Wines of the week

Ciconia Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal 2009 (£7.99, or £6.39 as part of a mixed case of six, Oddbins ) This beautifully put-together red from the warmth of Alentejo in southern Portugal, is a genuine bargain, combining richness with that elusive concept, elegance. The wine is a blend of aragones, touriga nacional and alicante bouschet, there is succulence to the juicy red fruit (cherries, raspberries) and an effortless smoothness to the tannins. Paul Mas Estate Gardemiel Vineyard Malbec, IGP Pays d'Oc, France (£8.99, or £6.49 if you buy two, Majestic ) The prolific Languedoc producer Jean-Claude Mas is forever coming up with startlingly well-priced wines in a bewildering array of labels and retailers. At the offer price of £6.49, this is stonking good value: lots of classically plummy fruit from the malbec grape, and a lifted, violet-edged nose from the teeny (10%) drop of cabernet franc. Chunky stuff for rich meaty food. Puklavec & Friends Sauvignon Blanc, Slovenia 2009 (£8.99, reduced to £6.74 until 5 April, Waitrose ) Slovenia's white wines are one of Europe's best-kept secrets, but Waitrose is doing its best to change that with a cheeky offer on this attractive sauvignon blanc. It is a very pure, limpid and aromatic version of sauvignon, with zippy acidity and fruit flavours that are more on the citrus end of the spectrum than the punchy tropical notes you tend to get from New Zealand.