Wine: A couple of weeks ago, I suggested a Spectrum seal of approval to help readers to find good-value supermarket wines that are reasonably typical of the genre but of above-average quality for their price point. THE focus then was on sauvignon blanc, but this time the tasters took on cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. First, let's spell out what to expect. Usually, the predominant flavour in cabernet sauvignon is blackcurrant but you may also find plum and black cherry fruit along with black pepper, eucalyptus and chocolate. Oak-ageing can add vanilla and cedarwood to the mix but may be needed to soften the tannin that is often a by-product when wine is made from thick-skinned varieties like cabernet sauvignon. Green bell pepper flavours can also surface where ripening was only partially complete (usually in northern areas). As before, a £10 price cap has been imposed and the qualifying wines have been divided into those costing up to £6 and those costing more than £6; predictably, most of the eye-catching versions were in the higher category. We did, however, identify a soft and ripe version from Languedoc that illustrates the genre's minty blackcurrant flavours rather well. French Cabernet Sauvignon (£4.65, Morrisons) has less in-your-face fruit than southern-hemisphere versions, but it is an uncomplicated, food-friendly example with nice acidity, touches of vanilla and only minimal amounts of the tannin often found in young European cabernet. The focus in the £6-£10 category is on the New World (because these are usually ready for drinking), and the first selection is 2009 Finest Howcroft Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (£8.99, Tesco). It has juicy blackcurrant richness lightened by hints of raspberry, and is given an unmistakeable Australian signature by the smooth, eucalyptus finish. Chile's 2010 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon (£7.99, Sainsbury's) adds the mocha touches so typical of South American versions of the grape, yet retains the classic minty, black cherry fruit. Branded wines can sometimes flatter only to deceive, but this is the real thing, with a very attractive, smooth (and largely tannin-free) finish. By contrast, chardonnay grapes have few defining characteristics that apply right across the world, and the wine they produce often depends less on the grapes themselves than on the terroir and the extent to which oak has been used. Nowadays, the ideal profile embodies citrus influences to enliven any tropical fruit flavours and uses oak merely to soften - never dominate. One reliable New World version is 2010 Cowrie Bay Chardonnay (£5.99, Waitrose). First, the basic fruit puts fresh, grapefruit flavours centre stage; secondly it adds mango-based tropical fruit undertones; and finally it is all brought together with an attractive zesty, lime finish. The classic Old World chardonnay is, of course, white burgundy. Again, these can be variable but 2010 Taste the Difference Macon Village (£6.99, Sainsbury's) is an appealing, typical example that has all the trademark fresh smoothness, supplemented with attractive, soft white peach and pear touches and balanced nicely with a concluding burst of lemon. These two wines reflect the good aspects of both Old and New worlds. Somewhere between the two comes 2009 Domaine Begude Chardonnay Terroir 11300 (£7.99, Waitrose), from the South of France. Here, the peachiness is riper and adds a perception of sweetness to the wine's crisp lemon flavours before rounding it off with flinty minerality that adds complexity. In future weeks, we shall repeat this seal of approval exercise with other grape varieties. 2011 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand, 13 per cent This is a supercharged sauvignon from the ever-reliable Villa Maria, with all the usual fresh and clean gooseberry flavours and a lovely, long, orange-centred finish that positively zings. Great wine at this price. £7.49 (down from £9.99 until Tuesday), Waitrose 2009 Buchin Pinot Noir Baden, Germany, 14 per cent This very nicely made pinot shows how good German red wines can be. There is some really deep raspberry and cherry fruit that is topped off with spice and some classic, earthy pinot touches - but beware of the whopping 14 per cent alcohol. £9.99, www.winedeal.co.uk