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Fruity reds

summer reds & rosÉ wines

rich and bold reds over the page* prices correct at the time of going to press

i’m thrilled to have been asked to compile my favourite 200 wines for a special pull-out Summer Collection again, and i’ve spent the last three months sniffing out the finest wines the High Street has to offer. i’ve tasted more than 4,000 wines in search of the 200 bottles i truly believe represent the best value around. These are wines from great vineyards made with serious skill and which offer stunning value too.

This week it’s the turn of my finest 100 rosés, reds, sweet and fortified wines and next week i’ll give you my favourite 100 sparklers and whites. There are flavours for every palate and i hope you make some delicious new discoveries. Make sure you keep these guides to refer to all summer, but act fast – wines i feature in my Weekend column sometimes sell out by midday on Saturday.

specially selected by the daily mail’s wine expert matthew Jukes

Middle weight

28 MAy

£5from as little as

Best value

100the

four-page special2013 morrisons signature sangiovese superiore, romagna, italy (£6, Morrisons) This budget sangiovese is a cracker and i nearly dropped my glass when i saw the price. The cranberry and plum notes are to be commended and the finish is crisp, refreshing the palate and leaving you feeling elated.

2015 puglia rosso, italy (£7, M&S) There’s not much to go on on the label – it pretty much just says it comes from southern italy and that’s all, but i can tell you that there is a burst of dark berry fruit and spice here which confounds the senses and quickens the pulse. What a marvellous discovery.

2014 château vieux manoir, bordeaux, france (£7.49, Co-op) inexpensive claret can be dreary but this is an exception, with a red-fruited core and a slug of tannin on the finish. it’s worth decanting and sensational paired with rare roast beef.

2015 henry fessy, coteaux bourguignons, france (£9, M&S) Made from the Beaujolais grape, gamay, this red is only a tad richer than some of the rosés listed here, so serve it slightly chilled with richer fish dishes, cold chicken or charcuterie. i love the delicacy of the red cherry and raspberry fruit on the nose and palate.

2014 truly irresistible chinon domaine de la noblaie, loire, france (£9.99, Co-op) its bold blackberry palate and refreshing finish make this one of the most accomplished cabernet francs around. it’ll age well too, so put a few bottles aside.

2014 beaujolais-villages, combe aux Jacques, louis Jadot, burgundy, france (£10, Tesco; £11, Waitrose, Booths, Nisa) This is one of the most-reviewed wines in my column over the past 16 years. it’s a benchmark Beaujolais – if you like light, fruit-driven reds you’ll fall head over heels for this one.

2014 golden state, cabernet sauvignon, lodi, california (£6.49, Waitrose) you can’t fail to be impressed by the way this chunky little number captures the Californian sunshine and cabernet sauvignon’s blackcurrant theme so well for such a reasonable price.

2014 chianti montalbano, medici riccardi, tuscany, italy (£6.49, Lidl) Bargain alert – this is a fantastic Chianti. The nose and palate are spot on, with silky, black, berry fruit, while a twist of liquorice and a whiff of tobacco complete the picture. Superb.

2015 morrisons côtes du rhône villages, france (£6.50, Morrisons) Spicy and brooding on the nose, but not too heavy or overbearing on the palate, this is a jolly good, hearty wine with a very fair price tag. i would decant it because this will allow the wine to release more herb and spice characters on the nose.

2014 menetou-salon rouge, morogues, domaine pellé, loire, france (£12.95, The Wine Society, 01438 741177; thewinesociety.com) This is a brilliant pinot noir, coming not from pinot’s heartland of Burgundy, but from the loire. it features juicy, bright, black-cherry fruit and a lovely long, regal finish.

2014 domaine begude, esprit pinot noir, haute vallée de l’aude, france (£16.99, reduced to £14.99 each for six until 29 August, Majestic) Sexy, ripe, velvety and heady, this classy wine is the finest pinot noir that James and Catherine kinglake make at their idyllic property high in the limoux hills near Carcassonne.

2015 la bodega malbec, mendoza, argentina (£5, Morrisons) i’m amazed at the superb fruitiness and masses of charm that this budget malbec manages to muster.

2014 truly irresistible montepulciano d’abruzzo, italy (£6.99, Co-op) i did a double take when i saw the price of this terrific italian stallion – when i tasted it i had no idea it would only cost seven quid a bottle. you simply must hunt this wine down.

