Stockist/Retailer: Sainsbury's

(2024) The first release of an organic certified Malbec from this producer, the wine aged in oak barrels for 12 months. A proportion was kept in tank to enhance fruit freshness. It's a vivid purple, aromatic Malbec, violet, caraway and and almost strawberry-like lift to the fruit aromas, oak in the background. The palate is dry and savoury, the tannins have enough sandy grip and texture, acidity is moderate but present and the black fruit sits nicely in the long, spicy finish. Watch the video for more information.

(2024) From equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, thus is aged on the lees for between three and five years. The modest mousse subsides to leave aromas that are sweet and rich, suggesting biscuit and ripe, rosy apples perhaps. The dosage is presumably at the high end of Brut, as there seems to be plenty of sweetness. It's perhaps a little too sweet for my palate, but the acid balance in the finish is good for a more approachable style.

(2024) A Syrah and Grenache blend, unoaked but given some time to mature in the cellar before release, this comes from the Unions des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône co-operative. It has lift and vibrancy on the nose, kirsch and violet edging black fruits that are ripe and immediately suggest a juicy pastille quality. In the mouth there robust, sweet and chunky fruit, though the finish does tail off slightly into a slightly sharp astringency that just detracts from an otherwise enjoyable CdR.

(2024) Oxford Landing is one of Australia's most familiar brand names, though the 'Sunlight' range is new. Created "with an eye towards healthier, more environmentally conscious wine consumption," this has 40% less alcohol and calories than the original Oxford Landing Chardonnay. Aromatically it is fairly subdued, but there's a little custard apple and pear, hinting at a peachier ripeness. There's a bit of sweetness on the palate and, it has to be said, a rather dilute flavour. That intial sweetness does bump into some limey acidity to leave this dry-ish, quite flavourful, and not bad - if lower alcohol and calories are your priority. Watch the video for more information.

(2024) The Shiraz in Oxford Landing's lighter range, 'Sunlight', has 35% less alcohol and calories than the standard Oxford Landing bottling. From 2021 and having seen some sort of oak exposure, this has a nicely lifted floral and sweet cherry aspect on the nose, underpinned by a little hint of vanilla pod. In the mouth it is really rather sweet; noticeably so, the confectionery character rather letting the side down as it is just too tutti frutti for me. Tannin is imperceptible, though acid is adequate. I prefer the Chardonnay in the range, largely because the sweetness sits a little more happily there.

(2023) Doing what it says on the tin is a good thing in this case: an Extra Dry Prosecco (which actually means it's a little bit sweet with up to 17g/l of residual sugar) with the expected frothy and fun character, plenty of icing sugar and lemon aromatics, and actually pretty good acids to slice through the finish. This range supports the Queer Britain LGBTQ+ charity and the first wine I tasted in the range, a French pink, was not very good. This is better: typical, as good as any other of its genre, and you can drink it safe in the knowledge that you are contributing to this cause.  

(2023) A lees-aged Muscadet from the Côtes de Grandlieu sub-region, rather than the possibly more familiar Sèvre-et-Maine. There's a faint tinge of bronze to the colour here, the wine exhibiting an apple freshness with a hint of something nutty too. In the mouth there's a touch of sweetness - hard to say if that is residual sugar, but the effect is to make the wine feel as if it just lacks a little of Muscadet's tang and ozoney freshness.

(2023) A huge name in Marlborough, especially for Sauvignon Blanc, this sparkling blend is mostly Chardonnay with a little Pinot Noir, from vineyards in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. It is made by the Charmat method, so the second fermentation took place in pressurised steel tanks rather than individual bottles. That's the method for Prosecco and indeed, this is rather Prosecco like in some ways, though the very low residual sugar of 3.5g//l makes it much drier, leaner and more lemony in character.

(2023) Viña Carmen winery, founded in 1850 so one of Chile's oldest, makes this fashionably pale rosé from eight mostly French varieties, but including Sangiovese and the local Pais. Soft summer fruits and berries on the nose with a touch of confit lemon. Easy drinking palate, light fruit flavours and no tannin to speak of, the acid balanced nicely so it finishes dry and savoury. On offer at just £6.50 at time of review.

(2023) The rosé in this multi-coloured Malbec range is joined by 15% Syrah, coming from the same Mendoza vineyards. It is pale peach in colour, with fruity, up-front aromas of summer berries and fresh lemons, a little floral nuance too. In the mouth it's an approachable, charming style, the merest hint of being off-dry, with a plump sweetness to the fruit, though the palate tensions nicely as well-judged acidity leaves it easy-drinking but fresh.