Top buys

2007 Fairtrade Argentine Torrontes Chardonnay, Famatina Valley, Co-op, £3.19 until March 9. Fairtrade Fortnight continues and this cheap-as-chips wine will slake your thirst and salve your conscience. Light, leafy and peach-redolent, it is an all-purpose winter-into-spring white.

2007 Fairtrade Argentine Bonarda Shiraz, Famatina Valley, Co-op, £3.19 until March 9. The recently re-labelled Fairtrade wines are much easier to spot now, so clock the charred, vanilla and black pepper-spiced berry fruit of this cheap red slugger and rejoice.

2005 Albariño-Rias Baixas, Bodega Castro Martin, Bibendum (020-7449 4120), £11.29. Albariño is an unusual Iberian white grape you have to fork out for, but in this Spanish edition, the lively, floral, lime zest and lemon blossom-charged palate is easily worth the price asked.

2007 Blind River, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, OddBins, £10.99. This sensational Kiwi sauvignon, made from grapes grown on the stony soil of the Awatere Valley, sells out fast, so wallow in its mouthwatering, spritzy, nettley, faintly passion fruit-scented style while you can.

2006 Blind River, Marlborough Pinot Noir, New Zealand, OddBins, £17.99. This pinot noir is made from hand-picked grapes, aged in small French barrels for almost a year and is a first vintage dream, with gorgeous, silky, sandalwood, strawberry and game spice. Buy now before it runs out.

jane.macquitty@thetimes.co.uk

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