100 AWEsome Wines - 2021 Edition

White - Under £10

Our wines are:

1) Botte Conti Pecorino 2019, Terre di Chieti, Italy: Lidl £5.49 The bargain wine of the year for me, refreshing citrus fruit with apleasing, almost tropical, creamy texture on the palate, with enough weight to accompany pasta and fish dishes, as well as being a vibrant quaffer. A must have in the fridge for impromptu drinking. Carolyn Bosworth-Davies

2) Picpoul de Pinet 2019, Le Rocher de Saint Victor, France: Lidl £6.99 Dry, mineral and citrus, almost salty, with the flavour of crunchy green apple. Made by the impeccable L'Ormarine Co-operative. It shows just why Picpoul has become (justifiably) so popular. Dr Helen Savage 3) Eins Zwei Zero Riesling (Alcohol Free), JJ Leitz NV, Germany: The Great Wine Company £7.75 Finally a non- alcohol wine that is actually drinkable. Although this wine is medium sweet it still contains the body and taste that we love in Riesling. One to try on those dry days. Mandy Stevens 4) Baglio Gibellina 2019 Sogna del Sud Grillo, Sicily, Italy: The Drinkshop (case of 6 bottle price) £8.86 Light straw in colour. Vibrant and savoury, this opens with lovely aromas of spring flowers, citrus, herb and white melon. The round, juicy palate offers ripe white peach, juicy grapefruit, pineapple and mineral alongside fresh acidity. Paul Quinn 5) Flora and Fauna Blanc 2019, Cépages du Sud, France: SW Bottle Shop £8.95 Made by a team headed by Liam Stevenson MW offering a brilliantly refreshing Grenache Blanc with a smattering of Sauvignon from Languedoc. Herbaceous and lively, it's a perfect 'wind down' wine...and excellent with seafood and fish from the grill. Stephen Barrett 6) Errazuriz Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Chile: Majestic (mix 6) £8.99 Top wine-making from the Casablanca Valley. Elegant, herbal aromas, with fresh cut grass, green apple and some tropical, pineapple flavours. Crisp, dry and refreshing finish. Cool sea breezes help maintain crisp acidity and intense aromatic flavours. Richard Esling

7) Winzer Krems Orange Grüner Veltliner 2019 Niederösterreich, Austria: Majestic (mix 6) £8.99 A lovely peachy nose with hints of white pepper, both of which you get on the palate with a crisp citrus acidity. Brilliant value, this wine pairs well with canapés, fish and will cope well with Thai flavours. Carole Hazlehurst

8) Nero Oro Grillo Appassimento 2019, Sicily, Italy: Majestic (mix 6) £8.99 Quite unusual this, a white wine made appassimento, meaning that at least a portion of the grapes have been dried in the sun concentrating the sugars - but this wine is dry. And this is what makes it particularly interesting. Grillo is a wonderfully aromatic, distinctly Italian, specifically Sicilian, white grape and this is a delicious full-bodied and rich style. Victor Maguire 9) Jordi di Miro Garnacha Blanca 2019, Spain: Ocado £9 From the Terra Alta region in North East Spain this is a great example of just how good Garnacha Blanca can be - perfumed with peaches and pears, white flowers and pink grapefruit. Dry and fruity, refreshing and with a mineral streak, serve it with the best of Scottish shellfish, simply cooked. Carol Brown 10) Taste the Difference Grüner Veltliner 2019, Austria: Sainsbury’s £9 Aromas of citrus, white peach and white pepper; on the palate fresh and crisp, fine acidity with a minerally edge. Classic Grüner Veltliner with depth of flavour from the outstanding 2019 vintage in Austria. Really good value. Christos Ioannou

11) Elki Pedro Ximenez 2019, Elqui Valley, Chile: The Great Wine Company £9.50 It’s unusual to get a Spanish grape from Chile but this is crisp and refreshing and has a little more interest than your average white at this price point. Lemon and crunchy apple but with enough body to cope with comfort food. Mandy Stevens

12) Greco Basilicata Le Ralle, Alovini 2019, Italy: The Wine Society £9.95 Accomplished winemaker Oronzo Ali grows both Greco and Aglianico grapes in a picturesque part of Southern Italy. A real hidden gem! This 100% Greco wine is bright with peach and lime aromas and a fresh citrus zing on the palate. The crisp finish is a triumph in this warm area of Italy. A great partner with roast chicken. Linda Simpson 13) Lyme Block Bacchus 2019, England: ALDI £8.99 England’s very own answer to Sauvignon Blanc, Bacchus is incredibly happy in the climate of the south west. Refreshing citrus, green apple and gooseberry flavours balanced by a distinctive minerally, floral character. The acidity is not quite as sharp as Sauvignon Blanc - so enjoyable by the glass or paired with classic fish and chips or your Sunday roast. John Callow 14) Patricius Dry Furmint 2019, Hungary: Waitrose £9.99 A bone dry wine with delicate but persistent aromas and flavours of russet apple and quince. Agile acidity balanced with elegant fruit. A wine with genuine poise. Good with fish and seafood and goat’s cheese. It's vegan too. Nancy Gilchrist MW

