Red wine

Lightly-oaked, pure Tempranillo with medium body, soft tannins and ripe flavours of soft fruits, brown sugar and a pinch of allspice.

Plenty of fresh raspberry and strawberry notes make this an easy-going wine to be enjoyed on its own or with a wide range of savoury foods. The hint of oak gives it just enough depth to make an ideal table wine for vegetable, poultry and pork dishes too.

Bodegas Altanza, located in Rioja Alta, was established by a group of wine-loving businessmen in 1988. It has a modern approach to winemaking and its wines are known for their keen price-quality ratio.

This is an excellent basic Bordeaux whose easy charm and fruity, herb-scented attack suits all kinds of meals.

It's a true everyday wine, with relatively low alcohol and pleasant vanilla character enhancing the decent finish. Made from vineyards in the Entre-deux-Mers appellation, its blend of grapes is mostly Merlot for smoothness, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc add spice and structure to the blend.

The wine is named for an eleventh century monk, one of the first to join the abbot Saint-Gérard at the abbey of La Sauve Majeure and a passionate viticulturalist in addition to his monastic calling.

An extravagant bouquet of sweet spices and pepper, followed by a full-throttle, firm-tannined wash of ripe blackberry, menthol and minerals. A very serious wine! So treat like a Bordeaux, and aerate well, before enjoying alongside roast beef, mature cheeses or chargrilled vegetables.

Cabardès is a relatively small red-and-rosé appellation in the hills north of Carcassonne. Its catchment area is on the climatic border between balmy Languedoc-Roussillon and the more inclement South-West, in the foothills of the Montagne Noir. This double identity is manifested in the grape varieties which make up the appellation's wines: Grenache and Syrah from the SE; Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, and Merlot, from the SW/Bordeaux. The result is some genuinely unique wines, the majority of which are red.

‘At this price it's a steal!’
Mary Dowey, The Irish Times

Expressively scented Piedmont red with juicy black cherry, sweet blueberry, and dark chocolate notes. Inky and concentrated, with a sleek texture, seductive style and superb length.

There's good, muscular concentration and balance with the typical acidity of Barbera keeping this a refreshing, appetizing wine throughout a meal.

Barbera d'Asti is always made from Barbera, which is Italy’s third most planted red grape variety after Sangiovese and Montepulciano.

It was given DOC (appellation) status in 1970, and was upgraded to the top DOCG tier in 2008. Under the rules, at least 85% Barbera must be used; the balance may be made up with Freisa, Grignolino or Dolcetto grapes.

The appassimento method of making wine from grapes dried in the sun is a way of adding texture and raisiny intensity to the fresh fruit flavours of the juice.

The most famous wines made by this method are probably the Amarones and Valpolicella Ripassos of the Veneto region of northern Italy, but there is a similar tradition in Sicily, and this luscious red demonstrates that the island's indigenous Nero d'Avola is also an excellent candidate for the drying treatment.

Because the grapes for 'Siccari' (a dialect word for 'sun-dried') come from the relatively higher and cooler vineyards of Sicily's south-east, there's an invigorating freshness in the fruit that balances the enriching, concentrating influence of the appassimento.

The result is a voluptuous but not overpowering wine, silky-smooth and succulent, with plum and cherry character and just a hint of residual sugar. It's a perfect, full-flavoured partner for meat dishes, and its rich, very slightly off-dry finish and gentle tannins make it ideal with good cheese too.

DRINK OF THE WEEK ‘…smooth and round but not in any way jammy. Layered, intense, lovely’
Tom Doorley, Irish Mail on Sunday, May 2020

A rich and satisfying reserva from Portugal, with intense ruby colour and floral and toasty hints woven through its rich fruit aromas.

There’s lovely balance in the mouth, the added complexity of old vines, a mellow, velvety texture and soft, discreet tannins rounding off an accomplished bottle.

Intense red colour with fresh, healthy fruit aromas and a hint of oak. Well rounded on the palate, this aromatic red has ripe concentration, with notes of black cherry, blackberry, liquorice and tobacco. The firm tannins fade into a long, spicy finish. Vinified in stainless steel tanks before a light oaking (twelve months) in French and American barrels.

Good with all sorts of food, this is a superb match for barbecued meats, roast lamb, and kebabs.

An all-time favourite at Bubble Brothers and fantastic value.

Ripe and juicy with good weight, moderate tannins and attractive notes of sweet blackberry, farmyard and thyme in a fresh, attractive red. Impressive length and complexity for a wine at this price.

The judges at the Paris Concours Général Agricole regularly award the estate's wines in recognition of their overall excellence and exemplary Cabardès character.

