Rising Stars

Anthony Rose presents his guide to the perfect French wines for every occasion – bring your own corkscrew

1. SHELLFISH HEAVEN
2003 Picpoul de Pinet Coteaux du Languedoc, Domaine Félines Jourdan, £5.95-£6.75, Berry Bros & Rudd, London SW1, Bennetts, Chipping Campden. This richly fruity yet zesty Mediterranean dry white is made for seafood.

2. WEEKEND WIND DOWN
2002 dA Chardonnay, Domaine Astruc, £6.96, Asda. This stylish Chardonnay combines rich and buttery flavours with white Burgundy-style finesse.

3. GIRLS NIGHT IN
2002 Blason de Bourgogne Saint-Véran, £7.99, Waitrose. Blason de Bourgogne, a new-wave brand from Burgundy, delivers quality at an affordable price, as this delicate, characterful Pouilly-Fuissé tastealike demonstrates aptly.

4. LADIES WHO LUNCH
2003 Sancerre,Roger Neveu et Fils, Clos des Bouffants, £9.49, Majestic. Excelling in the warm 2003 vintage, this is a ripe, grassy-nettle Sauvignon.

5. IMPRESS THE BOSS
2002 Pouilly Fuissé Clos Varambon, Château des Rontets, £16.99, Waitrose. All the stops have been pulled out for this classy, ageworthy Pouilly-Fuissé, whose nutty complexity and nervy acidity make this an impressive white Burgundy.

6. SUMMER LOVING
2003 Domaine de Pellehaut Rosé, Vin de Pays des Cÿtes de Gascogne, £4.99, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose. Mouth-watering, crisp rhubarb and redcurrant fruitiness give a summer feel to this refreshing rosé.

7. VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
2000 Château de Caunettes, Cabardÿs, Vignobles Lorgeril, £6.99, Unwins, The Wine Society. This stylish red from the Languedoc combines claretlike style with robust Mediterranean fruitiness.

8. JUICY FRUIT
2003 Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles, £8.85, Haynes Hanson & Clark, London SW1. Beaujolais’ gamay grape doesn’t come much purer than this juicy, plum and cherryish quaffer.

9. COSY NIGHT IN
2001 Domaine de la Guintrandy Visan, Cuvée Louise-Amélie, Cÿtes du Rhÿne, £10.95, Great Western Wine, Bath. A perfumed, warming Rhÿne red, whose bright raspberry fruit is infused with liquorice-style spice and pepper flavours.

10. FINE DINING
1998 Château Vrai Canon Bouché, Canon-Fronsac, £12.95, Mayfair Cellars, London. A fine, new-wave red Bordeaux, whose veneer of vanilla oak enhances the opulent, fruity blackcurrant flavours of this reliable Saint-Emilion tastealike.

11. PARTY OFFERINGS
2002 Volnay, Domaine Carré-Courbin, £18, Berry Bros & Rudd. Heavenly scents and pure, intensely raspberryreminiscent pinot noir fruitiness make this a thrilling, silk-textured and supremely ageworthy red Burgundy. A present that all will be happy to receive.