Rose - Under £10

Our wines are:

15) Porcupine Ridge Rosé 2018/2019, Coastal Region, South Africa: Waitrose £8.49 Made from Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grapes by cult wine producer Marc Kent, the wine has a medium peach-pink colour. Dry, mid-weight with aromas of wild strawberry, cherry and just a hint of bramble continuing onto the palate, framed by lively acidity and the barest hint of tannin giving grip and a lingering finish. Serious rosé that would work with grilled fish or chicken and stand up to typical savoury canapés. Patricia Stefanowicz MW

16) Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2018, Viñamar, Chile: The Great Wine Company £8.85 Don't be put off by the colour. I have not met anyone who hasn’t loved this strawberry and cherry refreshing wine once they get over the 'darker' hue. Versatile and good value. Mandy Stevens 17) Pasión de Bobal Rosado 2019, DO Utiel-Requena, València, Spain: All About Wine £8.99; Kwoff £9.99 Bodega Sierra Norte make this splendid rosé from old Bobal bush vines in southern Spain inland from València. With the pretty-in-pink colour that’s an essential part of its charm, there’s attractive aromas of cherry and rose petals. This dry wine is bold and satisfying, with a good balance of red fruits, acidity and alcohol. It manages that elusive trick of being an excellent organic wine that's incredible value. Not just for summer, this is a marvellous pick-me-up at any time of year. Paul Howard MBA

Reds - Under £10

Our wines are:

18) Primitivo Castellore 2018 Puglia, Italy: ALDI £4.99 This is one great value wine with WOW factor! It is bursting with generous, juicy black fruit flavours and the warm sunshine of Southern Italy. It's easy to drink on its own or with pizzas, barbecues or cheese. Valerie Cowan

19) Exquisite Collection Shiraz 2019, Australia: ALDI £5.99 A deliciously decadent, dense and juicy Aussie Shiraz for a bargain price. This perfect winter warmer is bursting with ripe, jammy red and black fruits and a hint of sweet spice. Excellent to savour on its own, or fantastic with roasted meats, casseroles or BBQ food. John Callow 20) Cabernet Franc, Lorca Esoterica 2017, Mendoza, Argentina: Majestic (mix 6) £6.49 Deliciously fruity, like slightly savoury raspberry jam, with balanced juicy acidity and just enough ripe tannin to give it real length. Unmistakably Cabernet Franc and irresistible at this price. Dr Helen Savage 21) Le Havre Paix 2019, Aude, France:The Oxford Wine Company £7.49 Aromas of plump dark summer fruits and damson follow through on the richly textured, velvety palate. The wine is unfiltered and is a blend of Grenache and Syrah and, together with its white wine partner, Le Havre Paix consistently delivers over and above the price point. Great all-rounder. Nancy Gilchrist MW 22) Tesco Finest Cinsault 2019, Western Cape, South Africa: Tesco £7.50 A super example of a grape variety we usually see as part of a blend from Europe. A nice fruity wine with a mix of berry flavours, crisp acidity and just the merest positive hint of bitterness, essential for a good food wine. Ian Symonds

23) Waitrose País 2019, Maule, Chile: Waitrose £7.99 Hats off to Waitrose for championing lesser known grapes in this range - recognisable by the plain white labels with a simple old fashioned typeface. País is the grape introduced by missionaries and monks for sacramental wine. It makes light, fresh and smashable wines with a pretty red fruit character. It’s versatile - try it lightly chilled with a picnic and it really sorts out a curry. Pippa Hayward

24) Tesco Finest Médoc 2018, Bordeaux, France: Tesco £9 A great value Bordeaux showing exactly what you would expect from a wine costing several pounds more. It’s a blend of Merlot and Cabernet with ripe, vibrant blackcurrant fruit flavours with the oak giving a spicy complexity and smoothness. No need to keep this, it’s delicious now. Laura Clay 25) Mont Gras Pinot Noir Reserva 2018, Leyda Valley, Chile: Waitrose £9.49 A good example of the more generous style of Pinot Noir grown in Chile and hand-picked, from the cooler coastal region where the winters are short and the Humboldt Current cools the summers, offering concentrated ripe red berry fruits skilfully balanced with freshness and pleasant integrated tannins. Victor Maguire 26) Brancott Estate Pinot Noir 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand: Tesco £9.50 An excellent example of a soft, fruity Pinot with some earthy mushroom characteristics. Great for home easy-drinking, very food-friendly and for educators a good example of budget New Zealand Pinot. Ian Symonds 27) Merul Estate Selection 2015, Rumelia Winery, Bulgaria: www.theoldcellar.com £9.95 This vibrant red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and the indigenous Mavrud is delightfully fresh, with ripe red berry fruits and white chocolate notes. It is such an easy drinking wine style, ideal with roasted meat dishes and casseroles. Vivienne Franks

