White: Berrys Own Selection Alsace Pinot Blanc NV
(Berry Bros & Rudd, £8.95). What a lovely change - and timely, with Alsace wines spotlit in restaurants through November (more details below). See Bottle of the Week.
Red: Berrys Own Selection French Country Red, Syrah, Vin de Pays d'Oc, NV
(Berry Bros & Rudd, £6.50). Here's good value and great drinkability - from Domaines Virginie, a soft, ripe southern French red with lingering peppery punch.
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Cartlidge & Brown Zinfandel 1997
(Berry Bros & Rudd, £9.95; also On the Grapevine, Dalkey, Redmonds Ranelagh, McCabes Merrion, Thomas's Foxrock). Not an overblown monster but a lighter, more elegant style of Zin that's still juicy and lush as can be.