2014 negroamaro, puglia, italy (£7.50, M&S) The simple-looking bottle with its tidy, plain label gives you no clues whatsoever as to the class of the wine inside. With coffee bean and plum notes crowding the palate, it is bold and assertive and can handle spicier dishes with ease.

2014 château david, beaulieu, bordeaux, france (£6.50, Sainsbury’s) A lovely, inexpensive red Bordeaux, this shows style and breeding on both the blackcurrant nose and the buoyant palate. Fairly youthful and with some years ahead of it, it’s a budget hero that will never disappoint.

best with roast

beef

sunday lunch

bargain

brilliant budget italian

best for laying down

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ROSÉ

28 MAy

100 BEST SUMMER REDS & ROSÉ WINES2014 Rosemount, Shiraz/Grenache/ Tempranillo, Australia (£8, Morrisons) This is a mad-scientist blend of three grapes more famous for making wines from the Rhône and northern Spain. Given some Aussie sunshine it actually works a treat. Modern, a little zany, but also delicious, this is a fascinating wine.

2014 Espartero, Rioja Joven, Spain (£8, Asda) This is a new wine for me and it is one of a new rash of very young, very vibrant Riojas. ‘Joven’ means ‘young’, meaning the wine hasn’t been subjected to any oak ageing. i happen to like unoaked, juicy Rioja, and if you do too, then give this a whirl.

2012 Domaine Sainte Rose, La Garrigue, GSM, Languedoc, France (£8.49, reduced to £7.49 each for six until 29 August, Majestic) GSM stands for grenache, syrah and mourvèdre, the mighty triumvirate in Côtes-du-Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and here it’s produced a wondrously succulent wine.

2013 Domaine Les Yeuses, Les Epices Syrah, Pays d’Oc, France (£8.99, reduced to £7.99 each for six until 29 August, Majestic) ‘Epices’ is French for ‘spices’ and this is one of the most perfumed wines here. it has a remarkable aroma – the cracked pepper note is sensational.

2014 Ventoux, Vidal-Fleury, Southern Rhône, France (£9.25, Oddbins) This wine is at the upper end of the medium-bodied spectrum thanks to the very ripe syrah grapes that dominate the blend. With grenache taking a back seat, it has dashes of black olive and liquorice – and it’ll get even better with age.

2014 Te Mata Estate, Gamay Noir, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (£10.95, The Wine Society, 01438 741177; the winesociety.com) Made from the Beaujolais grape, gamay, but with more structure and intensity than it manages in France, this is a compelling wine with fantastic depth of flavour.

2014 Tesco Finest Médoc, Bordeaux, France (£11, Tesco) Out on 6 June, this is a very smart effort from the Tesco Bordeaux buyer and it shows just how harmonious and juicy some of the 2014s from Bordeaux are. Decant it, pour it into your best glasses – and you’ll be impressed for sure.

2012 Château Pey-Martin, Médoc, Bordeaux, France (£11, reduced to £9.91 each if you buy a case, Haynes, Hanson & Clark, 020 7584 7927) if you like forceful, statesmanlike claret, this is the finest version i’ve tasted so far this year. it’s so classy and rich i’d happily drink it with three-Michelin-star grub!

2015 Dominio del Plata, Terroir Series Malbec/ Cabernet Franc, Uco Valley, Argentina (£11, M&S) Rather than a massive, full-bodied malbec, this is an intensely red-fruited wine with a mass of flavour. The addition of the cabernet franc has transformed it on the nose and the palate into an ethereal beauty.

2013 Willunga 100, Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia (£12, Oddbins) One of the juiciest, most enthralling wines of the moment, this has an explosion of pipe smoke, rhubarb and mulberry pie scents on the nose (i’m not joking!) and a creamy, succulent palate. it could charm even the most hard-to-please wine lovers.

2014 Yabby Lake, Red Claw Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia (£18, M&S) This gentle, mellow wine is made by one of the most talented winemakers in the world, Tom Carson. A lesson in the allure and mystery of the pinot noir grape, it is amazing in every way. A rare treat.

2014 Taste the Difference Padthaway Shiraz, South Australia (£8, Sainsbury’s) This is a shockingly tasty wine given its price. The fruit is bombastic, briary and full on the palate, with leather and pepper notes on the nose.