28) Crasto 2018 Douro, Portugal: The Wine Society £9.95 Primarily Touriga Nacional variety but the addition of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca give this wine some surprising complexity. Lots of plummy fruit with some spiciness showing through. A somewhat brooding style which rewards robust food. Although this is Crasto’s “entry level” red it still rewards and offers excellent value for money. Richard Goodacre

29) Stellenrust Old Bushvine Cinsault 2019, Stellenbosch, South Africa: Waitrose £9.99 Earthy red and black fruit mingle with spice and vanilla in a dreamy glass of South African sunshine grapes. Yummy. Dr Winnie Bowman 30) Carmen Insigne Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Valle Central, Chile: Winebuyers €10.00/£9.99, Old Chapel Cellars £8.99 There are countless examples of inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines available. Very few have quality fruit and expert wine-making as often as Insigne from Carmen does. A tomato leaf and rich, fresh currant bouquet with a generous fruit-filled palate, light tannins and a wood-influenced spiced finish. Kevin Ecock

White - £10-£25

Our wines are:

31) Taste the Difference Douro White 2019, Portugal: Sainsbury’s £10 Made by the Symingtons for Sainsbury’s, this lovely textural, fresh and mineral white typifies the Douro style for white wines. Don’t expect explosive aromatics - enjoy a pleasing mix of stone fruit and ripe citrus flavours which build in the mouth with a satisfying lick of wet stone on the finish. Pair it with roast chicken or fish pie - a snip at the price. Pippa Hayward

32) Yering Station The Elms Chardonnay 2018, Yarra Valley, Australia: Waitrose £10.49 A beautiful example of a lighter, mineral style of Australian Chardonnay. Pale lemon colour with green highlights. Bone dry, gently oaked with nectarine, mango, apple fruit and accents of lime zest, lemon custard and a touch of stoniness supported by racy acidity. Medium-bodied, refreshing wine, as an aperitif or with seafood, poultry, salads or vegetarian risotto. Patricia Stefanowicz MW 33) Château Bel Air Perponcher Réserve 2019 Bordeaux, France: The Wine Society £10.95 When looking at Bordeaux, don’t overlook the white wines. The major grapes are Sauvignon Blanc (⅔) and Semillon (⅓) which blend beautifully. Here together they deliver a fresh, aromatic and citrusy white with a crisp finish. A really good match with asparagus and pasta dishes. Linda Simpson 34) Le Coin Sauvignon Gris & Blanc 2019 Bordeaux, France: Laithwaites £11.49 Think Sauvignon Blanc (Sauvignon Gris is a close cousin) but with extra spice and a creamy peachy lemony richness. A grape that is growing in popularity in the vineyards of Bordeaux. Every year there is more and more of it. You will taste why! Nina Cerullo 35) Beyra Branco 2019, Portugal: Philglas & Swiggot £12.50 From one of Portugal's best winemakers, Rui Madeira, and Portugal's most under-rated wine region, the Beira Interior. This is high altitude, zingy, mineral dry white, with aromas and flavours of lemon, herbs and greengage. A blend of Fonte Cal and Síria grapes. Charles Metcalfe

36) Elemanta Pecorino 2018 Marche, Italy: Vintage Roots £12.95 Pecorino is an enjoyable Italian white but this biodynamic wine delivers much more than the usual supermarket offerings. Pale in colour but with intense nose of pears. Flavours of apples and citrus notes abound on the palate. It has a long finish, too. Brian Davis

