2003 Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc

£5.99, Somerfield, Waitrose

Now bottled with a screwcap for extra freshness and zip, this is one of the best-value Cape Sauvignon Blancs, and is made by the brilliant Marc Kent. It is crisp, nettley and vibrant with good weight and citrus-fruit concentration.

2003 Dourthe No 1 Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux

£5.93, Asda

A wine that has done a great deal to bring respectability to the once-lowly Bordeaux Blanc category, this is a restrained but beautifully judged Sauvignon Blanc which has an appealing creaminess on the mid palate.

2003 Pirque Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Maipo Valley

£6.99, Marks & Spencer

Alvaro Espinoza is Chile's best winemaker, whether he's working with Cabernet Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc. This refined, hauntingly flavoured Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best I've tasted from South America.

2003 Amberley Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Margaret River

£8.49, Majestic; £7.49 if you buy two

Australia is not as well known for its Sauvignons as New Zealand, but some of the wines coming out of Western Australia are outstanding. This weighty, gooseberry and green bean-like white is a stunner.

2002 Pouilly-Fumé, Masson Blondelet (£10.49, Waitrose)

If you like minerality in your Sauvignon Blanc, then this one almost tastes of chalk. It is a very refined style with pronounced acidity, restrained power and remarkable length on the palate. This is Loire Sauvignon at its best.

My best buy

2003 Blind River Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

£9.99, Oddbins

A brilliant debut to the UK market, this offering from Blind River is Marlborough Sauvignon at its most expressive, with fruit power underpinned by clean, refreshing acidity.