The Price is Right

and priced to drink! The three bottles below are each stickered just under a tenner and adaptable to most meals and, even better, soft enough to be sipped alone.

Domaine Clavel Cado 2004: Truly budget wines rarely appear from the vineyards of Pierre Clavel, making this 2004 Cado an even better buy than most. Quite dry and alot of punch for the price, so pair wisely with aged cheeses, seared duck breasts or beef or lamb.

Bodega Septima Syrah 2005: Far more elegant than the connotations arising from the unfortunate name "bodega", this exceptionally jammy Syrah is perfect with any lightly roasted or grilled meat. Why not capitalize on the heavy fruit flavors and serve with a peach-glazed pork tenderloin, as Cafe Drake did below for a recent dinner with David Sellers?

Casillero del Diablo Reserve Carmenere 2006: Cafe Drake had reservations on this $10 Chilean bottle, but we loved the blackberry and chocolate notes of Chile's unique grape. Buy a case for this summer's backyard barbecues.