37) Viña Barredero Zalema 2018, Condado de Huelva, Spain: Carruthers & Kent £12.99 A light fresh white with interesting complexity from skin contact and lees ageing. Made from the Zalema grape in Spain’s deep south. David Harker 38) Val delle Rose,“Litorale” Vermentino 2019, Maremma Toscana Bianco, Italy: Noble Grape £12.99 This white wine is made by Famiglia Cecchi, who own the Val delle Rose estate in the Maremma, on Tuscany’s southern coast. It’s a place where the Vermentino grape thrives. The wine is a straw yellow colour, with broom flower and acacia aromas. There’s excellent racy acidity which balances grapefruit and pithy lemon fruit. The moreish salinity and the long dry almond finish make it brilliant as an apéritif or with fish, seafood and softer cheese. Try it with grilled sardines or whitebait. Paul Howard MBA 39) Sanzon Classic Furmint 2017, Tokaj, Hungary: Novel Wines £13.99 Twenty years ago, the Tokaj region of Hungary meant only one thing in wine terms - delicious, long-lived sweet wines. In the intervening years a new style of dry white wine made from Furmint has developed and if you've never tried one, then what a treat waits in store. The volcanic soils here impart an extra dimension to the wine: it's light on its feet but packs in such depth of flavour including grapefruit tanginess, a herbal dill character and that hard to define thing, minerality. And Novel Wines are specialists in this grape variety, so there are plenty of others to explore. Heather Dougherty 40) Txakoli Uno 2018, Bat Gara, Pais Basque, Spain: The Good Wine Shop £14.50 Woodwinters £14 A stunning example of a new wave Txakoli. With all the laser beam acidity you would expect from Txakoli but the extended time of 10 months on lees gives this wine an extra dimension with its broader texture. Layers of citrus peel, sea spray and a salty tangy finish. Giusy Andreacchio 41) Assyrtiko 2019, Kir-Yianni, Greece: The Great Wine Company £14.75 A grape normally grown in Santorini this is actually made in northern Greece but it carries itself among with the best. Great balance of lemon and peach with a rounded, fruity and refreshing finish. Mandy Stevens 42) Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2019, Springfield Estate, Robertson, South Africa: Majestic (mix 6) £14.99, €26.00 Redmond’s of Ranelagh Abrie Bruwer continues to make wine in a way that would be familiar to his great grandparents - nothing added but time. This Chardonnay is a mouth-watering example of extraordinary complexity where grapefruit plays with pineapple to an endless finish. This is sustainability and excellence at their finest. Kevin Ecock 43) The Best White Rioja, Marqués de Los Rios Rioja Reserva Blanco 2015, Spain: Morrisons £13 This is a big, savoury and balanced white wine. Although not over-oaked it has all the traditional flavours of a rich white Rioja. Gorgeous. Great with creamy sauced chicken or pork. Geoff Bolton

44) Corte Mainente, Netrroir, Soave 2018, Italy: Stone, Vine & Sun £15.50 Great to see Soave making a comeback. Stone, Vine & Sun have three from Davide Mainente that are all delicious. Netrroir is made entirely from Garganega and is a blend across his top sites which means it can’t be classified as Classico. It is ripe, rich and hugely concentrated, with stone fruit and almond notes and a long persistent finish. Carolyn Bosworth-Davies

45) Bacchus 2019, Laneberg Winery, Gateshead, England: Fortnum & Mason £15.95 A very fresh crisp lime and lemon perfumed nose with an herbaceous undertone. The lively acidity and beautiful balance of this English gem is a perfect accompaniment to a fresh shellfish platter or crispy fried haddock and chips. Vivienne Franks 46) Stopham Estate Pinot Blanc 2018, England: Stopham Vineyard £15 Waitrose £15.99 Here is an English wine to delight from the outstanding 2018 vintage. Stone fruit on the nose, full-bodied showing pears and melon on the palate with nice acidity and a long citrus finish. Brian Davis 47) Chenin Blanc Swartland Reserve 2018, Delaire Graff, South Africa: Armit Wines £16.24, Simply Wines Direct £15.99 A glass full of Swartland charm with citrus and tropical flavours to seduce the drinker. Dr Winnie Bowman 48) Little Beauty Gewurztraminer 2013 Marlborough, New Zealand: Little Beauty, Davy’s £17.95 Textbook Gewurz aromatics with a surprising fresh and tense palate. Expertly made. David Harker 49) Château de Rochemorin 2016, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France: Waitrose £17.99 An outstanding vintage made for a truly characterful yet elegant wine from a producer, Vignobles André Lurton, who is responsible for a number of excellent Bordeaux whites. Look for grapefruit acidity and peachy texture in this one along with balance and concentration. Laura Clay

50) Vergelegen Semillon Reserve 2017, South Africa: Winedirect £18.95 I do think Semillon should get more attention than it does, especially when it tastes like this - fragrant with lemon peel, golden delicious apples and honeysuckle. Mid-weight, textured and long lasting with a lifting zesty acidity, a light almond edge, ever-so subtle toasty oak and a lime juice twist. It’s lovely with the richness of rock turbot thermidor! Carol Brown

51) Clos Floridène 2017/18, Graves, France: Co-op £19 This a quality white Graves, a blend of chiefly Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. The acidity of Sauvignon Blanc lifts the richer Sémillon, the latter lending its spicier notes to the blend. Possibly even better on day two. Geoff Bolton 52) Louro Godello Rafael Palacios 2019, Spain: The Good Wine Shop £20 In the mountainous enclave of Valdeorras in Galicia, Rafa Palacios crafts the local grape Godello as no one else can. Imagine a fresher version of Chardonnay - creamy with notes of quince, white peach and spice, fermented in French oak with natural yeasts, bottled with minimal sulphur - whistle clean, pure and layered with the granite soils on which his steeply terraced vineyards sit giving mineral length. Treat it as a good white Burgundy - it’s just much better value! Pippa Hayward 53) Botanica ‘Mary Delany’ Collection Chenin Blanc 2017, South Africa: Winetrust100 £22.50 The vines for this wine are grown in the Citrusdal Mountain at 500m some 200km north of Cape Town. Mountainous sandstone soils and altitude combined with the long growing season give concentrated yet precise notes of apricot, pear and apple on the nose and the palate is rich, with a pleasing density of structure, balanced with a refreshing salinity. Subtle oak flavours and a touch of toasty caramel complete the fabulous canvas. Victor Maguire

