Good quality wines
Fairtrade wine selection
More and more of us are eating at home, and drinking better wine when we do. Spend some of the money you save cooking your own food on wine, and you can afford to splash out.
That’s why I’m encouraging you to trade up and to take a few risks. After all, it's less painful to find that you don't like a £15 bottle at home (you can always pour it into a stew) than in a restaurant, where the same wine would cost you £50. Not that I'm expecting you to be disappointed by the wines I’ve chosen, which are some of my favourites from the recent tasting season. So cook a good meal, open a bottle of wine and cheat the credit crunch.
2000 Dow’s Trademark Finest Reserve Port (£11.99, Sainsbury's)An LBV-style Port that's got flavour and concentration to spare: spicy, dark and peppery with youthful black fruits and enough sweetness to balance the chunky tannins. It will keep in a decanter for a month or two once opened.
2006 Auntsfield Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (£11.99, virginwines.com)
Sancerre has become so expensive these days that top New Zealand examples are beginning to look like better value. This one is subtle and very fine with restrained grapefruit and elderflower notes.
2006 TMV Syrah, Swartland (£12.99, Waitrose)
A Cape red that is among my favourite tipples, this smoky, elegantly oaked Syrah is pretty ripe at over 14% alcohol, but has acidity and freshness too. Its peppery finish is typical of the grape.
2007 Composite Pinot Noir, Winegrowers of Ara, Marlborough (£13.74, or two each for £10.99, Majestic)
Rather than spend your money on red Burgundy under £15, plump for this delicious, scented Pinot Noir from New Zealand instead. Red fruits, a nip of tannin and real intensity make this a great bargain.
2006 Baron de Ley Finca Monasterio Rioja (£14.98, Asda)
The essence of modern-style Rioja: made entirely from Tempranillo (as opposed to a blend of grapes) and aged in atypical French oak. It’s rich and deeply coloured, with lots of spicy vanilla and blackberry fruit.
2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Le Fussier (£14.99, Marks & Spencer)
White Châteauneuf is not as well known as its red counterpart, but this blend of five different grapes is a winner – it’s rich, unoaked, complex and honeyed with a spicy undertone.
2006 Croix des Bardes Lalande-de-Pomerol (£14.99, Tesco)
Possibly on the youthful side (a year in your wine rack won’t do it any harm), but this is a delicious Pomerol at a fab price. It’s soft and supple with a sheen of new oak and sweet, velvety tannins.
2005 Domaine des Gandines, Viré Clessé (£14.99, Oddbins)
This organic Chardonnay is rich and honeyed, with plenty of concentration and deftly handled oak. It’s a big wine that needs a plate of food to soak up the flavours. Good with turkey.
