3 Best wines from the High Street

2020 Campaneo Old Vines Garnacha £5 at Tesco

Of Tesco’s two nicely crafted £5 reds from Campo de Borja in Spain, I prefer this garnacha (grenache) to the tempranillo. Despite being straightforward with only modest texture, it provides attractive plum, strawberry and cherry flavours partnered by good acidity, firm tannin and touches of thyme, eucalyptus and cinnamon.

2020 Wine Atlas Feteasca Regala £5 at Asda

No review of the bargain wines I traditionally showcase in the first column every January can be complete without this long standing, great value Romanian white from Asda. Don’t let its unpronounceable name deter you, this is lovely wine. Light bodied (with just 11.5% alcohol) and delightfully perfumed, it has soft pear, apricot and red apple flavours coupled with modest sherbet influenced acidity, floral elements and hints of sweetness.

2018 Mimo Moutinho Portuguese Blend

£3.99 at Aldi

Perhaps because it is led by a little-known Portuguese grape variety (trincadeira), this red blend is astonishing value for money, easily outperforming most similarly priced offerings. Smooth and medium bodied, it delivers rounded loganberry and bramble flavours supported by clove, cocoa and vanilla components, gentle acidity and minimal tannin.

ON-WINE SHOPPING 2020 Voyage Au Sud Vermentino £5.99 at www.waitrose cellar.com

Given Waitrose’s limited physical presence in Scotland, their reliable on-line service could be a good route to some of the inexpensive wines they sell, like this everyday Languedoc white. Opening with firm and bright lemon acidity, it supplements all that freshness with tasty peach flavours and sufficient depth to add richness and, consequently, produce white wine that sits at a sort of crossroads between sauvignon blanc and chardonnay.