Simple, fruity and attractive: The best cheap wines

OUR expert picks brilliant bottles that are easy on the palate and the wallet.

One of the best pieces of news in the world of wine is that cheap bottles have never been so good. Twenty years back, cheap wine was hard to swallow, and a trawl through the bottom shelves of the supermarket could yield some horror bottles.

But times have changed and I’m amazed by just how good some cheap wines are, considering how much of the bottle price is taken up by tax and duty.

Here are seven highly drinkable bottles that won’t break the bank. 

Tesco Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley, Chile £4.50, Tesco, 12.5% alcohol

The Central Valley is the source of a lot of decent but inexpensive wine. This is simple, fruity and a bit grapey, with zingy citrus fruits. 

Tesco Finest Old Vines Garnacha 2014, Campo de Borja, Spain £5, Tesco, 14% alcohol

From old grenache vines, this is amazing value. It’s sweetly fruited and attractive with rounded cherry and berry fruits, and perfect balance and purity. 

Carlos Minairo Tempranillo 2014, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain £3.29, Asda, 12.5% alcohol

How can a wine be this cheap, given tax and duty? Well, it is, and it’s not at all bad. Juicy and bright, it has sweet, plummy red fruits and is definitely quaffable. 

Morrisons Chenin Blanc 2015, Western Cape, South Africa £4, Morrisons, 12.5% alcohol

South Africa is a good source of affordable wine and much of it is made from the versatile chenin blanc grape variety. Simple and attractive, this is a very fruity wine with rounded apple and pear fruit. 

Winemakers’ Selection Reciente Rioja NV, Spain £5, Sainsbury’s, 13.5% alcohol

Sweet caramel, coconut and vanilla aromas complement the red fruit in this juicy rioja. There’s a lot of sweet oak here and it would be perfect for those who love that typical rioja character. 

Waitrose Southern French Grenache 2015 Pays d’Oc, France £6.49, Waitrose, 13.5% alcohol

Supple, rounded and sweetly fruited, this is a textured red showing cherry and plum fruit. It’s smooth and easy to drink.

Notre Dame de Cousignac Luberon Rouge 2014, France £6.25, thewinesociety.com (01438 741177), 13.5% alcohol

From the Luberon hills in the south of France, this affordable red is stony, fresh and spicy with some peppery notes and hints of spice. It’s great for the price.