Something For The Weekend: 2002 Heemskerk Tasmania Sauvignon Blanc<br></br>1999 Marqués de Murrieta Ygay<br></br>2001 Le Jardin des Cigales Merlot

Saturday

2002 Heemskerk Tasmania Sauvignon Blanc, £6.99, Marks & Spencer

This new vintage, aromatic sauvignon blanc from Australia's cool island haven of Tasmania is fragrantly fresh and delicately dry. All the typical elderflower and grassy aromas of the grape are allied to a zingy-fresh gooseberry and tropical fruitiness. Works well with Chinese chicken or pork with noodles.

Sunday

1999 Marqués de Murrieta Ygay, Reserva, £9.99, Sainsbury's, Safeway

Still vigorously youthful for a Rioja reserva, this is an attractive modern Spanish style from the increasingly impressive traditional family company of Murrieta, an accessible, cherrryish tempranillo-based red with seamlessly crafted, lightly-spiced oak and approachable tannins. Hard to think of anything better with a traditional roast beef and Yorkshire pud.

Any day

2001 Le Jardin des Cigales Merlot, Vin de Pays d'Oc, £3.99, Safeway.

This affordable southern French red is a good example of how the Saint Emilion grape, merlot, has been successfully transplanted to the Languedoc region to produce, in this instance, a heartily rustic, cherry and strawberry fruity red at a very acceptable price. Just the job for classic pizza margherita, marinara or pasta with an amatriciana sauce. AR