90

2010 Los Molles Carmenère, Limari

( £9.99, 14%, Marks & Spencer )

Maybe I’m finally coming round to Carmenère, Chile’s USP. This hails from coastal Limari (it’s sourced from the Tabali winery) and has more freshness than most examples. It’s typically deep in colour, with notes of mint, blackcurrant pastille and plum, overlaid with sweet chocolatey oak and a zesty, grassy finish. Good now and should develop in bottle, too. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-17Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, Chile, Red
87

2011 The Society's Australian Chardonnay, McLaren Vale, South Australia

( £6.50, 12.5%, The Wine Society )

It’s a measure of how far Aussie Chardonnay has advanced in recent years, that even a Chardonnay from warmer climate McLaren Vale is light-bodied and unoaked. This is appealingly dry with flavours of stone fruit and a bite of lemon zest-like acidity.

BuyDrinking window: 2012-13Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, Australia, White, Chardonnay
87

2007 Concha y Toro, Otorio Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Maule Valley

( £6.99, 12%, Tesco, www.tesco.com )

It’s comparatively rare to find Sauvignon Blanc made as a sweet wine on its own (as opposed to blended with Semillon), but this value-for-money sticky from Chile suggests that the grape is well suited to these styles. Honey and quince with an undertone of pink grapefruit.

BuyDrinking window: 2012-15Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, Chile, White, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
90

2011 Château Clément Perlé, Gaillac, South-West France

( £8.99, 12.5%, Marks & Spencer )

It’s great to see a supermarket championing the undervalued wines of south-west France, so a round of applause for Marks & Spencer for listing this unusual blend of three local grape varieties. It’s quite a weighty wine for its 12.5% alcohol, with notes of honey and fresh earth, a soft, yet refreshing palate with a slight spritz and a tangy, refreshing finish. Try it as an aperitif or with fish or poultry. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-14Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, France, White, Loin de l'Oeil, Mauzac, Muscadelle
89

2011 Les Nivières, Saumur, Loire Valley

( £7.99 down to £5.99, 13%, Waitrose )

Unoaked Loire Cabernet Franc remains one of the great bargains of the wine world: deliciously distinctive and refreshing. This one from the Cave de Saumur is consistently tasty, a supple, grassy, well balanced red with supple tannins, medium body and a refreshing cassis and green pepper finish. Even more impressive in a tricky vintage like 2011. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-15Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, France, Red, Cabernet Franc
90

2010 Torre del Falco Nero di Troia, Puglia

( £7.99 down to £5.99, 13%, Waitrose )

Nero di Troia is often regarded as the third best of Puglia’s native grapes, behind Primitivo and Negroamaro, but it can be just as good in my book. This one is bright and aromatic, with no oak to clutter the pristine fruit flavours. It’s minerally and refreshing on the palate with red cherry and raspberry notes and a tang of acidity. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-15Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, Italy, Red, Nero di Troia
89

2008 Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley

( £9.99 down to £7.49, 14%, Waitrose )

Pure Cabernet from the Maipo Valley is one of the most distinctive wine styles in the New World. And this is a classic of the genre, with notes of mint and blackcurrant leaf and an undertone of green pepper and mint. Refreshing and nicely balanced, with the oak adding a subtle sweetness to the wine. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-16Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, Chile, Red, Cabernet Sauvignon
92

2010 Château l'Hospitalet, La Réserve, La Clape, La Clape, Languedoc-Roussillon

( £11.99 down to £8.99, 14.5%, Waitrose )

La Clape (amusingly named if you’re a Brit) is one of the best appellations in the Languedoc, making wild, garrigue-scented wines like this blend of Strah, Grenache and Mourvèdre from ex-rugby player, Gérard Bertrand. Smoky, savoury and complex, with notes of tapenade, rosemary, black pepper and succulent blackberry fruit. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-2016Similar Wines: £5-£10, 91-95, France, Red, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah/Shiraz
92

2010 Domaine des Forges, Côteaux du Layon, Loire Valley

( £7.99 down to £5.99, 11.5%, Waitrose )

You only get a half bottle of this for your money, but I wouldn’t complain. When they are this good, Loire sweet wines wipe the winery floor with similarly priced stickies from Sauternes. There’s some old oak used to age the wine, but it’s just there as a background note, supporting the stylish, minerally, honey and ripe pear flavours. This is liquid tarte tatin, a delicious Coteaux du Layon from the Premier Cru slopes of Chaume. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-2018Similar Wines: £5-£10, 91-95, France, White, Chenin Blanc
89

2011 Carmagnole Prestige, Caramany, Languedoc-Roussillon

( £9.99, 14%, Marks & Spencer )

Caramany is the westernmost of the Côtes du Roussillon’s top appellations. Its altitude and comparatively cool conditions, allied to granite and quartz soils, produce wines of remarkable freshness and poise, just like this one. Cracked pepper and spice, with red fruits and bright acidity. The old vine Carignan gives the wine some savoury ballast. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-15Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, France, Red, Carignan, Grenache, Syrah/Shiraz