Wines of the Week:<br></br>2000 Nepenthe Sauvignon Blanc<br></br>2000 Le Catalan Old Vine Carignan

White: 2000 Nepenthe Sauvignon Blanc, £8.99, Safeway, Oddbins, Waitrose (limited stocks)

This cracking sauvignon blanc from one of the year's big discoveries, Nepenthe in Adelaide Hills, South Australia, is bracingly crisp and assertively aromatic. Zesty tropical fruit flavours and a green-apple snap add verve to its refreshingly dry aftertaste. Powerful enough to stand up to salads and white fish marinades.

Red: 2000 Le Catalan Old Vine Carignan, £5.99, Sainsbury's

Proving that there's life in the old workhorse carignan vine yet, this is a deep-hued and characterful Mediterranean vin de pays red with garrigue scents of angostura and spice and the peppery, robust flavours that come from real old-vine concentration and richness. One for an Indian summer barbecue.