Rose - £10-£25

Our wines are:

54) Clos Cibonne 'Cuvée Tradition' Côtes de Provence 2018, France: The Good Spirits Co. £24.70 Made from the local Tibouren grape, this unusual, traditional style Provencal rosé is smooth and spicy. It's all about the texture and structure, complex fruit flavours including orange peel and peach and refreshing acidity to balance everything out. Pieter Rosenthal

Reds - £10-£25

Our wines are:

55) Yalumba Organic Cabernet Merlot 2019, Australia: Tesco £10 As organic wines at last seem to be attracting the price premium they deserve, it’s good to see Yalumba trumpeting the organic credentials of this wine. Bold and flavoursome, fruit forward, highly refreshing - and with that extra brightness and purity of fruit that one hopes for from an organic wine. Richard Bampfield MW

56) Artesano by Argento Malbec-Cabernet Franc 2018, Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina: Sainsbury’s £10 Artesano is a powerful blend of 70% Malbec with 30% Cabernet Franc. There is some oak influence too, though this is subtle. Rich and velvety with blueberry and plum fruit, that’s leavened by an appealing savouriness, a hint of violets and pencil shavings. This means a welcome complexity that many rivals lack at this price point. Beef and steak heaven. Sustainable credentials too; it’s not only organic but also Fairtrade. Paul Howard MBA 57) Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2017, Australia: Majestic (mix 6) £10.99 Jim Barry Wines always produce top notch award-winning wines, but this Shiraz is the best of recent vintages. Lots of black fruit, chocolate and black pepper with hints of violet and menthol, firm tannins and enough acidity to keep you coming back for more. The Aussie Shiraz-lover’s dream glass. Carole Hazlehurst 58) Les Hauts de Castelmaure Corbières 2018, France: Majestic (mix 6) £11.99 It can be hard for individual wines from familiar names like Corbières to stand out from the crowd, but I urge you to give this a try. It's a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan made by the Castelmaure co-op - so far so unremarkable. But it really is much better than it should be at this price: delectable, velvety texture with juicy mulberry and black cherry fruit with that background of Mediterranean herbs and black olive that is sometimes called garrigue. So drinkable! Heather Dougherty 59) Baron de Ley Rioja Reserva 2015, Spain: Tesco £12 On the nose sweet raspberries and redcurrants backed up by vanilla and caramel; on the palate gamey, earthy fruit follows balanced by silky tannins, medium-bodied with a fine finish. Remarkably good quality Rioja considering it’s made in large quantities. A perfect match for roast lamb. Christos Ioannou 60) Saperavi 2018 Tbilvino Georgian Valley Winery, Georgia: www.georgianwinesociety.co.uk £12.99 This deep mulberry coloured, intensely perfumed wine with rich black cherries, liquorice and dark chocolate, has very concentrated fruit flavours with a hint of black coffee. It is so good with spicy flavoured vegetable roasts and barbecues. Vivienne Franks

61) Luigi Bosca Malbec 2018 Mendoza, Argentina: Vivino £13.85 A really intense rich Malbec, beautifully balanced and packed full of flavour for the price. The Arizu Family have been making wine for over 100 years and the fourth generation-led team do not disappoint. Deep inky colour with intense dark fruits and integrated smooth tannins. A fine example of Malbec. Linda Simpson

62) Barton Merlot 2013 Walker Bay, South Africa: Stainton Wines £13.95 Deep coloured red with a bright ruby rim. Plum and dark chocolate are immediately sensed from the glass with dark fruit and spice coming through. Great balance on tasting with tight tannins, fresh acidity and lots of spicy damson. A long elegant finish, still drinking brilliantly now. Paul Quinn 63) Domaine Frédéric Mabileau, Les Rouillères, 2018 St Nicolas de Bourgueil, France: The Wine Society £14.95 From a producer who pays as much attention to the vineyard as the cellar. Made entirely from Cabernet Franc which thrives on the soil of St Nicolas de Bourgueil in the Loire Valley. This is an unoaked wine that offers a lovely purity of fruit. Hints of blackberry and red pepper with a good acid balance and nicely integrated tannins. Richard Goodacre 64) Brazin Old Vine Zinfandel 2018 Lodi, USA: Waitrose £14.99 Ruby red in colour. A very satisfying nose with vanilla, mocha and mulberry dominating the nose. Full-bodied with lots of ripe fruit showing well with blueberry and blackberry blending in with figs and spice. A long black fruit finish. Paul Quinn 65) Arnaud Aucoeur Morgon, Côte du Py 2018, France: Yapp Brothers £14.95 A cru Beaujolais from a famous site, this is very deep purple with ripe and voluptuous red fruits to the fore that combine almost seamlessly with supple and approachable tannins. This is drinking well now but has the potential to cellar for several years. It is simply delicious and better value than many red wines from its neighbour, Burgundy. Carolyn Bosworth-Davies 66) Zuccardi Apelación Cabernet Franc 2018, Uco Valley, Argentina: The Wine Reserve £16.99 The Surrey Wine Cellar £14.99 Cabernet Franc’s aromatic charms seem to have recently taken more of a step into the spotlight, and about time too. This charismatic example from Argentina’s Uco Valley is fresh and bright with just-ripe raspberry fruit flavours, firm tannins and vibrant acidity before a long, slightly herbal finish. Deborah Zbinden

