A FRUGAL friend, who would do a far better job as Chancellor than the present incumbent, selects a bottle of wine not only on price but on its abv too. Price is the priority, anything over £3 is off the radar, but the alcoholic strength is a deciding factor also.

Her daughters are trained to scrutinise the back labels of bottles on the shelves of Neldi and Atto, or whatever they’re called. They look for the highest abv, as this will give the best return for mum’s hard-earned brass. It’s perhaps no wonder her husband once said to me over the dinner table: “I always enjoy the wine you bring Mike, it doesn’t burn the back of my throat like the ones we get.”

Wines with higher levels of alcohol are the subject of much debate among wine chattering types. One thing’s for sure, in the past 20 years levels have risen. Most wine drinkers, apart from those with buying habits similar to my frugal friend, want lower alcohol. There are some good reasons for this.

Firstly, you can’t drink as much of the stronger wines without getting drunk and most people don’t want to be restricted to just one glass with a meal. In addition the smell of the alcohol on the headier vino tends to be the primary aroma, overpowering any fruity bouquet, and the finish can be hot too.

That aside, this week’s recommendations are in keeping with my frugal friends requirements, to the extent that they are all 15 per cent abv or higher. However, they also cost considerably more than her £3 ceiling. Then again, they won’t burn the back of your throat.

Two of the wines are South African. Spier Vintage Selection Shiraz Mourvèdre Viognier 2005 is huge and full of spices, hot pepper, blackberry and raspberry fruit, vanilla, cedar wood and just a hint of perfume.

Bellingham The Bernard Series Viognier 2007, from the Coastal Region of the country, shows pronounced peach flavours, with some tropical fruit, cinnamon, perfume, and toasty notes from contact with oak.

Lastly, a blockbuster from California, Jackson Family Edmeades Mendocino Zinfandel 2006, a heady bottle-full of strawberry, raspberry and cherry jam, with chilli-chocolate notes and wisps of campfire smoke.

•Spier Vintage Selection Shiraz Mourvèdre Viognier 2005, £7.99 a bottle when you buy three at Thresher 17/20

•Bellingham The Bernard Series Viognier 2007, £8.99 at Majestic 17/20

•Jackson Family Edmeades Mendocino Zinfandel 2006, rrp £13.99 from everywine.co.uk and Harrods 17/20