Wine box

LAYTONS Wine Vaults, 20 Midland Road, London NW1 (071-388 5081) is having a sale of a 'truly outstanding selection' of fine bin-ends - and for for today only, Laytons will pay the VAT.

Fullers and Oddbins have taken on the new 1991 Montana Cabernet Sauvignon, which, at pounds 4.99, with its soft blackcurrant fruitiness and hint of grassiness, is one of New Zealand's best-value reds.

Also good value, Sainsbury's Crozes-Hermitage, pounds 4.55, has the sweet-savoury, faintly antiseptic nose of classic northern Rhone syrah and good underlying robust blackberryish fruit. In equally warming syrah vein, but with Australian fruit sweetness predominant, is Leasingham's Hutt Creek Shiraz-Cabernet 1990, pounds 4.99, Augustus Barnett.

Despite the cheap-looking label, Sainsbury's Hungarian Cabernet Sauvignon 1986, pounds 4.95, selected stores, is worth a try. Its piquant, sweet-and- sour capsicum aromas herald a surprising richness of texture. Also from Hungary, from the Szoloskert Co-operative, north- east of Budapest, Sainsbury's bright-pink, aromatic Nagyrede Cabernet Sauvignon Rose , pounds 2.99, attacks the palate with a refreshing spritz and fruity strawberry-cup sweetness.