Weekend wines

Wanting to splash out a little bit more to celebrate your weekend in style? As a companion selection to our 25 wines under £20, the Decanter team has selected seven standout bottles that are sure to impress, all available in the UK and priced between £20 and £50

Co-op, Les Pionniers, Champagne, France 2012 93

£26.99

Co-op

Complex, yeasty nose of wheat crackers and lemons, dried apricots, bruised apples and sourdough. Creamy and intense, with buttered brioche, roasted nuts, yellow apple and tangerine peel on the palate. A backbone of sharp acidity, plus a long, biscuity finish. Excellent quality and value. SW Alc 12%

Rainer Wess, Ried Weinzierlberg Ungrafted Reserve Grüner Veltliner, Kremstal, Austria 2017

91

£27

The Wine Society

From one of the oldest vineyards in Kremstal. Made in the smaragd style, this has real concentration, structure and length. A treat, with complexity from peach notes and a spicy, nutty evolution. AW Alc 13.5%

Orin Swift, Palermo, Napa Valley, California, USA 2017 90

£44.99

Majestic

A Gallo-owned brand known for its quirky labels and opulent reds. Cabernet Sauvignon with some Syrah and Merlot, this shows ripe blackberry, cherry jam, stewed prunes, vanilla nougat and caramel oak on a full-bodied palate with chewy, earthy tannins. TG Alc 15%

Tardieu-Laurent, Vieilles Vignes Blanc, Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône, France 2018 93

£32.55

Corney & Barrow

Delicate citrus and quince, plus floral and butterscotch aromas. Elegant, with honeyed tones, citrus and stone fruit; a herbal note, stony minerality and juicy acidity balance the generous texture. Only 3,000 bottles made. JS Alc 14%

Nga Waka, Pinot Noir, Wairarapa, Martinborough, New Zealand 2016 91

£23.95

Jeroboams

This has a wonderful nose of ripe red cherries, crushed rose petals and liquorice spice. It’s an ample, concentrated wine with a core of dark fruits, a savoury truffle edge and spicy sides. The texture is smooth and silky, juicy with a refreshing and long finish. GH Alc 14%

Poggio al Tesoro, Il Seggio, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy 2017 90

£23-£26

Hic, Roberson

A Bordeaux blend based on 50% Merlot. Rich and tarry with aromas and flavours of bonfire smoke, black berries, black cherry, pepper and cardamom. Ripe and extracted, it pulls few punches but remains remarkably well balanced: a persistent line of acidity cuts through the noise. JB Alc 14.5%

Gabriëlskloof, Elodie Chenin Blanc, Swartland, South Africa 2018 94

£22.48 Lay & Wheeler

Pristine, complex Chenin from sustainably farmed dryland bush vines more than 40 years old, in Swartland and Durbanville. Lifted aromas of peach skin, honeyed pear and dried apple continue on a textured, saline palate of florals and sweet hay. Natural acidity balances the opulent fruit, good structure and spice from judicious oak, with a wild-yeast tang on the long, creamy finish. TG Alc 13%