93

2010 Domaine Brocard, Saint Céline, Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu, Burgundy

( £16.99, 12.5%, Sainsbury's )

It’s worth paying a little extra to secure a bottle of this special Premier Cru from Domaines Brocard, as it has even more weight and concentration. There’s great texture here, with notes of citrus fruit and fresh cream and a stony, chalky finish. Fantastic value and a brilliant expression of a very good Chablis vintage.

BuyDrinking window: 2012-17Similar Wines: £10-£20, 91-95, France, White, Chardonnay
89

2011 Allegrini, Valoplicella, Veneto

( £8, 13%, Liberty Wines )

Juicy, modern Valpol with more weight than most examples of Italy’s wine bar red. Unoaked, packed with brambly, raspberry fruit and bright acidity. A wine that surprises you with its seriousness. Perfect for a screwcap closure. 

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

2010 Berry Bros & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret, Bordeaux

( £9, 13.5%, Berry Bros & Rudd )

Not quite as sumptuous and fleshy as the 2009 GOC, but you’d expect that based on the character of the 2010 vintage. Just give this a little time to fill out, because it’s an appealingly fresh, well structured red with attractive berry fruits and medium tannins.

BuyDrinking window: 2012-16Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, France, Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
89

2007 Ogier, Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône

( £25, 15%, Majestic )

Too many UK retailers are already on the 2009 and even 2010 vintage of CNDP, so it’s good to taste a wine that, while still young, is showing some bottle maturity. This is rich and deeply coloured with dark berry fruits, a hint of clove and a spicy, meaty finish.

BuyDrinking window: 2012-18Similar Wines: £20-£30, 86-90, France, Red, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre
92

2012 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia

( £23, 12.5%, Liberty Wines )

Polish Hill is always the tightest and most restrained of Jeffrey Grosset’s wines and that’s the case here, but this excellent dry Riesling seems a little more open than usual. It’s floral and delicate with lovely, minerally acidiity and notes of lime and green apple. Long and complex.

BuyDrinking window: 2012-20Similar Wines: £20-£30, 91-95, Australia, White, Riesling
91

2010 Scott Shiraz/Sangiovese, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

( £14.99, 14%, Oddbins )

A really innovative blend (12% of it Sangiovese) from a comparatively new Adelaide Hills winery, this is a very smart, textured red with cherrystone and plumskin aromas, supple, yet savoury tannins, bramble and mint flavours and an Italianate dry flourish. One of the best Italian-influenced reds I’ve had from Down Under. 

BuyDrinking window: 2012-16Similar Wines: £10-£20, 91-95, Australia, Red, Sangiovese