Barolo
Vintage 2004
Region Piedmont
Grapes Nebbiolo
Tasting notes A bargain barolo from a great vintage, this shows black cherry and vanilla spice with fine, silky tannins
Drink with Cheese, game, vegetarian
Where to buy Sainsbury’s
RRP £13.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2003
Region Piedmont
Grapes Nebbiolo
Tasting notes Candied fruit nose, with ripe tannins typical of the vintage, and broad, slightly raisiny red fruit flavours
Drink with Beef, game, vegetarian
Where to buy M&S
RRP £49.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2001
Region Piedmont
Grapes Nebbiolo
Tasting notes Mature, complex, earthy barolo nose. High acidity and fine tannins balanced by chocolate and dried fruit
Drink with Beef, game, vegetarian
Where to buy Mondial Wine
RRP £36 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2005
Region Piedmont
Grapes Nebbiolo
Tasting notes Ripe glacé cherries and rose petals with good grip. Balanced tannins. Rich, with layered complexity
Drink with Cheese, game, vegetarian
Where to buy Waitrose
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Piedmont
Grapes Moscato
Tasting notes Sweet, grape and lemon sherbet aromas. Good balance with a light, floral, softly grapey finish
Drink with Puddings, especially berry and citrus, salad
Where to buy everywine.co.uk
RRP £9 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2004
Region Piedmont
Grapes Nebbiolo
Tasting notes Elegant nebbiolo, with violets and roses on the nose. Ripe fruit is balanced by tannin and attractively earthy notes
Drink with Beef, game, vegetarian
Where to buy M&S
RRP £22 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Piedmont
Grapes Barbera
Tasting notes Strongly oaky nose, with some fruit. Typical, high acid barbera, with plummy, savoury fruit and good length
Drink with Beef, lamb, pasta, poultry
Where to buy M&S
RRP £5.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Piedmont
Grapes Barbera
Tasting notes Strongly oaky nose, with some fruit. Typical, high acid barbera, with plummy, savoury fruit and good length
Drink with Beef, lamb, pasta, poultry
Where to buy M&S
RRP £5.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Piedmont
Grapes Cortese
Tasting notes Vivid, intense aromas of jasmine, pear and melon. Clean, unoaked fruit, with floral citrus flavours
Drink with Fish, pasta, salad, vegetarian
Where to buy M&S
RRP £4.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2004
Region Trentino
Grapes Chardonnay, pinot noir
Tasting notes Dry, very lively bubbles, with delicious citrus and apple fruit. Very long with plenty of flavour
Drink with Salad, shellfish
Where to buy pierocostantini.it
RRP £6.35 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Trentino
Grapes Nosiola
Tasting notes Pale yellow colour. A very fragrant wine with lemon and pineapple notes. Long and unusual
Drink with Fish, salad, vegetarian
Where to buy M&S
RRP £5.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vigneti delle Dolomiti
Vintage 2006
Region Trentino
Grapes Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc
Tasting notes Nutty, wheaty and biscuity with plenty of fruit. Creamy and herbal, with lovely acidity and impressive elegance
Drink with Salad, vegetarian
Where to buy HWCG Wine Growers
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Veneto
Grapes Corvina, rondinella
Tasting notes Bright, forward, easy drinking valpol with light cherry and raspberry fruit. Italy’s answer to good beaujolais
Drink with Pasta, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Averys Wine Merchants
RRP £7.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage NV
Region Veneto
Grapes Prosecco, raboso
Tasting notes Typical, light prosecco mousse. Attractive strawberry fruit with a creamy finish
Drink with Charcuterie, salad
Where to buy M&S
RRP £7.49 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2004
Region Veneto
Grapes Corvina
Tasting notes Smoky vanilla aromas. Very complex, with intense fruit and tannins. Long finish, with tobacco and chocolate
Drink with Beef, game, lamb, poultry
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £49.95 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2004
Region Veneto
Grapes Corvina, rondinella
Tasting notes A rich, concentrated, savoury amarone with powerful, dried fruits characters and lots of ageing potential
Drink with Beef, cheese, lamb
Where to buy Waitrose
RRP £43.95 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Veneto
Grapes Prosecco, verdiso
Tasting notes Good, fine-bubbled mousse, with peachy, easy drinking fruit on the palate and good acidity
Drink with Salad
Where to buy The Fine Wine Company
RRP £7 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Veneto
Grapes Garganega
Tasting notes Pale lemon, with tangy citrus and green olive aromas. Lemon and orange flavours carry through to the crisp finish
Drink with Fish, poultry, shellfish, salad
Where to buy Averys Wine Merchants
RRP £10.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Poggio Tempesta
Vintage 2003
Region Tuscany
Grapes Sangiovese
Tasting notes Blackberries, cherries and pepper spice. Big tannins and a lovely burst of fruit. A balanced wine with good complexity
