Susy Atkins gets her trolley at the ready for Tesco’s new arrivals

Tesco has more than 2,650 stores across the UK so chances are if you’re a wine lover, you’ve bought a bottle – or more – from the retailer.

In time for the autumn (and with a beady eye on Christmas), Tesco’s team has recently added more branded wines to its range and this week showed a wide selection along with many new vintages of its own label to journalists.

Not everything impressed this one (I found the Finest Vintage Cava 2016, Spain, too lean and the Brumale Nobile di Montepulciano 2015, Italy, too bitter), but there were plenty of highlights. As well as the star champagne (below right), I thoroughly recommend the toasty and refined Finest Franciacorta NV (12.5%, £15) Italian fizz and gorgeous golden, peaches-and-cream Hattingley Classic Reserve NV sparkler from Hampshire (12%, £29).

In the white corner, and again rather high-end, don’t miss the juicy, lemon-streaked Finest Sancerre 2018, Loire (13%, £14), or the Australian on the right. Bargain hunters though will love the new kiwi and grapefruit-flavoured, jauntily youthful Mountain Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2019, South Africa ( just 11.5%, £5).

Standout reds included the reasonably priced, cassis-rich Tesco Bordeaux Superieur 2018, France (13%, £6.75), the well-balanced, black cherryish Finest Fairtrade Malbec 2019, Western Cape, South Africa (13%, £7.50) and the more unusual Italian I’ve tipped here.

Finally, don’t trolley-dash past Tesco’s ports this autumn – its Finest LBV Port 2013, Portugal (20%) is smooth but packed with sweet plums and fruitcake – a snip at £11.

D’ARENBERG OLIVE GROVE CHARDONNAY 2018

South Australia (13.7%, £12)

A ripe and rounded premium Aussie chardonnay with fresh citrus and yellow plum fruit, aged in French oak for seven months to give a subtle vanilla sheen. One for roast chicken.

IL PASSO SEGRETO APPASSIMENTO SANGIOVESE 2017

Emilia Romagna, Italy (14%, £8.50)

The grapes for this, a blend of local varieties, were dried for 60 days after harvest, which gives a delicious prune and raisin edge to the wine. It finishes on a fresher red-cherry lift and is gorgeous with hard cheeses.

FINEST PREMIER CRU CHAMPAGNE NV

France (12.5%, £20)

Tesco’s non-vintage Premier Cru Champagne, long a great buy, is currently on outstanding form. It’s mainly chardonnay, but a big dollop (30 per cent) of pinot noir in the blend adds a gorgeous raspberry note to the creamy, rich but dry and fresh fizz.