‘This is another wine that won me over on the first sniff: its delicious sweet farmyard scent giving way to a well-weighted medium mouthful’.
Blake Creedon, Irish Examiner, January 2012

The Cabardès appellation was established only in 1999 and covers red and rosé wines made in the hills north of Carcassonne. The appellation's slogan “Vent d'Est, Vent d'Ouest” reflects its catchment area: on the climatic border between balmy Languedoc-Roussillon and the more inclement South-West, in the foothills of the Montagne Noir. This double identity is manifested in the grape varieties which make up the appellation's wines: Grenache and Syrah from the Mediterranean; Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, and Merlot, from the Atlantic side. The result is some unique wines, the majority of which are red.

The Jouclary history goes back as far as 1530, when Guilhaume de Jouclary was the Consul of Carcassonne. Pascal Gianesini, succeeding his father Robert who took over the estate in 1969, is currently in charge of coaxing out its wonderful, expressive wines.

Made from selected grapes from the Valpolicella hills, this cherry-and-damson scented wine is light and fruity, with barely-there tannins and a clean, fresh finish—a beautiful option for warm summer evenings.

'You wouldn’t normally expect much of a Valpolicella unless it were at least a superiore, but here’s a basic level one that’s head and shoulders ahead of its peers: lovely cherry and vanilla on the nose and lipsmackingly tart and savoury on the palate.'
Blake Creedon, Irish Examiner, January 2012

The Tezza family's 25-hectare estate is just outside the historic heart of Valpolicella in the sheltered microclimate of the Valpantena valley. Their cantina is an intriguing mix of modern and traditional, with ancient cement cisterns alongside gleaming steel vats and giant oak casks. Some of the vines are planted in the classic pergola method, where the grapes hang high, protected from both sun and humidity, while the rest have been converted to the much lower French guyot system, which is tantamount to heresy for old-fashioned winemakers.

The three Tezza brothers began their winery in 1965, and now it is run by their three sons, cousins Flavio, Vanio and Federico. Vanio says: "We are against the present trend of a dolce Valpolicella and Amarone, which many winemakers seem to think the market wants, and we prefer to produce wines to our own principles, with plenty of tannin to age well, and drier."

Guardian travel article here.

There is no mistaking the commitment of the Purato range—certified carbon neutral— to minimizing the environmental impact of its excellent everyday wines.

Not only are the wines themselves made from organically grown grapes, but the bottles, labels and cartons for the range are as far as possible made from recycled materials, with pure vegetable inks used in printing.

Nero d'Avola is indigenous to Sicily and an ideal choice for organic production because it is suited to the conditions of the island and has evolved to resist the particular challenges posed by the local climate and soils.

This is a medium-bodied dry red with soft tannins and attractive red fruit character. Its layers of flavour make it an excellent accompaniment to meat and tomato dishes—so it's perfect with lasagne, pizza and spaghetti bolognese as well as vegetarian meals. Of course, if you're trying your hand at some Sicilian specialities, so much the better.

‘…rich, supple, cherry-scented and fresh’
Tom Doorley, Irish Mail on Sunday, May 2020

Full-bodied, supple, dark-fruited red blend from the vertiginous slopes of Montsant, a DO in Cataluña that encircles the better-known and more expensive Priorat.

An inviting and invigorating fragrance of cedar, spice box, and black cherry leads on to a smooth, ripe-berried palate of considerable complexity and power. Silky tannins imbue this Samsó (Carignan) based Penedès blend with a dusty plushness that is very appealing.

Enjoy Acùstic with hearty casseroles and grilled meats, or to make an impression at any gathering where good wine is called for.

Acustic produces wines from 40- to 65-year-old Samsó, the local name for Cariñena, and Garnacha. The wine offers the aromas and flavours of Priorat at a far more friendly price. The Wine Buyer's Guide

Offers up a lightly roasted bouquet of spice box, earthy minerals, tobacco, and black cherry. Sweetly-fruited, dense, layered wine that has years of ageing potential! An outstanding value proposition that will deliver prime drinking from 2012 to 2019. Wine Advocate, 91 points

Catalonia’s Montsant DO was carved out of the Tarragona DO in 2001. This promotion came about as a result of the region's consistent ability to produce high-quality wines, and a need to establish a separate identity for its prime high-altitude vineyards. Monsant, which lies west of Tarragona, almost completely surrounds the more well-known Priorat.

Most of the prized sites within Monsant are located on elevated steep slopes, where the vines enjoy long Mediterranean sunshine during the day and cold temperatures at night, assisting in the development of aromas while maintaining vital acidity in the grapes. The soil here is a local specialty known as llicorella, which is high in granite and slate components.

Montsant has earned a reputation for its high-quality red wines in particular; especially those based on old Garnacha (Grenache) and Samsó (Carignan) vines. Tempranillo (called Ull de Llebre locally) and international varieties also do well here. A small quantity of white (Chardonnay, Macabeo and Garnacha Blanca) is produced, along with rosé and sweet wines.

