A FEW weeks back we did a column on Chinese wine. Well, how about we now do one on a Russian one? And an award-winning one at that.

The wine in question is a Sauvignon Blanc called Russian Jack. It's not actually from Russia, and, funnily enough, neither is Jack. But we can gloss over all that because it is a cracking bargain tipple.

The drink actually hails from the famed Marlborough wine region of New Zealand.

It is named after one of the many Latvian immigrants (ie not Russian though he maybe sounded a bit Russian) who helped clear the New Zealand landscape for vineyard planting in the last century.

Russian Jack himself (born 1878, died 1968) was a mysterious but much loved “gentleman of the road” who carried his life in huge sacks upon his shoulders.

At harvest he was welcomed onto the farms where he picked fruit into his old age, and he did it so well that a bronze statue now commemorates his efforts, built in his honour by the local populace.

This particular wine also named in his honour is produced by the Martinborough Vineyard, and has been named as the best value Sauvignon Blanc in the UK by the "Oscars of wine", the 2017 Decanter Wine Awards.

Sauvignon Blanc is the UK’s favourite wine style, so to win this gong is no mean feat.

Indeed, more than 10,000 wines enter the DWA each year, and only 34 platinum best-in-show medals are available to the handful of wines which are awarded 95-plus points by the judges.

There is naturally a huge amount of competition in the Sauvignon Blanc category, but Russian Jack captured the imagination of the judges - as well as the public - who described it as a "lively and appealing wine with striking purity and exceptional length".

A crisp and refreshing yet intense tipple, is has flavours of lime, lemongrass, gooseberry and passionfruit, and a clean finish.

It is available at Majestic, priced £10.99 (or £8.99 on mix six offer).

Director of buying and merchandising Richard Weaver said: "Our customers were ahead of the curve, buying New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc long before the rest of the market came round to its charms.

"We introduced the Russian Jack in 2014 and it became an immediate hit.

"It is therefore no surprise to see it given such an illustrious award. Our customers know their Kiwi Sauvignon and it remains our biggest category."