Which wines are well-priced, interesting choices - whether you're in a restaurant or on the lookout for something to try at home? Here are half a dozen tasty bottles you can buy for under £10 from a wine merchant or under £20 when you're out whooping it up.
White: Terra Andina Semillon, Chile 1998 (very widely available, usually £5.99; L'Ecrivain £15, also Cafe en Seine, Pacino's Suffolk Street, Vini Vinicchi Malahide, Lalis Portmarnock and other restaurants). Chile's Semillons can't rival Australia's, but this combines lovely pineapple freshness with creamy texture. A pleasantly different white, and very good value - at least in the shops.
Hugel Pinot Blanc, Cuvee les Amours, Alsace 1996/7 (McCabes Blackrock and Foxrock, Vineyard Galway, Feeneys Salthill and some other outlets, usually £8.99; L'Ecrivain £20, also Coq Hardi, La Cave, Dobbins, Bon Appetit, Kirwan's Lane Galway, Aherne's Youghal and many other restaurants). Next time you can't decide what on earth to choose, remember all-round-appealing Pinot Blanc. This flavoursome example has winning charm.
Serego Alighieri Bianco, Veneto, Masi 1998 (Redmonds Ranelagh, Vintry Rathgar, McCabes Blackrock and Foxrock, SuperValus Drogheda and Letterkenny and some other outlets, £8.99-£9.99; L'Ecrivain £16, also Pavarotti Temple Bar, King Sitric Howth, Picasso Clontarf, Da Vinci's Leixlip and other restaurants). The white sister of suave Serego Alighieri Valpolicella Classico deserves equal acclaim!
See Bottle of the Week.
Red: Jaboulet Cotes du Ventoux 1998 (very widely available, usually £6.99£7.29; L'Ecrivain £18; also Rolys, George's Bistro, Wongs, Caruso's Malahide, Red Bank Skerries and other restaurants). An easygoing young red with bags of soft, ripe fruit and a bit of peppery punch - very gluggable.
Bergerie de l'Hortus Pic St Loup, Coteaux du Languedoc 1997 (Wines Direct, £7.70 if you buy a case of wine, which may be mixed; also Merrion Hotel, Fitzers, Muscat, Dunville Place, Fat Cats Mullingar, River Bank Sligo and many other restaurants, £15£17.50). A really tempting, flexible wine from southern French star Jean Orliac; there's a savoury core under the velvet wrappings.
Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo 1996 (some Superquinns, Claudio's Wines Drury Street, Deveneys group, Vineyard and McCambridges Galway, Fine Wines Limerick, O'Donovans Cork, Alvino's Athlone and many other outlets, usually £9.99; Shelbourne, Unicorn, Dali's Blackrock, Strawberry Tree Macreddin Village, Nuremore Carrickmacross and many other restaurants, about £20). Re-tasted recently, this Chilean red made from 80-year-old vines continues to knock most Chilean Cabs into a gaucho's cocked hat. Beautifully mature, with Bordeaux-like hints of old leather and cedar.