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Wines of the week: Clos Poggiale Blanc 2008/9; Nero D'Avola Sicilia 2007; Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde 2010

Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy

Sunday 22 May 2011 00:00 BST
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Sunday lunch

Clos Poggiale Blanc 2008/9

It's a disgrace we don't see more wines from Corsica here because there are some real gems, such as this wonderful white, made from the native Vermentino grape, which is grown on an estate overlooking the Mediterranean on the north-eastern side of the island. Enticingly elusive leafy and citrus-zest flavours mingle with creamy undertones of pears, peach and pineapple, leaving a lovely clean finish. Fantastic with scallops or lobster. £16.74 (£11.82 each for three or more, 2009), wineandco.co.uk; £14.95 (2008), winestory.co.uk

Weekday supper

Nero D'Avola Sicilia 2007

Made with Sicily's Nero d'Avola grape, this is a concentrated, rustic wine with lots of black fruit, mocha and liquorice flavours and a long satisfying finish that serves as a very good example of the serious wines now emerging from a once-neglected wine-making area. Matches well with a good steak or some pan-fried medallions of pork. £8.49 (reduced from £10.99 until 31 May), Marks & Spencer

Bargain basement

Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde 2010

The low alcohol content of 11.5 per cent makes this northern Portugese wine a perfect aperitif or ideal accompaniment for a light early summer lunch of, say, salad or cold chicken, particularly when you do not want to fall asleep afterwards. Full of spritzer-like effervescence, this "green wine" is very light and refreshing, but balanced with good strong flavours of lemon and tropical fruits, topped off with lovely flowery aromas. £6.99 (or two at £4.99 each as part of a minimum-purchase mixed case of six bottles), majestic.co.uk

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