92
NV Les Pionniers, Champagne
£16.99, 12, The Co-operative
With the way the pound is behaving at the moment, it's impressive that the Co-op can keep the price of this stunning frizz from Piper Heidsieck under £17. It's a classy, toasty, mouth-filling bubbly with creamy bubbles, based on the red grapes, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, but with 20% Chardonnay providing a citrus-edged tang of acidity. The best value Champagne in the country.
Available from (as of date of review): The Co-operative
Drinking window: 2017-21
91
2015 Masseria Pietrosa Verdeca, Cantine San Marzano, Puglia
£6 down from £8, 13%, Morrison's
Even at its normal price, this fine-looking Italian white from the country's boot heel is a total bargain, but at £6 it shoudl ahve people queueing out of the door. Blending the local Verdeca grape (not the same thing as Verdejo) with 2.5% each of Sauvignon Blanc and Malvasia, it's a tangy, crunchy thirstquencher with flavours of pear and orange zest and lovely texture.
Available from (as of date of review): Morrison's
Drinking window: 2017-19
96
2014 Koyle Cerro Basalto, Los Lingues, Colchagua Valley
£17, 14, The Wine Society
Grown on basalt soils identified as ideal by the French terroir consultant, Claude Bourguignon, for Mediterranean grapes, this is a stunning blend of mostly Mourvèdre with Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. Liquorice, damson, tapenade and blackberry flavours are embellished by bright acidity, savoury, grippy tannins and just a hint of oak.
Available from (as of date of review): The Wine Society
Drinking window: 2018-24
89
2015 Rojalet Negre, Montsant
£7.99, 13.5, Majestic
Montsant is not as famous as neighbouring Priorat, but generally offers much better value. Blending Garnacha and Carignan, this isn't short of alcohol (we're close to the Med after all), but it has plenty of spice, plum and bramble fruit concentration and stony minerality for balance. In summer, it would make a great barbecue red. Right now, try it with winter stew.
Available from (as of date of review): Majestic
Drinking window: 2017-21
93
2016 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
£14.99, 13, New Zealand House of Wine; The New Zealand Cellar
Kevin Judd is arguably the most famous exponent of Sauvignon Blanc on the planet, thanks to his work at Cloudy Bay and subsequently at his own Marlborough winery, Greywacke. He certainly knows how to invest the variety with considerable complexity, using wild yeasts to add extra nuances to the exotic lime, gooseberry and stone fruit flavours. Long and very satisfying.
Available from (as of date of review): New Zealand House of Wine; The New Zealand Cellar
Drinking window: 2017-19
90
2015 Gentilini Robola, Cephalonia
£14, 13%, Oddbins
Best known as the setting for Louis de Bernières' novel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Cephalonia also makes some very tasty wines from indigenous Greek grapes. This tangy, bright, wild herb-scented white, made from Robola, will delight lovers of fiction and non-fiction alike.
Available from (as of date of review): Oddbins
Drinking window: 2016-18
92
2015 Laderas del Tiétar Garnacha, Gredos
£8.50, 14%, The Wine Society
Spain has grubbed up a depressing amount of its Garnacha plantings in the last 20 years, but the grape is still capable of great things, even at this sort of very affordable price. Hailing from the high altitude Grelos Mountains near Madrid, this is a remarkably fresh, refined wine that nods towards Pinot Noir and Cinsault in style. Tangy acidity, raspberry and redcurrant fruit and a long refreshing finish are complemented by silky tannins. Stunning value.
Available from (as of date of review): The Wine Society
Drinking window: 2016-19
91
2014 Domaine Jones Grenache Gris, IGP Côtes Catalanes, Languedoc-Roussillon
£13.50, 13.5%, The Wine Society
Englishwoman Katie Jones' old vine releases from the Maury area are improving with every vintage and are now some of the best in the Roussillon. This Grenache Gris shows the variety's focus, minerality and herbal edge, complemented by notes of pear and beeswax and the faintest kiss of oak.
Available from (as of date of review): The Wine Society
Drinking window: 2016-18
94
NV Taylor's, 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro Valley
£35, 20%, Amazon, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Wine Society, the drinkshop.com
Taylor's isn't as well known for its Tawnies as some houses are - its LBVs and Vintage Ports are up there with the very best - but it should be, based on the quality of this 20-year-old release. Figgy, sweet and complex, with beautifully integrated spirit and notes of umami and orange zest. One of those Ports that you don't want to pass to your neighbour.
Available from (as of date of review): Amazon, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Wine Society, the drinkshop.com
Drinking window: 2016-30
94
2015 Sybille Kuntz Riesling Auslese Feinherb, Mosel
TBC, 12.5%, www.sybillekuntz.de
One of a series of delicious releases from Sybille Kuntz in 2015, this is rich, but not heavy in the slightest, handling its 50 odd grams of residual sugar with ease, thanks to its thrillingly vivid acidity. Honey, spices, lime and remarkable palate length are the hallmarks of this classic-meets-modern Mosel style.
Available from (as of date of review): www.sybillekuntz.de
Drinking window: 2016-28