Mike Tipping finds some thrifty tipples to ease the post-budget blues.

I'm fed up with Gordon Brown putting up the price of wine. It won't alter the way I vote in the forthcoming general election but I'm annoyed with the inevitability of the increase in duty on wine, that comes with every budget speech.

I hope whoever is Chancellor of the Exchequer next budget day will, like me, see red and reverse this trend.

The so called 'nanny state' should positively encourage red wine drinking. After all, we are told that drinking sensible amounts of red has numerous health benefits.

In the meantime, those of us prone to being thrifty with our own budget could try the following new arrivals from Chile.

On the shelves at Morrisons and larger Safeway stores all four examples from vineyards in the Maule region sell at £2.99 a bottle and are sealed with scewcaps.

Cielo de Luz Sauvignon Blanc 2004 is the only white in the bunch and sadly the one with least appeal. It's a little sharp and lacking in character.

The three reds are far better, all would be perfect for barbecues and at the right price too.

Cielo de Luz Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 is a fruity, medium bodied glugger with hints of raspberry, blackberry and a little oak.

Offering a little more spice is Cielo de Luz Carmenere 2004. This one makes for easy drinking despite the crushed stinging nettle and bramble flavours.

Best of all with soft plum and cherry to the fore is Cielo de Luz Merlot 2004. The richest of the three reds by my reckoning and worth three pounds of anyone's money.

Forgive me for flying off at a tangent but if I could just borrow Dr Who's Tardis, I would add the following white to a number of organic red wines that were tasted in Tipping's Tipples last week.

Just when I thought I wasn't going to find any organic whites worth raving about I discovered this charming example from South Africa. Kumala Organic Colombard Chardonnay 2004 is a refreshing and flavoursome drop, especially when you consider it sells for less than five pounds.

This blossom-scented blend has flavours of zesty grapefruit, tangy lemon, nuts and spices.

It tastes like it should cost a lot more but don't let Mr Brown find out!

Cielo de Luz Sauvignon Blanc 2004, £2.99 at Morrison's and larger Safeway stores. 12/20

Cielo de Luz Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, £2.99 at Morrison's and larger Safeway stores. 14/20

Cielo de Luz Carmenere 2004, £2.99 at Morrison's and larger Safeway stores. 14/20

Cielo de Luz Merlot 2004, £2.99 at Morrison's and larger Safeway stores. 16/20

Kumala Organic Colombard Chardonnay 2004, £4.88 at Asda. 17/20

Updated: 08:37 Saturday, April 02, 2005