67) Montaia Sangio Oro - Sangiovese Superiore Riserva 2015, Italy: www.gardenofitaly.co.uk £15.99 A sumptuous Sangiovese from the Romagna appellation, this is layered with dense cherry-scented fruit, African spices plus a lingering raisin-soaked finish. Ready to drink now or will continue developing for another 5-7 years. Stephen Barrett

68) 2018 John X Merriman, Stellenbosch, South Africa: Waitrose, Majestic (mix 6) £15.99 A classic Bordeaux blend offering generous amounts of blackberry, blackcurrant and cigar box on the nose. The palate follows through with all of the above plus subtle oak and approachable tannins. Hugely reliable year after year and very good value. Excellent with lamb and beef. Nancy Gilchrist MW 69) Nebbiolo d’Alba 2017, Giovanni Sordo, Piedmont, Italy Wine It £16.75 This Langhe Nebbiolo made from grapes grown in the municipality of Roero has a delicate perfume, spicy nuances and fine dusty tannins. Wonderful concentration of red berry fruit with violet highlights, this wine is incredibly lithe and elegant. Giusy Andreacchio 70) Fattoria Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano DOCG 2019, Grossetto, Toscana, Italy: Tivoli Wines £16.75 Elegant, this wine shows bright cherry and strawberry fruit with hints of toasted almonds and orange zest. Like a gentler, easy-drinking version of Chianti, medium-bodied with lively acidity and linen-textured tannins. A blend of 85% Sangiovese with 10% Alicante and 5% Ciliegiolo, it is a lovely wine. Perfect with Italian cured meats, melanzane alla parmigiana or even your favourite pizza. Patricia Stefanowicz MW

71) Oscar Tobia Rioja Reserva 2014, Spain: Bonafide Wines £18.49 Dense, black-red colour. This is intense, powerful, modern Rioja Reserva, with aromas of blackberry and liquorice, thick, smooth tannins and lovely balancing acidity. You could drink it now, or tuck it away for 10 years. Just the kind of red that is bolstering Rioja's reputation. Charles Metcalfe

72) Martínez Bujanda Rioja Gran Reserva 2010, Spain: Laithwaites (mix 12) £18.90
A delicious estate-bottled Gran Reserva which at this price (based on buying a mixed 12 wines) is unbeatable value. This is classic Rioja, with notes of liquorice, black cherry, a hundred and one spices, cigar box, vanilla and just a hint of leather. Fully mature, and ultra-smooth. Keith Grainger 73) Michele Chiarlo ‘I Cipressi’ Nizza DOCG 2017, Piedmont, Italy: Martin’s of Marino €28.99, Wineman £19.39 100% Barbera with balance, taste and complexity held together by brilliant and traditional wine making. Nizza was promoted to DOCG status in 2014 and ‘I Cipressi’ is one of the finest hill sites in this small region. Blue and red berry, herbal bouquet; rich and intense black cherry palate. Impressive value. Kevin Ecock 74) Coyam 2015, Emilana, Colchagua Valley, Chile: Vintage Roots £19.95 Chile’s original organic wine, made from a blend of almost every red grape variety you can imagine…and still arguably the best. A complex mix of dark fruits, spice and pepper, rich, satisfying and persistent. And, increasingly important these days, suitable for vegans. Richard Bampfield MW

75) Martedi, Paestum Rosso 2018, Vigneti Tardis, Campania, Italy: Noble Green (mix 6) £20.00 Berry Bros & Rudd £19.50 If you love Aglianico but can’t be bothered to wait for it to age this is a beautiful biodynamic version of this regal grape from the warmer Cilento area of Campania in southern Italy. The wine is super quality, elegant, more delicate and thoroughly drinkable but still with a tremendous amount of juicy, crunchy, spicy red and black fruit. Nina Cerullo