Drink with Beef, pork, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £19.95 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico
Vintage 2006
Region Tuscany
Grapes Sangiovese
Tasting notes Some new oak gives a smoky lift. The sangiovese fruit behind it can more than cope with the splinters Drink with Beef, lamb, pasta, poultry
Where to buy Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s
RRP £9.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2005
Region Tuscany
Grapes Sangiovese
Tasting notes Figs, plums, baked fruits. Fresh and balanced in the mouth, with herbaceous notes and perky acidity
Drink with Drink with Beef, pasta, poultry
Where to buy Tesco
RRP £5.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vigneto Bucerchiale
Vintage 2004
Region Tuscany
Grapes Sangiovese
Tasting notes Complex aromas, with fruit, some herbs, liquorice and undertones of violets and vanilla. Soft and appealing
Drink with Pork, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy M&S
RRP £17.95 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2004
Region Tuscany
Grapes Sangiovese
Tasting notes Lovely pungent ginger bread aromas. Intense fruit, intelligently associated with oak, balanced by pleasant bitterness
Drink with Beef, pork, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy M&S
RRP £18 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Tuscany
Grapes Sangiovese, montepulciano
Tasting notes Relatively light colour. Delicate, aromatic fruit with an elegant touch of oak, lifted by freshness on the finish
Drink with Lamb, pork, vegetarian
Where to buy Philglas & Swiggot, Bat & Bottle, Handford Wines
RRP £13 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2004
Region Tuscany
Grapes Sangiovese
Tasting notes One of Tuscany’s best reds, this is a beautifully balanced, still youthful sangiovese with remarkable finesse
Drink with Beef, lamb, pasta, poultry
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £37.95 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2004
Region Tuscany
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon
Tasting notes Very deep colour with a dense, sweet nose of smoky black olives. Rich and concentrated, this needs two to five years in bottle
Drink with Pork, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy HWCG Wine Growers
RRP £23.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Tuscany
Grapes Vernaccia
Tasting notes Clean and crisp with good minerality. Peach and apricot kernel nuttiness. Good citrus acidity and length
Drink with Fish, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy The Flying Corkscrew
RRP £15 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Abruzzo
Grapes Montepulciano
Tasting notes Chewy, but very gluggable, pasta-bashing red, with some floral notes. Round, with good ripe tannins
Drink with Lamb, pork, vegetarian
Where to buy Sainsbury’s, Waitrose
RRP £4.99 Photograph: Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Grapes Sauvignon blanc
Tasting notes Very fresh with a good mouthfeel. Expressive nettle and grapefruit flavours, with a zippy, tangy finish
Drink with Fish, salad, shellfish
Where to buy Waitrose, M&S
RRP £5.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Contrada Balciana Sartarelli
Vintage 2006
Region Marche
Grapes Verdicchio
Tasting notes Nutty, creamy butterscotch perfume with lots of oak. Full, dry, honeyed and rich but with gentle balancing acidity
Drink with Fish, pasta, shellfish
Where to buy Astrum Wine Cellars
RRP £20.25 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2006
Region Campania
Grapes Aglianico
Tasting notes Full-bodied, ripe cherry flavours, firm tannins and gorgeous freshness. Long, silky, succulent finish
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £5 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Campania
Grapes Falanghina
Tasting notes Lemon yellow colour, with lifted tropical fruit on nose and a hint of banana. Very ripe, but with crisp, crunchy acid
Drink with Fish, salad
Where to buy Jeroboams, Mondial Wine
RRP £8.10 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Terre degli Angeli
Vintage 2007
Region Campania
Grapes Greco
Tasting notes Deep straw colour. A rich, honeyed Campania wine with lovely concentration and a full-flavoured finish
Drink with Fish, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Mondial Wine, Winetraders
RRP £10.50 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Campania
Grapes Fiano
Tasting notes A powerful wine, with fresh, vibrant tangerine, orange blossom and apricot on the palate and good length
Drink with Fish, salad, vegetarian
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £9.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Vintage 2007
Region Sardinia
Grapes Vermentino
Tasting notes Bright lime-yellow colour with lanolin and honeysuckle on the nose. Clean and fresh, with perky acidity
Drink with Fish, pasta, salad
Where to buy everywine.co.uk
RRP £12.49 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
Nero d’Avola Sicilia
Vintage 2005
Region Sicily
Grapes Nero d’Avola
Tasting notes Attractive, complex aromas of ripe plummy fruit and sweet oak. Bright, glossy palate with ripe cherry fruit
Drink with Beef, lamb, pork
Where to buy The Wright Wine Company
RRP £11.99 Photograph: Guardian/Guardian
