Vintage NV
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Pinot noir, chardonnay
Tasting notes Pale strawberry colour with a fine mousse. Spritzy and yeasty on the palate with a touch of toast. Good summer wine
Drink with Salad, salmon
Where to buy Sainsbury's
RRP £11.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2005
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel
Tasting notes Good fruity/oak balance on the nose. Sandy tannins, some sweet fruit and reasonable length
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Tesco
RRP £10.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2005
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot
Tasting notes Vibrant blackberry fruit, with a touch of cedar. Bold but finegrained tannins and a sweetish finish
Drink with Beef, lamb, vegetarian
Where to buy Tesco
RRP £18.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2005
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc
Tasting notes Fresh, intense blackcurranty nose with a chocolatey edge. The dark, slightly flat fruit has hidden depth.
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Everywine.co.uk
RRP £20.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2004
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Merlot, petite sirah
Tasting notes Bright red in colour, with a meaty, spicy nose. Pleasantly fruity palate with fruitcake notes
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Corney & Barrow
RRP £4 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2003
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon
Tasting notes A mature, open nose, with an attack of jammy, pleasant fruit. An easy-drinking wine
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £65 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2004
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Merlot, cabernet sauvignon
Tasting notes Ripe nose, with nice wild-strawberry aromas. Well-balanced palate, with fresh, vibrant cassis fruit
Drink with Beef, game, lamb, pork
Where to buy Alliance Wine
RRP £18 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Zinfandel, petite sirah
Tasting notes Bright-red colour with a soft fruity nose and a touch of oak. Pungent and fruity with fresh acidity. Good length
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy The Wine Society
RRP £9.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Chardonnay
Vintage 2006
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Chardonnay
Tasting notes Lemon-yellow colour. Opulent aromas of peach and spices, well balanced with coconut on the palate
Drink with Fish, game, poultry, shellfish
Where to buy Richardson's of Whitehaven
RRP £15.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Selection Fumé Blanc
Vintage 2006
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Sauvignon blanc
Tasting notes Pale green colour. Intense with well-integrated oak. Good acidity and finish
Drink with Fish, salad, shellfish
Where to buy Wine Rack, Everywine.co.uk
RRP £9.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2005
Country Napa Valley
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah
Tasting notes Light blackberry nose with a touch of wine gums. Prudent use of oak. Clean fruit, liquorice and dried herbs
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy The Co-op
RRP £15.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2004
Country South Coast
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc
Tasting notes Cedar and cassis with spicy oak. Abundant tannins and oak balance, with savoury complexity and sweet fruit
Drink with Game, lamb, pork, vegetarian
Where to buy Alliance Wine
RRP £18 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2004
Country North Coast
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, merlot
Tasting notes Intense Ribena nose. Juicy, dense fruit with big tannins. Needs six to eight years
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Rodney Strong Vineyards
RRP £32 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2005
Country North Coast
Grapes Pinot noir, petite sirah
Tasting notes Very attractive nose, with lots of fresh red fruits. Very elegant, yet will benefit from some time in bottle
Drink with Game, lamb, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Delicato Family Vineyards
RRP £13.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2003
Country North Coast
Grapes Merlot, petite sirah
Tasting notes Mature nose and firm tannins, with good, ripe fruit and high alcohol. A wine that is ready to drink
Drink with Beef, game, lamb, vegetarian
Where to buy Everywine.co.uk
RRP £19.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country North Coast
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes Raspberry and herbal notes. Lovely primary, summer-pudding flavours. Firm, ripe tannins and a long finish
Drink with Game, lamb, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Waitrose
RRP £15.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Pinot Noir
Vintage 2004
Country North Coast
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes Wonderful pinot noir with well-integrated oak. Light bodied and elegant with delicious red-fruit flavours
Drink with Fish, lamb, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Parfrements
RRP £21 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country North Coast
Grapes Chardonnay
Tasting notes Deep straw colour. Peach and ice-cream on the nose. Citrus and creamy oatmeal on the palate
Drink with Fish, game, poultry, shellfish
Where to buy Everywine.co.uk