2012 Marea, Valle de Leyda Syrah, Chile (£11.97, Asda) i like this wine because the nose is so captivating. The cool leyda climate has enabled the syrah grapes to retain all their pepperiness without lapsing into jammy flavours. These heightened aromatics are followed through on the sleek, masterful palate.

2014 Laurent Espinasse, Côtes du Rhône La Côte Sauvage, France (£11.99, reduced to £9.99 for the month of June, virginwines.co.uk) ‘Côte sauvage’ means ‘wild hillside’, evoked here by the stunning perfume of wild herbs found in the southern Rhône and the lusty fruit on the palate. Drink it with top-quality butcher’s fare.

2014 Bosman, Adama, Wellington, South Africa (£11.99, reduced to £9.99 each for six until 29 August, Majestic) Made from a blend of shiraz, cinsault, grenache, nero d’Avola, mourvèdre, primitivo and viognier (phew), this is one of the most kaleidoscopically flavoured wines around; it also has a heavenly velvety texture.

2013 Tesco Finest The Trilogy Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (£12, Tesco) Although it’s 100 per cent malbec, The Trilogy aims to achieve complexity by blending grapes from three different high-altitude vineyards. Both this 2013 and the 2014 that will follow are beautiful, honed wines with genuine breeding.

2010 Diane de Belgrave, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (£18.50, Oddbins) The prestigious Château Belgrave is making fabulous wines again after a period in the doldrums, and this 2010 is a stunner. When the 2011 vintage of this red takes over you can expect a lighter but no less delicious style.

2012 Tim Adams, The Fergus, Clare Valley, South Australia (£10, Tesco) Tim Adams has been bringing us stunning wines for three decades, and here a unique blend of grenache, malbec and tempranillo grapes has resulted in an astounding red that’s full-bodied yet silky and alluring.

2014 Paolo Leo, Primitivo di Manduria, Puglia, Italy (£10.99, reduced to £7.99 from 8-28 June, Waitrose) Another example of a huge southern italian primitivo at an insane price, this is wonderfully plush, indulgent and complex, with masses of black fruit and hypnotic dark chocolate and prune notes.

2014 Crozes-Hermitage, Les Meysonniers M Chapoutier, Rhône, France (£16, Sainsbury’s) A friend asked me to recommend a top-flight French syrah for an event he was organising, and i suggested this. it was half what he was prepared to pay, yet he said it astounded everyone there. Hooray!

2012 Taste the Difference Amarone, Veneto, Italy (£16, Sainsbury’s) The Amarone technique involves partially drying the red grapes in order to concentrate the sugars within, so when you ferment them they produce a wine of massive proportions! This is the finest-value Amarone in the Uk today.

2015 La Vieille Ferme Rosé, La Famille Perrin, France (£6.99, Co-op) Made from the classic Rhône trio of cinsault, grenache and syrah, you might imagine that this is weighty and muscular – but in fact it’s light, floral, gentle and delicately raspberry-kissed.

2014 Penfolds, Koonunga Hill Shiraz/Cabernet, South Australia (£8.98, reduced to £8 from 31 May until 21 June, Asda) Australia’s most famous wine brand continues to reward its loyal followers with a wine of stellar quality that still retails for way under a tenner. its full-throttle flavours give way to a savoury, lip-smacking finish.

2015 Paul Mas, Vinus Grenache, Languedoc, France (£8, Morrisons) Back in February i reviewed the 2014 version of this wine, and the latest vintage is just as enthralling. i’m blown away by the velvety, briary, heart-warming flavours here.

2014 Root 1 Carmenère, Colchagua Valley, Chile (£8, Morrisons) it’s fairly rare to see the carmenère grape perform solo, but this is the finest example i know, and it captures perfectly the espresso coffee and mulberry notes that make this weighty fellow so alluring. Drink it with mighty meaty dishes.

2014 Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Concha y Toro, Chile (£8, reduced to £6 from 8-28 June, Waitrose) This world-famous wine gets better and better. Decant it and then let the cabernet delight your palate. Genius.

2015 Griset, Sauvignon Gris Rosé, Foncalieu, Pays d’Oc, France (£7.50, Hennings Wine, 01798 872485) independent wine specialist Hennings is moving on to the 2015 vintage of this lovely rosé. Made from a variant of sauvignon blanc with pink skin, the flavour is sensational, it’s cheap and the deckchair-like label is amusing.

