I confess that this week’s column landed on the editor’s desk somewhat later than anticipated; the excuses are long-winded and not interesting but I happen to think that most things happen for a reason.

I had in mind quite another article than the one you are about to read, but I was so blown away by today’s tasting that I have rewritten the programme and have decided to focus on The Wine Society instead.

The Wine Society (www.thewine society.com) has been around since 1874 and to buy wines from them you need to become a member by buying a share at a cost of £40.

You might think that is steep, but I assure you that it is worth every penny.

The wines are great; the service is good too (I can vouch from personal experience) and — because the society is a mutual — the wines are, on the whole, very competitively priced. They also hold an ambitious programme of tasting and events that are exclusive to members.

Most importantly, the wines that were on show at today’s tasting for the Press were very impressive.

When I tell you that out of the 50 wines on show, I could strongly recommend half of that list and be equally happy drinking at least another quarter you should be impressed.

It is much more common to leave a tasting with a modest handful of wines to write about. Simply put, the consistency of the wines on show was, in my view, unsurpassed by any other wine merchant I have tasted from in the last six months.

So, get a move on and sign up. It will be the best £40 you have spent since Christmas. Once you are a member — and for those that already are — here are a selection of my top wines from the tasting.

The (screw-cap sealed) Prosecco Treviso Frizzante (£8.95) was a lovely, fruit-forward and lightly-pétillant wine with lots of flavour and a zesty, limey finish. A delightful apéritif and —– come the summer — an essential addition to the wine rack.

I fell head-over-heels in love with the 2008 Château Doisy Daëne Sec Bordeaux Blanc (£16.00) which was just so delightfully vibrant with lovely texture and depth. Delicious.

Another stylish white with freshness, minerality and concentration of fruit was the 2007 Poggio al Tesoro Vermentino Solosole (£12.95). Just before you get cranky with me for recommending wines at extravagant prices, let me draw your attention to The Society’s (own-label) Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (£5.95) which is benchmark Sauvignon with crystal-clear green, gooseberry fruit.

To my personal taste was the 2007 Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur Sélection from Jean-Louis Chave (£12.50) which was a delightfully savoury red with rich fruit and warm, well-integrated tannins.

In terms of taste, value for money and sheer ‘wow’ factor, my wine of the tasting would have to be the 2004 Bricco Rosso Suagna (£6.50) — an Italian blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera. It was lightly herbal with bright blackcurrant fruits and just the right amount of acidity and tannin to make it a great food wine.

Last — but by no means least — I would pick the New Zealand Momo Pinot Noir (£11.95) which had an earthy, Burgundian edge to the bright, cherry fruit.

I, for one, have been motivated to dig out my share number and get ordering – again!

l You can sign up for Sarah’s wine postcards at www.wine-talk.co.uk