NB HALF BOTTLES ONLY AVAILABLE

This is a terrific example of a very sociable Spanish 'young wine': not too full-bodied but with a hint of oak (roble), brisk tannins and concentrated flavours of mulberry, raspberry and clove from a blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Drink with a plate of ham or tapas as though you were in Spain, or let its gentle oak flavours partner meat or vegetable dishes as a crowd-pleasing quaffer.

The Ribera del Duero region, which was awarded DO status in 1982, spans the upper valley of the river Duero. At some 800m above sea level, the growing season is relatively short, and frost is an ever-present threat in spring, though temperatures can soar in summer to a scorching 40 degrees Celsius.

The region's principal grape variety is Tinta del País (also known as Tinto Fino and, of course, Tempranillo) aided and abetted by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and, occasionally, the white grape Albillo. Garnacha here is used for rosé.

Here's an advert from the Ribera del Duero promotion board encouraging us to visit the Peñafiel area and enjoy its wines. Even if that's not an option, a flavour of those sunny good times is just a sip away with every bottle of Carramimbre.

Rich plum, blackcurrant and raspberry aromas lead to a palate that explodes with red berry flavours before melting into the soft rounded tannins typical of the Sangiovese grape.

As a food wine, Sangioveses are friendly and accommodating, and traditionally served with tomato-sauced pasta dishes; however, because of the fifteen per cent Merlot in this classic blend, it is equally successful paired with red meats or even a rich soup.

According to the company's website, the Umbrian wine revolution begins at Cantina Tudernum. The Cantina is one of the largest wineries in Umbria, and is situated on the slopes of Todi’s hills, along the ancient Tiber Road. Founded in 1958, the winery uses only regionally produced grapes in partnership with 350 selected vineyards from the surrounding area.

The imposing Château Vieux Manoir was a former hunting house of the Duke of Epernon, and features on the label of this delicious classic, one of our best-sellers because of its elegant, medium-bodied appeal and traditional Merlot/Cabernet blend at an attractively affordable price.

With praise in recent vintages from leading critics as well as a steady haul of competition medals, this is a crowd-pleasing wine that will add a touch of luxury to any meal or gathering.

Those looking for a great wedding wine should snap it up!

Fairly full bodied, with fragrant aromas (cherry, spice), firm structure, and a tangy palate of red berries, dark chocolate and herbs. Dry, savoury and satisfying.

Its warm power just blossoms on the palate—make sure to open it well in advance. This wine is aged for twelve months in oak and six in bottle prior to release, and it goes down a treat with pizza, casseroles and strong cheeses.

Ripasso is an Italian term meaning 're-passed', for the technique of adding extra body, flavour and alcohol to Valpolicella by refermenting the young wine on the skins of Amarone wines after these dried-grape wines have finished their fermentation in the spring.

Ripasso-style wines are hugely popular with today's wine drinkers.

The Guardian: Top 10 of Italy's Valpolicella wine route

The Tezza family's 25-hectare estate is just outside the historic heart of Valpolicella in the sheltered microclimate of the Valpantena valley. Their cantina is an intriguing mix of modern and traditional, with ancient cement cisterns alongside gleaming steel vats and giant oak casks. Some of the vines are planted in the classic pergola method, where the grapes hang high, protected from both sun and humidity, while the rest have been converted to the much lower French guyot system, which is tantamount to heresy for old-fashioned winemakers. The three Tezza brothers began their winery in 1965, and now it is run by their three sons, Flavio, Vanio and Federico. Vanio says: "We are against the present trend of a dolce Valpolicella and Amarone, which many winemakers seem to think the market wants, and we prefer to produce wines to our own principles, with plenty of tannin to age well, and drier."

John Brunton, The Guardian, 4 April 2013

GOLD MEDAL, MACON 2019

Our range of wines from the Languedoc continues to grow with the return of a smooth, rich red from the Fitou appellation.

Given an hour or so to breathe, it brings together aromas of herbs, roads sizzling in the sun, and rich, spicy fruit. In the mouth it's supple and balanced, with more of those rich, satisfying fruits and underlying suggestions of vanilla, liquorice and black pepper.

Not quite a holiday in a bottle, but definitely a mini-break!

A Saint-Emilion generous enough to offer some hints of a Pomerol experience, with dark, dry cherry fruit and earthy, spicy flavours giving depth and character. There's a lean, refreshing streak that balances the fullness of the fruit and makes this a very attractive food wine. Fine, elegant tannins linger into the finish of an ideal accompaniment to roasts and stews.

Delicious, straightforward red from the Douro, with fruity aromas and hints of vanilla and eucalyptus. It’s a relatively full-bodied wine, smooth and elegant, with rich cherry and bramble flavours and gentle tannins. The same ripe, appealing character lingers in the finish.

