Lamb & Rhone

Is there a better match in foodie heaven? The wife hates lamb but is away at the office Christmas party, that means lamb for me, lollipops of English marsh lamb, paired with Guigal Cotes du Rhone 2007 (Waitrose £9.99). Inky purple, heady rosemary and cedar with dark aromatic fruit. The mouth has punch from the 14% alcohol but that is cosseted by the jammy black fruit, still young but very approachable and eager to wrap itself around those lamb chops.
*I think my pub will one day be named the Lamb & Rhone

Best wine deals - Telegraph

Victoria Moore

Chateau La Rose Gadis 2006 Bordeaux Rouge, France (13%, £5.99 down from £7.99 when you buy two, Majestic)

Majestic seems to be on a winning streak with good-value Bordeaux. This one is made entirely from merlot on the south bank of the Dordogne and while some cheap claret smells mean and green, or just generically fruity, as if made in the Languedoc, this has true Bordeaux character and the gentle scent of decay that comes from a nicely timed bit of bottle-age.

Monteforte Passo Avanti Soave 2009 Italy (13%, £5.99 down from £7.99 until July 19, Waitrose)

A rounded, succulent and very modern soave that would have qualified as a soave classico if the winemaker hadn’t decided to bottle it under screw cap. Think juicy pears, lemon juice, ground almonds and sunshine. It’s good with cold poached salmon and hollandaise, or roast chicken with lemon gravy.

Desert Heart Pinot Noir 2007 Central Otago, New Zealand (13.5%, £19.99, The Real Wine Company, therealwineco.co.uk)

From the wild mountainous part of NZ’s South Island where they filmed The Lord of the Rings. Everything about this pinot noir shouts “Central Otago”. It’s black-red in colour, the smell blazes out of the glass, faintly floral like a rose or a peony, the fruit is bright and the oak gives a gentle smokiness. Drink with pink-cooked duck and cherries, or lamb in pomegranate molasses.

Best wine deals - Telegraph

Wines of the week- The Independent

Wines of the week: The Independent
Terry Kirby
Catena Malbec 2008

A big, juicy, plummy, black-fruit-flavoured example of Argentina's finest grape, produced by one of its best exponents from high-altitude vineyards in the Mendoza region. A lovely, smooth mouthful, with touches of spice and leather and a lengthy finish that makes it ideal with roast or confit duck or a prime, rare, fillet steak. £11.99, Waitrose, ocado.com, majestic.co.uk (where it is also available for £9.99 per bottle when buying two bottles as part of a case of six bottles)

Midweek meal
Reserve de La Saurine Rose 2010

Not all southern French rosé has to come from Provence and taste of strawberries. This has a sharper, spicier taste, although still sufficiently fruity. Made in the neighbouring Gard region from Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan and Syrah grapes, this needs to be drunk ice-cold on a summer's evening, perhaps with a robust fish soup, accompanied by rouille croutons. £6.49 Marks & Spencer

Bargain basement
Southbank Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2010

A good deal on a top-quality Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc from the esteemed Marlborough region. Characteristic flavours of nettles, gooseberries and green apples mingle with passion fruit and other tropical fruits to create a crisply refreshing wine just right for the last asparagus of the season or almost any shellfish. £5.99, majestic.co.uk (when buying two bottles as part of a mixed case of six bottles; – A personal favourite of the Wine Ranger

What to take to a BYO?

Wine: What to take to a BYO? | Life and style | The Guardian

Fiona Beckett

Mas Belles Eaux Vin de Pays de Caux Rosé 2010 (£7.95,fromvineyardsdirect.com; 12.5% abv), an elegant blend of syrah and mourvèdre from an estate just north of Pézenas . At that price it is at least £2 less than a comparable Provençal rosé would be.

Neutral, minerally whites such as the flexible Austrian grüner veltliner really useful. Waitrose has a good offer on the Domäne Wachau Terraces Grüner Veltliner 2010(12% abv), which from next Wednesday will be reduced from £8.49 to £6.36 (though you may well find the 2009, which is also fine).

Australian chardonnay with some bottle age, such as the sumptuously creamy Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay 2008, from Margaret River (14.5% abv), currently £23 from the Wine Society, it's perfect for scallops, salmon, roast chicken or veal, so covers a fair number of menu options.

Reds that you can chill and drink with fish are also handy, for instance a beaujolais, Loire red or a pinot noir. The luscious Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2009 from Chile (£9.59 if you buy two or more at Majestic; 14.5% abv) should keep everyone happy. It's really impressive for a big brand.

Southern French Loveliness

Great bin-end at my local Waitrose, Laurent Miquel Vermentino, reduced to £5.99 from £9.99. Lovely juicy tropical fruits from this Pay d'oc white. Very classy, I served it with some plainly grilled plaice, great match. Good acidity and great balance, hoping there is some left tomorrow.
L’Atelier Miquel Vermentino 2010 IGP Pays d’Oc, great value by the case if your local store has no cheap stock

Sherry

Susy-Atkins - Daily Telegraph

Tesco Finest Amontillado, Barbadillo, Jerez (£5.29 for 50cl)
This pale amber sherry, lightly scented with walnuts and toffee, and very dry, tastes refreshing for a slight chill. Serve with tapas, especially light charcuterie and roast red peppers
La Gitana Manzanilla, Hidalgo, Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Waitrose, £8.89 for 70cl, down to £6.99 until Tuesday)
Vivacious, fresh and yeasty with a very dry, almost briny, long finish. Served cold, this is one of the best hot-weather aperitifs in the world, especially with green olives on the side
La Ina Fino, Lustau, Jerez (Wine Society, thedrinkshop.com and independents, from £8.95 for 70cl)Consistently one of the top finos, watery pale, uncompromisingly dry and streaked with tangy apple and lemon. Wonderful sipped ice-cold with salty seafood