Poor mans Champagne

Acon Cagua Sauvignon, Central Valley, Chile 2008, 13%, €6.49.

Dunnes did well; plenty of decent wines, and one star, too. Light and crisp, with some Sauvignon character and a deceptively long finish. Good summer drinking with or without food. Stockist: Dunnes Stores.

Wally’s Hut Verdelho, South East Australia 2008, 13.5%, €6.99. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this wine; it isn’t my style, but if you are a Yellow Tail drinker, it will be right up your street. Intense tropical aromas, bucket loads of bananas and custard on the palate, with a sweetish finish. To be drunk on its own. Stockist: Supervalu, Centra.

Mâcon-Villages Henri de Lorgére 2008, 12.5%, €7.69. Was I unfair to Aldi? I don’t think so; most scored at the higher level of acceptable, but lacked that spark to be classed as good. Decent well-made wine with light, but pleasant green apple fruits. A good all-rounder, best with plain fish dishes. Stockist: Aldi.

Santa Helena Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2008, 13%, €7.49. Both the Sauvignon and rosé from Saint Helena did very well; the rosé is a very decent grown-up wine with plenty of ripe redcurrants, cut through with some mouth-watering acidity. The finish is dry. This would do very nicely with summer lunches and light suppers. Stockists : Spar, Eurospar, Mace.

Cimarosa Pinotage, Paarl, South Africa 2008, 14%, €5.25. Very ripe, jammy, easy damson and soft cassis fruits, and a rounded finish. Unlike any Pinotage I have tasted, should do the trick for barbecues. Stockist: Lidl.

Tesco Shiraz, South Eastern Australia, 12.5%, €6.99. Seemed a little sweet, but otherwise very gluggable wine, with plenty of soft ripe damsons and cassis, a bit of power, and a sprinkle of spicy oak. Stockist: Tesco

Popolino IGT Siciliana 2008, 13%, €6.99. Very moreish light cherry aromas and fruit on the palate; a nice squeeze of acidity, too, making this the perfect wine to drink with all kinds of pasta and pizzas. Stockist: M&S

Classic Collection Côtes du Rhône 2007, 14%, €7. Superquinn let themselves down a bit by submitting a few jaded white wines from the 2007 vintage. I suspect fresher wines would have seen them score higher. But this was the wine of the tasting, and one of the best-value wines I have tasted all year. Rich, supple, rounded dark cherry and liquorice fruits that explode in the mouth. A steal at €7. Stockist: Superquinn.