2015 Taste the Difference, Bordeaux Rosé, France (£8, reduced to £6 until 7 June, Sainsbury’s) With a fairly dull label, this wine is not exactly leaping off the shelves so i’m here to give it a push. Made from merlot and with refreshing red fruit notes, this is a steal and a very worthy companion to a summer buffet.

2013 Torres, Ibéricos, Crianza Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain (£9.99, Waitrose) i feel privileged to know Miguel Torres, who is a legend in Spain and whose wines – which are always of the very highest quality – act as ambassadors for his country around the world. This is a prime example of a stunning Rioja.

2013 Wirra Wirra, Church Block, McLaren Vale, South Australia (£9.99, Co-op) One of the best-value ten pound wines around, this is made from a blend of cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot. The quality of fruit is so high that i opened a 15-year-old example of this epic blend the other day and it was still sublime.

MOST SENSUAL

RED

WORLD FAMOUS CLASSIC

BIGGEST SURPRISE

FIND

MOST HEAVENLY

AROMA

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2013 Jim Barry, The Lodge Hill Shiraz, Clare Valley, South Australia (£9.99, Co-op) Fifteen quid would be a fair price for this beauty, so at less than a tenner it’s really not to be missed. Jim Barry is my winery of the year in my 100 Best Australian Wines report, and this is one of the most well-made offerings of 2016.

2015 Tesco Finest Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (£6, Tesco) Though this has the hallmarks of a mighty Argentinian malbec it’s missing a little of the polish and grandeur – but i’m not complaining as it’s such tremendous value.

2013 Yalumba, Y Series Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia (£9.99, reduced to £8.99 each for six until 1 August, Majestic) Having graced my 100 Best Australian Wines list last year, this is, happily, still in stock and i urge you to track it down – its pure cassis-and-blackcurrant-leaf theme is incredible.

2013 Tinto da Ânfora, Alentejo, Portugal (£9.99, Waitrose) This has long been one of the Alentejo region’s most outstanding reds. Made from aragonez (the Portuguese name for tempranillo), trincadeira and touriga nacional (the port grape), it’s gutsy and loves barbecued food with a passion that matches my own!

2014 Yalumba, Old Bush Vine Grenache, South Australia (£10, Morrisons) i can safely say this is one of the world’s most delicious yet affordable examples of the grenache grape. yalumba’s ancient vines have helped give this beauty the most heavenly cherry scent and liquid velvet flavours.

2014 Taste the Difference Coolwater Bay Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand (£10, Sainsbury’s) new Zealand has an enviable climate that the notoriously tricky pinot noir grape embraces with enthusiasm. Hauntingly silky, this has juicy red berry flavours and a long, relaxed finish.

2015 Domaine de Roquemale, Meli-Melo, Pays d’Hérault, France (£10.25, Yapp Brothers, 01747 860423; yapp.co.uk) ‘Meli-melo’ means ‘mishmash’ but don’t let the name put you off – made from the blackberry-soaked grape Alicante bouschet, this is serene and sumptuous. Another triumph from yapp Brothers.

2014 Hunter Valley, Shiraz, New South Wales, Australia (£10.50, M&S) A beautiful, mellow, well-bred charmer, this is made by Tyrrell’s, who feature in my 100 Most iconic Wine Estates book – so you can perhaps imagine the expertise, honed by years of experience, that’s gone into it.

2015 Tesco Finest South African Pinotage, Swartland, South Africa (£5.50, Tesco) This is a heroic little wine with massive impact and boundless energy on the palate. The price may be tiny but the flavour is huge!

2014 The Astronomer, Shiraz, South Eastern Australia (£6.99, reduced to £5.99 each for six until 29 August, Majestic) Made by De Bortoli, one of the finest Aussie wine dynasties, this is ripe and crammed with plum and blueberry notes – at the deal price it’s an insane bargain. Decant for best results.

2015 Truly Irresistible Pinotage, Swartland, South Africa (£6.99, Co-op) My second mighty but affordable pinotage, this is spicier than Tesco’s (see left) – you can almost taste the wild South African terrain. it demands hearty grub with big flavours such as hot sauces and feisty marinades.

2014 Berton, The Black Shiraz, South Eastern Australia (£7.49, Co-op) if there was a section after ‘rich and bold’ called ‘gargantuan’ this would be its sole inhabitant. Only buy this if you’re a fan of massive reds. it’s an absolute beast – i love its inky colour.

