Autumn wine
2005 Tesco Finest Barbera d'Asti, Fratelli Martini (£6.99, Tesco)
Barbera may not age as well as its regional stable mate, Nebbiolo, but its high acidity and firm tannins mean that it's often worth keeping. This is smoky and wonderfully wild, with bags of flavour and a punchy finish.
2004 Candido, I Satiri, Salice Salentino Riserva (£8.49, or £6.79 each for two, Majestic)
Produced in Italy's Mediterranean boot heel, this is a rich, almost raisiny blend of 95% Negroamaro and 5% Malvasia Nera, with soft, sun-baked tannins and lots of plum and raspberry fruit. Almost as good as going there yourself.
2005 Château Roland La Garde, Côtes de Blaye (£9.70, Berry Brothers, 0800-2802440)
It's great to come across a red Bordeaux (otherwise known as claret) from the legendary 2005 vintage at under £10. This blend of Merlot with 12% Cabernet Sauvignon is stylish and smooth, but with the structure to age for another five years.
2005 Barbaresco, Umberto Fiore (£9.99, Marks & Spencer)
Somewhat confusingly, at least for readers who are new to Piedmontese wines, Barbaresco is made from Nebbiolo, not Barbera. This is pale and delicately coloured with notes of rose petal and red fruits and a surprisingly firm finish.
2002 Anthemis Muscat of Samos, Greece (£9.99 per half, waitrosewine.com)
Made from Muscat grapes grown on the Aegean island of Samos, this is nectar; a very sweet, molasses and crème brûlée-style dessert wine with depth and complexity. A Greek wine bearing multiple gifts.
2005 Château de la Guimonière Anjou (£9.99, or £6.66 each for three, Wine Rack)
Chenin Blanc is not as famous as Chardonnay and Riesling when it comes to ageability, but this oak-influenced white from the Loire shows you just how good it can be, with complex, mealy, lanolin, apple and vanilla flavours.
2005 Edward's Block Founder's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (£14.99, Laithwaite's, 0845-1947720)
Finding delicious Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at this sort of price isn't easy, but this finely crafted, almost Bordeaux-like red really fits the bill. Nicely understated.
1999 Solaguën Rioja Gran Reserva (£15.99, Sainsbury's)
If you're a fan of traditional Rioja, aged in American oak, with soft, easy drinking red fruit flavours and velvety tannins, you will love this pure Tempranillo red from the Rioja Alavesa sub-region. Lovely now but will keep for another three years.
