2006 Gran Tesoro Viura, Campo de Borja, Bodegas Borsao, Spain, Tesco, £3.19. Lord knows how these £3.19 wines survive, but snap up this zesty, grapey white (and its red cousin below) while you can. It is made from the viura grape and delivers lots of juicy, easy-swigging fruit.

2006 Gran Tesoro Garnacha, Campo de Borja, Bodegas Borsao, Spain, £3.19. A notch above the white, as most cheap Spanish reds are. It is made entirely from the garnacha grape and heaves with the sort of sweet, ripe, creamy plum and raspberry fruit that will win it many fans.

2007 Marsanne, Vin de Pays d’Oc, Paul Mas Estate, France, Majestic, £7.49 or buy two for £5.99 each until April 7. Rhône and rhône-inspired whites like this one are terrific winter-into-spring wines. The bold, peachy, apricot taste will complement the last winter stews and first meaty salads.

2005 Château Bellerive Dubois, Bordeaux Supérieur, France, Majestic, £6.99 or buy two for £4.99 each until April 7. This terrific merlot-dominant claret, topped up with cabernet and oozing fine, ripe, scented, plummy fruit, is just what you’d expect from the great 2005 vintage.

2007 The Millton Vineyards Opou Riesling, Gisborne, New Zealand, Vintage Roots (0800 9804992), £10.99. There is no denying the sensational quality of this outstanding, mouthwatering, spicy, steely, lemon, rose and geranium-scented off-dry riesling – the perfect partner to Asian food.

2005 The Millton Vineyards, Clos de Ste Anne Pinot Noir, Gisborne, New Zealand, Vintage Roots, £18.95. The Milltons only planted their organic vineyard in 1984, but experience has helped them to create this gorgeous, gamey ‘05 with its Marmite and strawberry-spiked fruit.

jane.macquitty@thetimes.co.uk

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