2013 Noster Nobilis, Priorat, Catalonia, Spain (£7.98, Asda) This wine made a profound impression on me when i first tasted it a year ago and it’s mellowed in the interim into a full-bodied beauty. its imperious flavours will amaze you – the fruit is huge, dark and brooding, with mulberry and liquorice tones.

2015 Héritages, Côtes-du-Rhône, Foudres de Chêne, Ogier, France (£10, Morrisons) A new discovery for me, this is made by Châteauneuf-du-Pape specialists Ogier and the words ‘Foudres de Chêne’ on the label refer to the oak barrels used to give this powerful red its seasoning and backbone.

2014 Taste the Difference Priorat, Spain (£10, reduced to £7.50 until 7 June, Sainsbury’s) The succulent 2013 vintage of this wine is being superseded by the more structured and feisty 2014 at Sainsbury’s, but both are superb – liquorice-soaked and bursting with dense, black fruit.

2013 Ravenswood, Lodi Zinfandel, California (£10, Morrisons) With massive, inky, spicy fruit and loads of blueberry and plum notes, this is a rich wine that’s sure to impress. i’ve never been let down by the fantastic wines made at Ravenswood, so if you want to experience the glory of the zinfandel grape, look no further.

2014 Notte Rossa, Primitivo di Manduria, Puglia, Italy (£10, M&S) Primitivo is a very close cousin of the zinfandel grape (see Ravenswood, left) but with added italian flair and spice. This is a cultured, complex and rewarding wine in a surprisingly massive frame.

2013 Vinsobres, Réserve du Mistral, Perrin et Fils, Southern Rhône, France (£14, M&S) We’re approaching the summit of this section, so you won’t be surprised to learn this is the richest of all of the southern Rhône blends. imposing, heady, full and spicy, it is a majestic red with lashings of class.

2013 Wirra Wirra, Catapult Shiraz, McLaren Vale, South Australia (£14, M&S) if Church Block (see opposite page) is the world-famous red blend from Wirra’s epic portfolio of wines, then Catapult is the single varietal shiraz – and it’s luxurious, dripping in wickedly delicious chocolate, plum, mulberry and Asian spices.

2013 Wood Duck Dam, Tyrrell’s, Heathcote Shiraz, Victoria, Australia (£15, M&S) Heathcote, north of Melbourne, is famous for its spicy, savoury shirazes. Tyrrell’s have long been champions of wines from this region – and you’ll see why when you taste this powerful, plum-soaked red with a massive finish.

2013 Clos de los Siete by Michel Rolland, Argentina (£15.75, select Waitrose and select Sainsbury’s) Made under the guidance of the world’s most famous wine consultant, Frenchman Michel Rolland, this is a mighty, structured red blend that needs to be decanted before you go anywhere near it!

2013 The Society’s Exhibition Hawke’s Bay Red, New Zealand (£12.95, thewine society.com) A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, malbec and cabernet franc, this is sublime – and a steal given it’s from one of the world’s most famous wineries, Craggy Range.

2014 Frares, Priorat, Spain (£13, reduced to £10 until 27 June, M&S) The wines from the ancient terraces of Priorat in Catalonia are some of the meatiest of all reds, but this version uses grenache and carignan grapes to produce a more mellow version. And no oak was used in the process, meaning it can be drunk now.

2015 Domaine La Chautarde Rosé, Coteaux Varois en Provence, France (£8.99, reduced to £7.49 each for six from 31 May-27 June, Majestic) i love the bottle and the cherry stone flavour of this wine from the most famous rosé region of all – and i love the price even more.

2015 Le Versant, Grenache Rosé, Pays d’Oc, France (£9, The Secret Cellar, 01892 537981) This stunning wine is moving to the 2015 vintage and it is a jaw-droppingly beautiful creation. Silky-smooth and with a scent of sweet pea and strawberry leaf, this is a new wine to me and i’ll be seeking it out for my summer parties.

2015 Tavel, Cuvée Prima Donna Rosé, Domaine Maby, Southern Rhône, France (£9.50, thewine society.com) Made from the same grapes responsible for the mighty red wine Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is a powerful rosé which acts like a light red when it comes to food. it is sheer heaven with barbecued chicken.

2015 La Fleur d’Amelie Rosé, Bordeaux, France (£10, M&S) Made from merlot by Bordeaux rosé specialist Château de Sours for M&S, this is white-wine shaped and rosé-scented, making it the perfect aperitif wine for a lazy summer afternoon.

