£7.99

This 2005 reserva is an exceptionally smooth cabernet sauvignon that carries its 13.5% with full-bodied ease. The full retail price is £8.99 so with a pound off it represents fantastic value for money.

Waitrose in association with Valdi Vieso sourced the grapes from a selection of vineyards in the Maipo Valley, a premium area for cabernet sauvignon.

The bottle notes recommend red meats and especially braised lamb as an accompaniment to this wine, although I have to say it went down very well on its own.

I usually buy the cheap Asda Soave but thought I’d give this a try for a change. It’s a 2006 vin de pay d’Oc according to the label.

It was OK. Apparently, it has apricot overtones and goes well with chicken liver pate.

Drink it with or without food. I wouldn’t swap it for my Soave on a regular basis, but it was alright for a change.

The sub £3.00 price tag caught my eye, so I thought “Let’s give it a go”.

Not surprisingly, there’s no information on the bottle about grape varieties or regions, so I assume it’s a blend of grape varieties from somewhere in France. Not very helpful, I know!

It’s an everyday table wine that could be drunk on its own or with a meal. The taste is fruity, with a touch of acidity so it’s not too sweet.

The only supermarket selling this wine is Sainsbury’s, as far as I know.

If I were in the mood for a cheap bottle of wine I’d certainly buy it again.

Next time I’m in Sainsburys I’ll check on its strength - forgot to make a note of it before throwing the bottle away!

£2.99 13.5% Red 5/5

There isn’t much information on the bottle about this wine, but don’t let that put you off. This is a rounded, fruity wine with a hint of sweetness, but not unpleasantly so. When I picked it up there were very few bottles left on the shelf, which I find is usually a positive indication that others find this wine to their liking.

I drank it over the course of a week and found it kept very well, using a vac-u-vin, and even improved, tasting more rounded. A definite recommendation at under £3.00.

My wife prefers the cheaper Asda Soave at about £2.58 a bottle, but I disagree.

Soave can be a fairly unexciting wine, whilst this one isn’t exactly memorable it avoids the slightly bitter, pithy taste that can characterise Soave.

It’s slightly sweet, but smooth and refreshing so you can drink it with or without a meal.

The notes on the bottle refer to a soft, smooth, appley flavour; this white coming from the Veneto region of Italy. Philippa Carr recommends trying it with caesar salad or slightly seared tuna.

As far as I’m concerned any salad or fish dish would do.

My rating of 4/5 takes into account the price and is more an indication of my perceived value for money. I’d buy it again.