Wines of the times

12:56pm Monday 30th June 2008

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A quiet revolution in wine making has been spearheaded by go-ahead producer Dourthe.

Their young team of winemakers have been making delicious, modern wines with British palates in mind. Representing the very best of Bordeaux, without an expensive price tag, Dourthe's offering is the perfect choice for Francophiles on Bastille Day (July 14).

Whether it's a silky red or zesty white, a tasty selection is now available in UK supermarkets to suit all palates and pockets. Here are a couple of reds to whet your appetite. À votre santé!

Dourthe Barrel Select Bordeaux Rouge 2005 £6.99 Tesco, Threshers Rain or shine, this Merlot dominated Bordeaux is excellent with steak, drum sticks or sausages.

It has with lovely blackberry aromas with silky tannins, a hint of vanilla and an attractive round finish.

Château Pey la Tour Réserve 2005, Bordeaux Supérieur £9.49 Waitrose One of the most successful wines produced by Dourthe. Lovely intense fruit on the nose, it combines red and black fruit aromas with notes of liquorice and vanilla. Rich and full bodied on the palate with silky tannins.

n CROFT is one of the oldest of the original port houses and was founded over four centuries ago in 1588.

It is the owner of one of the most famous properties in the Douro Valley, the beautiful estate of Quinta da Roeda, whose wines from the cornerstone of the distinctive Croft house style.

This innovative new Rose style of port has been made by a new technique which extracts fresh, fruity flavours and a subtle and delicate pink colour from limited contact with the skins of classic port grape varieties, grown in top quality vineyards of the Douro Valley.

The result is wonderfully fresh and vibrant, full of the rich fruit flavours of port but with a unique and distinctive appeal.

Attractive floral notes underline the pungent, aromatic raspberry fruit aromas. The palate is full of deliciously ripe cherry and raspberry fruit flavours with lovely nuances of honey and grapefruit.

It has created the perfect opportunity for port to be consumed in the warmer months of the year when port may not otherwise be the drink of choice.