76) Creation Pinot Noir 2017, Hemel-en-Aarde, Walker Bay, South Africa: Creation Wines £21.50, South Africa House of Wine £22.99 A classic from the famous Hemel-en-Aarde Valley oozing red berry & vanilla with a smooth tannin structure. Heaven in a glass. Dr Winnie Bowman 77) RAATS Family Cabernet Franc 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa: The Wine Society £22 RAATS specialise in Cabernet Franc, one of my favourite red grape varieties which I feel is often undervalued when what it gives is subtle yet flavoursome, elegant yet robust. This impressive and expressive example does not disappoint on any level – aroma, taste, body or texture all are exceptional and well-balanced here. Laura Clay 78) Julian Reynolds Grande Reserva 2012, Alentejo, Portugal: Wright Wine Co £22.50 (pls call to place order) This is a vineyard that always delivers so try and get hold of a bottle of this Robert Parker-awarded wine if you can. Dark red in colour, with a great nose of wild berries and spice with black fruit on the palate and soft tannins. It’s suitable for keeping. Brian Davis 79) Domaine of the Bee Carignan 2018, Côtes Catalanes, France: Domaine of the Bee £22 Can Carignan make really great wine? For so long it was derided as a poor quality variety, but more recently, carefully made versions from old vines (80 years old in this case) have made the case for Carignan. This one, made by Master of Wine Justin Howard-Sneyd, shows lovely depth of flavour, with notes of liquorice and bramble on a beautifully textured palate and a seam of bright acidity. If you’re a Carignan doubter, you must try it! Heather Dougherty 80) 'Aris' Ciró Classico Superiore 2016, Sergio Arcuri, Calabria, Italy: Philglas Swiggot, Noble Grape £22.99 Deep black cherry with lifted hints of wild strawberries. The palate continues with notes of dried herbs, earthy undertones, bitter coffee and a gentle kiss of black olives. It is easy to see why many call Ciró the 'Barolo of the South', as this wine has all the power and aromatic charm of serious Nebbiolo. Giusy Andreacchio 81) The Society’s Exhibition Margaux 2015, Bordeaux, France: The Wine Society £24 Sourced from the younger vines of the top Château Brane-Cantenac and aged for 12 months in the château’s cellars. Delicious aromatics of dark fruit with cedar and old leather armchairs. Supple, velvety tannins with ripe plummy fruit flavours and great complexity. Sensational Margaux at this price, from a fabulous vintage. Richard Esling 82) Mas Blanch I Jove Sao Expressiu 9,21 2011, Spain: The Good Spirits Co. £24 This delightfully complex Catalonian red shows the best of the Mediterranean. A blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Tempranillo, it has aromas of red and black fruits with balsamic flavours and a touch of aniseed that provide a distinct freshness. Soft, yet potent on the palate bursting with forest fruits and sweet spices and a hint of sweet oak on the long and complex finish, all rounded off with velvety tannins. Pieter Rosenthal

Sparkling

Our wines are:

83) Arestel Cava Brut NV, Spain: Lidl £5.79 I realise it probably seems ridiculous to be recommending a Cava at £5.79, but this is a good, authentic example, as good as most Prosecco’s at twice the price. With typical notes of lemon peel and earthiness, it is dry, with well integrated fizz and excellent overall balance. Richard Bampfield MW

84) Graham Beck Brut NV, South Africa: Majestic (mix 6) £11.99, Waitrose £14.99 Excellent value fizz, this Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend is made by the traditional method. It is creamy but still light with fine bubbles. Definitely for lovers of Champagne but without the price tag. It goes well with nibbles before a meal, or on its own for a celebration. Carole Hazlehurst 85) Cuvée Royal Crémant de Limoux Brut NV, France: Waitrose £11.99 This is a traditional method sparkling wine made from 70% Chardonnay with Chenin Blanc from the region where sparkling wine was first documented. Fragrant with biscuit and toasty notes, it’s bone dry and savoury with a toasty edge to the citrus and pear. Carol Brown 86) Vilarnau Gaudi Reserva Cava NV, Penedès, Spain: Tesco £12 A consistent medal winner, this modern face of classic cava delights with its lively apple and pear freshness and gentle persistent fizz. Classy party and anytime wine. Nancy Gilchrist MW 87) Gospel Green Sparkling Cyder, England: Cider is Wine £16 Wonderfully crisp, austere, appley aromas, with hints of elderflower and lemon. Bottle-fermented cider, made from apples grown less than a mile from the cider house. This is distinguished cider, lean and precise. Another great sparkling drink from England. Charles Metcalfe 88) Chapel Down Sparkling Bacchus Brut 2019, England: Waitrose , Majestic £17.99 As England’s wine production increases, it is likely that we will see prices come down and more non-traditional method sparklers on the market. So this wine gives a hint of what’s to come - excellent, aromatic Bacchus fruit and expression supported by well-balanced fizz and good depth of flavour. Richard Bampfield MW 89) Polgoon Single Estate Seyval Blanc Sparkling 2014, England: From the winery online £24.95 Striking floral aromas, green apple, pear, a lovely youthful sparkling wine; superbly refreshing. Ian Symonds 90) Champagne Castelnau Reserve Brut, France: The Wine Society £29.50 I feel no shame in recommending this champagne for the second time in 100 AWESome Wines. It was great value then and it is even better value now, especially if you can stretch to buying 6 bottles at once when the price comes down to £24.50. It is gorgeously rich and toasty with a freshness and complexity which makes it equally good as an aperitif as it is with food. Laura Clay