RRP £14.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2004
Country North Coast
Grapes Zinfandel
Tasting notes Spicy liquorice, dark chocolate and cassis aromas. Complex flavours of black fruits and spicy oak
Drink with Beef, game, lamb, turkey
Where to buy Sainsbury's, Thresher Group
RRP £8 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country North Coast
Grapes Chardonnay
Tasting notes Brushed gold. Creamy vanilla and soft stone fruit on the nose and palate. Elegant oak with a long, spicy finish
Drink with Fish, game, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Roberson Wine Merchants
RRP £14 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2005
Country North Coast
Grapes Zinfandel, petite sirah
Tasting notes Bright, spicy red and black fruits on the nose. Heady, ripe, fruity palate with vanilla backbone
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Liberty Wines
RRP £24.75 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country North Coast
Grapes Chardonnay
Tasting notes Despite its 14.5% alcohol, this wine is remarkably elegant, with fresh acidity, subtle oak and buttery texture
Drink with Fish, game, poultry
Where to buy Majestic Wine
RRP £14.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2004
Country North Coast
Grapes Pinot noir
Tasting notes Nice pinot aroma of wild strawberries. Impressive on both nose and palate. Elegant, fine and well balanced
Drink with Fish, lamb, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Majestic Wine
RRP £19.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2005
Country North Coast
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon
Tasting notes A big, chewy and extracted cabernet with punchy black fruits. This has grippy tannins and good varietal expression
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy John E Fells
RRP £17.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2005
Country Central Coast
Grapes Syrah
Tasting notes Cherry, pepper and vanilla notes, well balanced, smooth and supple. Good integrated tannins
Drink with Game, lamb
Where to buy Tesco
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vineyard Chardonnay
Vintage 2006
Country Central Coast
Grapes Chardonnay
Tasting notes Apricot and gunflint on the nose. Rich ripe fruit on the palate, full bodied and easy drinking
Drink with Fish, game, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Noel Young Wines, Marc1 Wines
RRP £11.50 Photograph: Guardian /Observer
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2005
Country Central Coast
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, malbec
Tasting notes Smoky bouquet, with creamy strawberry and spice notes. The wine has a fine structure and a rich finish
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Patriarche Wine Agencies
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2005
Country Central Coast
Grapes Zinfandel, petite sirah
Tasting notes Plums, blackberries and dried fruits on the nose. Damsons, prunes, dried figs and jam on the palate
Drink with Game, lamb, poultry, vegetarian
Where to buy Everywine.co.uk
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country Central Coast
Grapes Merlot, cabernet sauvignon
Tasting notes Almost opaque, with assertive flavours of blackcurrant and ripe plums and plenty of alcohol to soak them up
Drink with Beef, game, lamb, pork
Where to buy Tesco, Oddbins
RRP £7.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country Central Coast
Grapes Merlot
Tasting notes Sweet, juicy, berryish nose. Its slightly confected red-berry fruit flavours make this a very commercial style
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Waitrose
RRP £6.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2005
Country Central Coast
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon
Tasting notes Sweet, ripe cassis and spicy oak nuances. Huge and masculine with firm tannins, balanced and very long. A blockbuster!
Drink with Beef, game, lamb, pork
Where to buy Alliance Wine
RRP £14.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country Central Coast
Grapes Viognier
Tasting notes Perfumed citrus fruit with spicy vanilla oak. Baked apple, peach, lime and citrus on the palate
Drink with Fish, pork, poultry
Where to buy Alliance Wine
RRP £13.49 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Chardonnay
Vintage 2006
Country Central Coast
Grapes Chardonnay
Tasting notes Deep straw coloured. Opulent aromas of peach, spices and nuts, well balanced with mango and coconut flavours
Drink with Fish, game, poultry, shellfish
Where to buy Averys Wine Merchants
RRP £14.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Vintage 2006
Country Central Valley
Grapes Cinsault, carignan
Tasting notes Deep purple colour. Soft, sweet, slightly gamey core with firm tannins and a spicy, raisiny undertone
Drink with Beef, lamb, vegetarian
Where to buy M&S
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Zinfandel
Vintage 2005
Country Central Valley
Grapes Zinfandel
Tasting notes Sweet, ripe nose with lovely purity of fruit. The palate has a fresh, spicy, earthy structure and a hint of raisins
Drink with Beef, game, lamb, turkey
Where to buy The Co-op
RRP £12 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2006
Country Central Valley
Grapes Cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot
Tasting notes Floral, violet nose with good complexity. Soft, elegant tannins with supple cassis fruit and subtle oak
Drink with Beef, game, lamb
Where to buy Tesco, Kingsland Wine
RRP £8.99 Photograph: Guardian /Guardian
