White: Huia Chardonnay, Marlborough, 1998
(On the Grapevine, £11.95; also Searsons Monkstown, Michael's Wines Mt Merrion, DeVine Wine Shop Castleknock, Wine Centre Kilkenny). Simply one of the best New World Chardonnays I've tasted in what seems like an eternity. Hats off to New Zealand for harmony and restraint.
Red: Alamos Ridge Malbec, Mendoza, Bodegas Esmeralda, 1996
(On the Grapevine, £8.95, also Searsons Monkstown, Michael's Wines Mt Merrion, Wine Centre Kilkenny, O'Donovans Cork, De Vine Wines Letterkenny). Argentina shows how serious it's getting with this lovely, spicy, toasty red from a top producer. (If you think this is good, trade one level further up to Catena in Searsons!)
Aloxe-Corton, Domaine Latour, 1996
(On the Grapevine, £19.99; also Jus de Vine Portmarnock, Lord Mayors Swords, Nolans Clontarf, Mitchells Kildare St & Glasthule, Redmonds Ranelagh, McCabes Merrion, O'Donovans Cork and some other outlets). A Latour winner from a great year : it will keep for long enough but is also divinely drinkable right now.