2007 Tierra Brisa Malbec Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina, Majestic, £4.79 or two for £4.29 each. Malbec is Argentina’s strongest red-grape suit and even lesser offerings like this, topped up with bonarda, deliver terrific, strong, ripe, inky, barbecue-suitable and appetisingly cheap fruit

2007 Pinot Grigio Superiore, Beato Bartolomeo da Breganze, Italy, Majestic, £6.24 or two for £4.99 each. Pinot grigio’s popularity continues to soar – it’s on tap in pubs now, heavens above – but this elegant, racy, citrus and apricot-spiked ’07 shows just how good sub-£5 bottles can be.

2006 Fleurie, Domaine de la Viroylette, Jacques Charlet, France, Tanners (01743 234455), £8.95 or six for £7.95 each. A good cru beaujolais such as this Fleurie, which comes from three separate parcels of gamay vines situated on some of the best sites in the appellation, makes the perfect summer red with its fine, fleshy red-fruit flavours.

2007 Churton Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Tanners, £9.20 or six for £8.75 each. Marlborough sauvignon is a New World classic and Churton has always excelled. A lively, zesty, floral white complete with the essential sparky, grassy, flowering currant-stashed finish.

2006 Matahiwi Estate Holly Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Oddbins, £10.99 until August 31. Jane Cooper’s Matahiwi wines from Wairarapa, North Island, have long impressed me, and this fine, ripe, nettley ’06 from a single vineyard, complete with lots of delicious whitecurrant fruit, is a winner.

2004 Matahiwi Estate Holly Pinot Noir, New Zealand, Oddbins, £13.99 until August 31. Oddbins is returning to its small parcel or “odd bins” roots, and this delicious Matahiwi duo will not be around next month, so if you want this flavoursome, ripe, leafy, liquorice-licked pinot, buy it now.

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