Wine: Casa Silva Lolol Viognier 2011; Jean Luc Colombo Les Pins Couches Rosé 2010; Cellier des Dauphins Grignan Les Adhemar 2010
Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy
Sunday lunch
Casa Silva Lolol Viognier 2011
This is one powerful bottle of wine from top-rated Chilean producer Casa Silva, which fully demonstrates the range of Viognier's attractions. Subtly aromatic on the nose, the flavours simply explode on the palate – think both spicy and smoky, with nuts, honey and apricots all in the mix – and a long, long, satisfying finish. Needs suitably complex food, such as a Middle Eastern fish tagine, with preserved lemon and olives. £13.99, Wine Rack; £12.95, stainton-wines.co.uk (as part of a minimum order of 12 mixed bottles)
Midweek meal
Jean Luc Colombo Les Pins Couches Rosé 2010
Almost the ideal late summer rosé, very well made using Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes grown close to the Mediterranean near Marseille. Lovely and fresh on the palate, with just enough spice to add complexity and interest. It's worth the effort to make a traditional bouillabaisse, the fish soup/stew from southern France, with plentiful aioli, just to accompany this wine. £7.99 (until 30 September, normally £10.99), askewine.com; £9.50, dickenshousewine.co.uk
Bargain basement
Cellier des Dauphins Grignan Les Adhemar 2010
From further up the Rhône Valley comes this red bearing the new name of the Côtes du Tricastin, changed after an, er, small incident involving a leak from a nuclear power station. A worthy winner of the best Rhône Red Under £10 in the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards, it is medium-bodied and well-balanced between fruit and the traditionally peppery slant of the area. Highly drinkable. £5 (normally £7.98), Asda
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies