Fine Wines

Three hefty reds at middleweight prices.

Three hefty reds at middleweight prices.

One: Mas Brunet Coteaux de Languedoc 1997 (£6.50, La Reserve); an inky, peppery Syrah- dominated blend with a bit of oak sweetness and good weight of fruit. Good alternative to Cotes du Rhone.

Two: Tre Uve Ultima 1997 (£5.99, Fuller's, Oddbins, Wine Society); a marvel made possible by taking fine Italian fruit and working it with modern winemaking skills.

Three: a special purchase of Chateau Haut La Graviere 1995 (£4.99, Majestic); an Haut-Medoc cru bourgeois with amazingly refined blackcurrant and plummy fruit at this price, and ready to drink.