In Tipping's Tipples this week, Mike Tipping checks out some supermarket bargains.

I've been humming and hawing for the past few days. All over one bottle of wine and whether or not I should give it a Tipping's Tipples maximum rating of five stars.

It would be the first to get this dubious accolade. Other wines have come near to five stars. Most fall short because I think that they are perhaps overpriced or missing a little bit of something.

Gerard Bertrand Coteaux Du Languedoc 2001 isn't overpriced at just over £7.

It's a clich but this wine tastes as if it cost twice as much. What's more, you get £2 off this impressive red until August 10 at Tesco.

The wine is a blend of three grapes; grenache, syrah and mourvedre.

It's almost the colour of blackcurrant, but this has no bearing on the flavour. There are notes of liquorice, mint, cocoa and ripe blackberries.

Smooth with velvety tannins and a fruity, slightly savoury aroma (buttered popcorn I think), this wine gets very close to five stars.

But, because I'm tight, I'm giving it a very, very high four stars!

Moving in a westerly direction to Catalonia for the next wine, Torres Gran Sangre de Toro Reserva 2000. There's £1.50 off the normal price of £6.99 until August 17 at Sainsbury's.

There are three grape varieties in the mix for this wine too. Two of these are the same as in the Gerard Bertrand offering, garnacha (the Spanish term for grenache) and syrah but the wines are worlds apart.

The Torres is a true Old World beast, a galleon to the Bertrand frigate. It's got a toasted oak nose and lingering redcurrant flavours, with spicy overtones. Those of you lucky enough to have a cellar should find it mellows nicely, if left for a few years. To be fair, it needs it.

Also on offer at Sainsbury's but exhibiting more New Worldly characteristics is a modern Italian wine, which is definitely ready to drink now.

Da Luca Primitivo-Merlot 2002 is a dense, almost black liquid. It's very jammy with oodles of dark fruit, spice and chocolate flavours. It's ever so slightly sweet and ever so slightly sickly. Just right for a Halloween or Bonfire party. That's only four months away folks but, for now, let's dwell on the barbecue weather still to come.

A good economical barbie red, this time on offer at Tesco, is Douglas Green Cinsault Pinotage 2003. You get two bottles for £7 in the promotion, which ends on August 10.

This full-flavoured South African is spicy and herby with berry fruit.

There's the tell tale rubbery, tarry aroma of the pinotage too. A wine that zings, if wines can be said to zing.

Gerard Bertrand Coteaux De Languedoc 2001

£5.03 from £7.03 until August 10 at Tesco

****

Torres Gran Sangre de Toro 2000

£5.49 from £6.99 until August 17 at Sainsbury's.

**

Da Luca Primitivo Merlot 2002

£3.99 from £4.99 until August 3 at Sainsbury's

***

Douglas Green Cinsault Pinotage 2003

Two bottles for £7 until August 10 at Tesco

****

Updated: 08:33 Saturday, July 24, 2004