2015 Mas de Cadenet Rosé, Sainte Victoire, Côtes de Provence, France (£10.95, fromvineyards direct.co.uk) i know this wine well because i buy it, with my restaurant-wine-buying hat on, for one of the most famous places in london. A consummate all-rounder, it has a vast food repertoire. Sublime.

2015 Le Grand Ballon, Rosé, Joël Delaunay, Touraine, France (£8.49, reduced to £6.29 from 8-28 June, Waitrose) i always love the wines made by Delaunay and the attractive artwork adds to the allure of this rosé made from the gamay grape. long, classy and with nice touches of acidity on the finish, this is a very pretty wine.

2013 Waitrose in Partnership, Valle del Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Valdivieso, Chile (£9.99, Waitrose) This collaboration has resulted in a fascinating, full, powerful red that’s one of the most perfumed Chilean cabernets i’ve had the good fortune to encounter.

Rich and BOld

BEST HIDDEN

GEM

BARGAIN BARBECUE

ROSÉ

BEST BEAST OF

A RED

PERFECT APERITIF

ROSÉ

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2015 Menetou-Salon Rosé, Domaine de l’Ermitage, Loire, France (£12.95, fromvineyards direct.co.uk) This wine is the odd one out in this section because it is made from pinot noir. With a stunning, evocative nose and a lithe, silky palate it is a very alluring wine dripping with class and breeding.

2015 La Chapelle en Rose, St Jacques d’Albas, Minervois, France (£14.99, reduced to £75 for six – £12.50 each – Handford Wines, 020 7589 6113) James Handford has sniffed out one of the finest wines of the year. if you are remotely serious about this awesome style of wine you must taste this.

2015 Whispering Angel Rosé, Caves d’Esclans, Provence, France (£15.45, fromvineyards direct.co.uk) This is the greatest ever vintage of the world’s most famous rosé wine. Allow this angel to whisper to you and you will be in seventh heaven.

NV Morrisons, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Jerez, Spain (£6, half bottle, Morrisons) The most indulgent of all sherry styles, PX is dark, sweet and palate-coating with molasses and prune flavours crashing into salted caramel and bitter chocolate notes. A tiny glass will enliven any dense chocolate dessert.

NV Lustau, Fino de Jerez, En Rama, Jerez, Spain (£10, half bottle, M&S) Make an orderly queue for this new, unfiltered, straight-from-the-barrel, rare release from lustau. it’s authentic and chewy because the flavour and raw vitality is the same as if you plunged a glass into a barrel in the winery to slake your thirst.

NV La Gitana, Manzanilla, Hidalgo, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain (£10, Waitrose) This ethereal, citrus-imbued manzanilla is feather-light, very dry and a touch salty. Perfect with tapas, it’s the ultimate ice-breaker – serve it as your party-starter and don’t look back.

NV Solear, Manzanilla, Barbadillo, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain (£10.99, Waitrose) Waitrose has just replaced its cute little Solear half bottles with ‘full’ bottles, but the wine is the same. Another tapas king, it’s slightly richer than la Gitana (see left) and is more suited to chorizo, chicken and spicier dishes.

NV Campbells, Rutherglen Liqueur Muscat, Victoria, Australia (£12.49, half bottle, Waitrose) World class and insanely delicious, the rare sweet wines from Rutherglen are utterly mind-blowing with pristine fruit flavours and incredible age-worthiness. This stunning young muscat is scented with rose petals and figs.

NV Hidalgo, Manzanilla Pasada Pastrana, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain (£12.99, Waitrose) i’ve given this a rare 20/20, a score gained by only two or three wines each year. it’s the best affordable dry sherry in the world.

2011 Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage Port, Douro Valley, Portugal (£15, Tesco) i announced the arrival of this wine in Weekend earlier in the year and i can’t wait to see the other port houses try to topple it from its throne. i’m so impressed with the purity of flavour and majesty on display in this inky, brooding monster.

NV Taylor’s, 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal (£22, Asda, Booths, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose) i have two tawnies this summer and they’re totally different. This is the classic nutty sultana and spice version – chilled a touch, it’s a classy apéritif or accompaniment to cheese. it keeps well so there’s no need to finish it off in one go.

NV Croft, 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal (£24, reduced to £19 each for six until 29 August, Majestic) The Croft tawny is red fruited and juicy with cranberry and raspberry notes and a more accommodating palate. it’s less ‘serious’ than the Taylor’s (see left) but no less delicious. Fit the wine to your mood!

