ALWAYS wear your reading glasses, they could save you several thousands of pounds. If you are dining in a swanky Knightsbridge eatery that is.

I received an email yesterday from Keith Massey, well known to readers of this journal as a regular contributor to the letters page, which told of a recent dining experience.

Keith was ordering the wine, in said posh London restaurant, but was squinting as he had forgotten his spectacles. “I opted for a Burgundy at £18, thinking it was good value,” he related.

Fortunately, the waiter queried his choice, pointing out how expensive the wine he had chosen was.

It wasn’t £18 it was an £18,000 bottle of Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Cros Parantoux 1990. Perhaps Keith should have gone to a well known high street optician before visiting the restaurant?

Anyway, Keith goes on to say that he plumped for a £30 bottle in the end, which he described as, “excellent”. Plus he has ‘dined out’ on the story several times since.

You won’t need eighteen grand to buy any of the three red wines recommended this week. There again, I’ve not included any top Burgundy!

For a basic but very quaffable claret, you could do much worse than choosing a bottle of Château Brassac 2012, which is currently on offer at the Co-operative. It is silky textured, with flavours of raspberries, plums and spices and some supple tannins.

New to Majestic Wine is a tasty pinotage, Bellingham Pinopasso 2013 from South Africa. Called Pinopasso because it is inspired by the ‘ripasso’ wines of northern Italy, this one is smoky and spicy, with lots of black cherry fruit and raspberries.

Or splash out on Viu Manent Vibo Punta del Viento 2011, from Chile’s Colchagua Valley region. A blend of grenache, mourvèdre and syrah, it is structured and quite savoury, with toasty oak notes and black and red-fruit flavours.

Château Brassac 2012, Bordeaux Supérieur, £7.49 ‘til March 17 at The Co-operative 16/20
Bellingham Pinopasso 2013, Coastal Region, £7.49 (when you buy two) at Majestic 17/20
Viu Manent Vibo Punta del Viento 2011, £17.68 from spiritedwines.co.uk 17/20