely savoury, herby nose with good intensity and straw-like notes. The palate is dry, savoury, rich and herby. Some depth to it and real varietal character, which is remarkable for the price. Almost profound. Very good+ (£3.99 Oddbins)

Peter Lehmann ‘The Barossa’ Grenache 2001, Barossa, Australia
Quite pale in colour. Lovely sweet herby nose with some pepper spice on the nose. The palate shows appealing herby edged strawberry and raspberry fruit. Very moreish and nicely savoury. Very good+ (Sainsbury £3.99) Oddbins and Tesco both have the screwcapped 2002, which is at least as good, but costs a pound more: still highly recommended.

Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc 2002 Coastal Region
An intense, rich expression of Sauvignon Blanc boasting rich grassy fruit with a figgy edge. Quite aromatic. The palate is broad and fruity with tropical fruit notes and a slightly herby edge. Fresh, crisp and rich, this is impeccable commercial winemaking. Very good/excellent (£7.49 Sainsbury) 

Quinta da Fafide Estate Reserva 2001 Douro
From an estate in the hot Douro Superior in northern Portugal, winemaker Rui Madeira has fashioned an attractive, expressive wine. Vivid red purple in colour, it has a spicy, herbal nose with some complexity. The palate is savoury, with lovely expressive, vivid fruit. Delicious, and showing lots of Douro character yet in a relatively modern style. Very good+ (£7.99 Marks & Spencer)

Wines over £8

Inama Soave Classico ‘Vigneto du Lot’ 2001 Italy
Soave pacesetter Stefano Inama has hit gold with this brilliantly intense white. From an experimental vineyard planted in 1993: instead of pergola training, the Garganega grapes are grown in a permanent cordon and are spur pruned. 50% new Allier oak is used. Striking rich herby, toasty nutty nose. Rich exotic ripe palate with straw and herb edge to the savoury nutty palate. Excellent (£16.50 availabe from UK agents Winetraders, 01865 251 851 )

Glen Carlou Shiraz 2001 Paarl, South Africa
The Shiraz grape is gaining ground in South Africa, and this is possibly the best example to date. It displays a roasted, tarry nose with good intensity of fruit. Vivid, bright tarry fruit. Great intensity here with a spicy finish and lively acidity. Remarkable stuff. Very good/excellent (Oddbins £12.99)   

Franz Künstler Hocheimer Kirchenstück Riesling Spätlese 1999 Rheingau, Germany
Delightful intense lemony nose with herby, appley richness. Rich, thick-textured palate shows great balance between the sweetness and acidity. A delicious, medium sweet Riesling that's quite expressive. Very good/excellent (Inner Cellar branches of Waitrose, and Waitrose Wine Direct £13.99)

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