Sweet

Our wines are:

91) Domaine Rotier Renaissance Vendages Tardive 2015, Gaillac, France: Waitrose Online (50cl) £15.49 Made from the rare Loin de l’Oeil grape from South-West France this is a luscious, rich, absolutely delicious dessert wine with mango, quince and honey flavours. Deservedly multi award-winning. Christos Ioannou 92) Fairview, La Beryl Blanc 2018 Paarl, South Africa: Frontier Wines (50cl) £20.25 Perhaps one of the most delicious wines I tasted all year. A traditional straw wine made from Chenin Blanc and Muscat. Unctuously silky sweet, divinely honeyed, spicy tropical fruit and superb racy acidity. What’s not to love! Nina Cerullo

Fortified

Our wines are:

93) Alegria Manzanilla Sherry Bodegas Williams & Humbert, Spain: (half bottle) Waitrose £5.49 Despite being light and bone dry this sherry from Sanlúcar de Barrameda is pungent and intense. It is an excellent example of the Manzanilla style offering a salty, refreshing tang which livens up the palate. An ideal aperitif it is also excellent with a plate of fresh seafood. Delicious. Richard Goodacre

94) El Benito Manzanilla Pasada Seco, Spain: Waitrose £11.99 Part of the elite No.1 range, extended ageing (pasada) has enhanced the mouthfeel and complexity of this dry sherry. The classic, uber-fresh salty tang remains with added layers of fresh yeast, anise and smoky minerality. It is multi-dimensional with a long presence; classic tapas and richer dishes such as pork belly will love this. Patty Green 95) No.1 Lustau Torre del Oro Palo Cortado, Spain: Waitrose £11.99 A rare style of dry sherry, between an oloroso and amontillado. Deep amber colour with aromas and flavours creating a unique flavour profile of candied fruit, orange rind, dried apricots, sultana raisins and nuts and with a long dry flavoursome finish. Produced exclusively for Waitrose and a first class example of a Palo Cortado at a keen price. Richard Esling 96) Cayetano del Pino Palo Cortado, Spain: Wine Society £16 This shining example of Sherry’s mystical Palo Cortado has all the savoury complexity you could hope for. Fans of the style will enjoy toasty hazelnuts, citrus-peel flavours and a slightly bitter-almond marzipan character. The surprising weight comes through with its saline finish. Pass the cheese board, please. Deborah Zbinden 97) Lustau East India Solera Rich Oloroso, Spain: The Good Wine Shop £22.50, The Whisky Exchange £21.25, The Drink Shop £22.56, Waitrose £11.99 (50cl) A little taste of luxury but offering incredible value, this absolute treasure is the perfect style of sherry for those confidently indulging their sweet tooth. Nutty layers of deep Oloroso richness are carefully entwined with the raisined, creme brûlée notes brought by the Pedro Ximenez. A year-round treat, best enjoyed chilled with sticky puddings. Deborah Zbinden 98) Matusalem Gonzalez Byass, Spain: Waitrose (37.5 cl) £19.99 Aged for 30 years, this wonderful rich, nutty, sweet Oloroso Sherry overflows with flavours of dried fruits, dark treacle, molasses and baking spices. Great for a warming and complex after-dinner treat, or for sipping with soaked fruit cake on a cool afternoon. Keith Grainger 99) Quinta do Noval Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port 2011, Portugal: Berry Bros & Rudd £24.50 Quite simply the best LBV I've ever tasted. That overused term 'layers' of ripe black fruit suddenly makes sense, here with liquorice, spice and even floral notes, all with rich, smoothly ripe tannins. Make sure you decant it. Dr Helen Savage

Sake

Our wines are:

100) Komachi Sakura Futsu-Shu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan: The Spärrows Restaurant £20 A multi IWC award winner, both gold medal and great value categories. Equally enjoyable lightly chilled or warm. Delicate floral, stone fruit, melon and ‘Ume’ plum characters come out when chilled. More savoury traits of toasted grains and sweet malt when warmed. A great accompaniment to fried foods or rich, creamy dishes. John Callow

100 great value wines as recommended by wine professionals

White - Under £10

Rose - Under £10

Reds - Under £10

White - £10-£25

Rose - £10-£25

Reds - £10-£25

Sparkling

Sweet

Fortified

Sake