2014 Brown Brothers, Late Harvested Orange Muscat & Flora, Victoria, Australia (£6.99, half bottle, Waitrose) One of the most incredible wines on earth, this tastes like a sweet mandarin and honey cocktail and is light enough not to be cloying. it’s perfect with chocolate desserts – and the 2013 is delicious too.

2015 Vistamar, Late Harvest Moscatel, Chile (£6.99, half bottle, reduced to £5.49 each for six until 29 August, Majestic) Another muscat but this time from Chile, and the difference in climate has given this a cooler, slightly herbal, minty freshness. it’s a perfect all-rounder for any style of pud so buy it while the deal lasts.

2011 Hermit’s Hill, Botrytis Semillon, New South Wales, Australia (£8.50, half bottle, M&S) This is also made by De Bortoli, but is a lighter style than the Tesco version (see far left). it’s a sophisticated offering for fruit-based puds and even pâtés.

2012 Muscat de Rivesaltes, Domaine Treloar, Languedoc-Roussillon, France (£8.95, 50cl, Lea & Sandeman) lea & Sandeman has offered Weekend readers their ‘case price’ on single bottle sales of this incredible muscat – just mention ‘Weekend’ in the shop. it’s fine, long, cultured and effortlessly classy.

NV Asti, Arione, Italy (£6, Asda) Ha ha, here’s another great Asti! And once again, it is a beautifully frothy and hilariously light-hearted wine. Drink it ice cold with some strawberries and your palate will be in orbit. There is no point in spending any more cash than this, just jump in here and enjoy the view!

2010 Coteaux du Layon, Beaulieu, Château de Pierre Bise, Loire, France (£17, 50cl, reduced to £8.50 until stock runs out, M&S) This wine from one of the finest producers in France is being delisted by M&S. Heaven in a glass, unbelievably posh and half-price – make it your mission to track some down!

NV De Bortoli, Show Liqueur Muscat, New South Wales, Australia (£14, 50cl bottle, Tesco) Unlike the Campbells (above right), this is a darker, more raisiny liqueur muscat with hazelnut, candied peel and burnt toffee notes. i like to drink it after dinner with a box of chocolates. you won’t believe its intensity and length of flavour.

NV Tesco Finest Cream Sherry, Jerez, Spain (£5.50, 50cl bottle, Tesco) Cream sherry is rather forgotten but this one is drop dead delicious. Serve chilled with old-fashioned puddings and you’ll find notes of raisin, walnut and caramel.

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sweetNV Taylor’s, Chip Dry White Port, Douro, Portugal (£13.29, reduced to £10.63 from 8 until 28 June, Waitrose) Give gin and Pimm’s a week off and trial a wacky style of apéritif – white port and tonic. With loads of ice, a sprig of mint, a sloosh of Chip and a splash of tonic, it’s very tasty indeed!

NEXT WEEk: MY 100 BEST-VALuE WHITE WINES & SPARkLERS

NV Morrisons, Oloroso Sherry, Jerez, Spain (£6, half bottle, Morrisons) This type of sherry is powerful, direct and bone dry. if you’re used to manzanilla or fino, you’ll love this more involved, richer, nuttier style. if you’re new to sherry, then approach with caution – it’s an acquired taste.

100 Best SUMMER REDS & ROSÉ WINES

2011 Tesco Finest Dessert Semillon, Riverina, Australia (£6, half bottle, Tesco) This sweetie is one of the most reliably stunning on the shelves because it is made by semillon geniuses De Bortoli. With a few years under its belt to mellow, this is a marmalade and caramel-imbued creation with serious length and impact.

2015 Côtes-du-Rhône Rosé, Belleruche, M Chapoutier, Rhône, France (£12.50, hanging ditch.com) The Rhône mega-star Chapoutier has produced a hauntingly pale, sophisticated rosé with a long, calm, red cherry finish and enough hidden power to tackle poultry and even lamb.

NV Asti, Le Monferrine, Dolce, Italy (£5.50, Morrisons) i’m an unabashed fan of sparkling moscato. Many think it’s the most junior style of wine given that it’s simply grapey and fizzy, but i find well-made versions like this enchanting.

SHERRY WITH TOP

MARkS

WORLD’S FINEST

ROSÉ

uLTIMATE PARTY

STARTER

TRuLY EPIC

SWEETIE

28 MAynational

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