Top 10 small bottles

Heidsieck & Co., Dry Monopole NV (37.5cl)

From a champagne house founded in 1755, this is a fine little drop. Slightly toasty and minerally, the lemon floral nose is followed on the palate by clean and crisp acidic backbone.

Billecart Salmon Rosé NV (37.5cl)

Often regarded as one of the finest sparkling rosés it is possible to get your hands on, this blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier has fresh strawberry aromas with some creamy intensity. Very stylish fizz on the palate with delicate red fruit and a long finish.

Olivier Leflaive, Montagny 1er Cru Bonneveaux, Burgundy 2006 (37.5cl)

From one of Burgundy’s stars, this wine is crisp and intense with ripe, appley fruit, citrus and some smoky, flint-like minerality – good complexity in other words. It’s polished off by a nice lingering length.

Villa Maria, Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2007 (37.5cl)

Many find the Private Bin Sauvignon Blancs of Villa Maria more quaffable than some of the winery’s more expensive options. This is a drier style with gentle fruit flavours and creamy passion fruit and gooseberry notes. A good length and finish.

Château Tour Prignac, Médoc, Cru Bourgeois 2003 (37.5cl)

Tour Prignac is a pretty consistent performer and in the ’03 you can certainly taste the vintage. There’s some lovely, pronounced dark cherry fruit on the nose and ripe, warm, creamy redcurrant flavours in the mouth. This is a well-rounded and a well-balanced wine.

Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (37.5cl)

Casillero del Diablo is a very reliable brand and always performs well at our tastings. This wine is full of fresh blackcurrant fruits with some vibrant and refreshing juicy notes. The palate is smooth and balanced.

d’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2004 (37.5cl)

Probably the most well known wine from the d’Arenberg range, this is imbued with plenty of toasty oak and lots of concentration. Rich and spicy with a touch of blueberry, this is a big wine with rich tannins and intense oak characters. A perfect winter warmer.

Chiarlo, Moscato d’Asti, ‘Nivole’, Piemonte 2007 (37.5 cl)

Good Moscato d’Asti usually puts a smile on anyone’s face and this offering is no different. This is elegant and full of honey-coated apricots and nectarines, with the sweetness and fresh acidity finely balanced. Fantastic.

Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference, 12yr old Amontillado (50cl)

Another cracking member of Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference sherry portfolio. It’s absolutely stuffed with toasted almonds and liquorish, plus shows a slightly wild, animal edge. Extremely full bodied, this is intense from top to tail.

Cockburn’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port (50cl)

Dangerously quaffable and blessed with nutty spice and youthful red fruit. The palate displays further spicy kicks and a slightly creamy facets. This is juicy, well-balanced, and the flavours linger nicely in the mouth.