Reliable, independent buying advice from the wine anorak
November 2003

Wines under £8 | Wines over £8

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

Bargain picks   

Co-op California Idyllwild Malbec 2002 Lodi, California
Malbec is a grape that is more commonly associated with Argentina, but this Californian example is brilliant for the money. Very pure, sweet liquoricey fruit dominates the nose with a lovely vivid, meaty edge. Pure juicy fruit on the palate with a spicy character. Very good+ 87/100 (£4.49 Co-op)

Radcliffe's Regional Classics Haut Poitou Sauvignon Blanc 2002 Loire, France
One of the new Thresher own-label wines, this is very successful. Really forward herby, grassy, gooseberry nose. Palate is grassy and zippy with lots of green herby flavours. Fresh and full, and quite tasty. Very good+ 87/100 (£6.49 Threshers)

Château Cazal-Viel Cuvée des Fées 2001 St Chinian, Languedoc, France
Low yielding vines, mainly Syrah, producing a chunky, characterful southern red. Delicious sweet herby fruit on the nose. The palate is expressive and savoury with good concentration. Tasty. Very good+ 88/100 (Waitrose £6.99)

Domaine de Coudoulet 'Marsalan' 2002 Vin de Pays d'Oc, France
Lovely ripe savoury, spicy, licqouricey fruit on the nose. The palate displays vivid, rich chewy spicy fruit with lots of flavour. Brilliant stuff for the price. Very good+ 88 (£5.55 Berry Bros & Rudd)

Wines over £8

Yves Cuilleron Viognier 2002 Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes, Northern Rhône, France
This is better than most Condrieu. Really delicious elagant floral, peach and pear fruit nose shows a great deal of typicity: this is what Condrieu is known for. Soft, broad, rich palate with lots of personality. Very good/excellent 91/100 (£10.95 Berry Bros & Rudd)

Wither Hills Pinot Noir 2002 Malborough, New Zealand
Lots of care has been taken with this wine, and it has paid off. A range of different clones of Pinot Noir have been used, and in the vineyard the vines have their crop thinned and leaves plucked, before hand picking of the fruit. Very rich raspberry and cherry fruit dominates the nose: bold and sweetly edged with some meaty complexity. There is a savoury spicy edge to the vivid fruit on the palate. Delicious in a rich style, and quite classy. Very good/excellent 91/100 (£13.99 Waitrose, Majestic)

Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir 2001 Carneros, Napa, California
Majestic are now stocking virtually the full range of wines from Saintsbury, one of California's most adept performers with Pinot Noir. I like them all, but this is probably the best value. Quite assertive spicy, savoury nose with taut, rich berry fruits. The rich palate has a lovely spicy structure under the rich meaty-edged fruit. Elegant and concentrated. Very good/excellent 91/100 (£17.99, but £15.29 if you buy any 2 Californian wines, Majestic)

Perrin Vacqueyras Les Christins 2001 Southern Rhône, France
Really appealing dense, spicy nose showing licqourice-edged black fruits. There's a lovely spicy structure to the fruit on the palate. A serious southern Rhône style that's as good as most Châteauneuf du Papes. Very good/excellent 91/100 (£9.99 Threshers, Tesco) 

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