MIKE TIPPING picks three wines that are as pretty as a picture – and taste pretty good too.

THEY say you can’t judge a book by its cover. I wonder if the same can be said about a bottle of wine and its label?

If you can afford to drink Château Mouton Rothschild, six bottles of the 2013 vintage will set you back £1,236 en primeur from London-based merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, then great labels are par for the course.

Since 1945, from vintage to vintage, the famous Bordeaux Premier Cru Classé château has commissioned top artists to provide the pictures for its bottle labels. These have included Miró, Chagall, Braque, Picasso, Tàpies, Francis Bacon, Dali, Balthus, Jeff Koons and even Prince Charles.

Of course for most of us, first growth clarets are beyond our means but fear not as this week’s trio of recommendations each has attractive labels. More importantly, the contents of the bottles are very good too!

One of the nicest wine bottle labels I have seen for a while belongs to Evans & Tate “Breathing Space” Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, from the Margaret River region of Western Australia.

It is a big, structured and flavoursome creation with cassis and bramble fruit flavours, a hint of green pepper, minty notes and a touch of toasty oak.

Those woody notes are one thing that you will not taste in Trapiche True Malbec 2013, as it is unoaked. From the Mendoza region of Argentina, it’s new to the wine aisle at Tesco.

Full-bodied, structured and flavoursome, it is juicy not jammy, with cassis, brambles, plums and characteristic notes of violets.

Or, inspired by the whites of the Rhône Valley but hailing from vineyards near the small town of Argeliers in the Languedoc, there is Clefs du Pontif Marsanne/Viognier 2013.

It is dry, fresh and very appealing, with a creamy mouthfeel and mineral notes. It suggests flavours of peach, pear, citrus and white pepper. Very much a food wine, it will work brilliantly with fish dishes.

 

Evans & Tate “Breathing Space” Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Margaret River, £8.99 when you buy two at Majestic 17/20

Trapiche True Malbec 2013, Mendoza, £7.99 at Tesco 17/20

Clefs du Pontif Marsanne/Viognier 2013, Pays d’Oc, £8.99 at Avery’s (averys.com) 17/20

Twitter: @TippingsTipples