From an estate where a profound respect for the environment is taken for granted comes one of the most impressive Nero d'Avola wines around.

This is a supple, subtle medium-bodied red that has immense charm and grace. It's a real treat, and winemaker Fabio Sireci's description of its understated character needs no further enhancement:

Ruby red in color. Its structure does not want to conquer with strength, but with elegance. A complex perfume with notes of fruit and spices, that are in harmony with one another. The boldest aroma is of cinnamon. Notes of menthol amplify the freshness of the taste. It is soft, velvety, sapid and is laced with the right amount of tannin on the palate.

The Ormanni estate is located in Tuscany, between Poggibonsi and Castellina in Chianti. Founded by the Ormanni family in 13th century, it has been owned by the Brini family since 1818.

This Chianti Classico is made principally from Sangiovese grapes, with ten per cent of Canaiolo, all estate grown, and aged for twelve months in oak barrels and casks. It's a medium- to full-bodied wine, with cherry and hedgerow fruit character. There's a hint of liquorice and some cleansing, earthy minerality too.

The 13th Century Ormanni estate is located right in the heart of Chianti, between the towns of Poggibonsi and Castellina. Proof of the incredible heritage of this Tuscan property can be found in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, where the Ormanni family is mentioned.

For the last 200 years the estate has been owned by the Brini Batecchi family, and it is Paolo Brini Batecchi together with his daughter Paola who run the winery today.

The farm covers an area of 242 ha of land, 68 of which are vineyards dedicated principally to the cultivation of Sangiovese. They also have two beautiful agriturismo resorts, Podere La Querce and Podere Montignano.

The Nero d'Avola grape loves the heat, and gets plenty of it on its home soil of Sicily.

Nonetheless, this is an elegant and fruity wine, not too overwhelming at 13% alcohol and offering a great taste of Western Sicily that can accompany not only roast and grilled meats but also earthy vegetarian fare and even the rich spiciness of Oriental braised dishes with sweet-salt sauces.

Gold medal, Concours des vins Orange 2014

From the west of the Rhône and just opposite Châteauneuf du Pape, Lirac yields some really delicious red wines. In fact, we're finding it difficult to persuade some devoted fans to try anything else.

The Manissy vineyard is south facing, producing a flamboyant and full-bodied wine, smooth and silky with tremendous black fruit, oak and spice. It's a natural match for grilled or roasted meat, and it's organically produced to boot.

The Manissy estate was built in the middle of the 18th century and belongs to the Congregation of Missionary Fathers of the Holy Family, who planted the first vines in 1916, working the land and making wine using biodynamic methods.

In 2004 young winemaker Florian André was appointed to take charge. He carries on the traditional way of winemaking for the 'Tête de Cuvée' but modernized the cellar and developed new products to expand the range. Since 2012, all the estate's wines have been certified organic and the range includes two kinds of Tavel, a red Châteauneuf-du-Pape, two types of red Lirac, and Côtes-du-Rhône red, white and rosé as well as an IGP Gard made entirely from Syrah.

Supple and ripe with juicy flavours of plum jam, liquorice, Mediterranean herbs and cocoa. Medium-to-full body, with moderate acidity and light tannins.

Mas des Bressades was one of our first acquisitions, and Cyril Marès's wines have not failed to delight us in each successive vintage.

The Costières de Nîmes, the Rhone’s southernmost appellation, was previously called Costières du Gard before a name change in 1989. Until 2004 it was considered part of the Languedoc but today it is included in the Rhone.

Mas des Bressades makes appellation-level wines from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Cabernet (reds and rosés); top-tier whites are produced from Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier.

Robert Parker has said of the estate’s winemaker, ‘Young Cyril Marès crafts some well-concentrated bargains both red and white and an ambitious, flamboyant, but modestly-priced Cabernet-Syrah blend.’

The Costières de Nîmes was settled by veterans of Julius Caesar's campaigns in Egypt, and today's bottles from the appellation bear the unlikely symbol of the Roman settlement: a crocodile chained to a palm tree.

This is a fine, ripe, velvety Malbec with smooth dark fruit character and a long finish. It's tasty on its own, and makes a special
impact when you match it with the best steak or a really good barbecue.

It's a perfect match for beef and other roast meats, but the layers of sumptuous red and black fruit flavour are revealed alongside all kinds of savoury food from tapas to nut roast and beyond.

It's a winter warmer, a summertime treat when the coals are glowing, and decidedly delicious at all times in between.

The gently oaked sibling of our ever-popular Blina, this is also a Barbera of intense ruby colour and beautiful fruity aromas, but four months' aging in eighty-hectolitre barrels gives flavours with light notes of spice and a supple texture.

There's every reason to try this zippy and refreshing medium-bodied red, which is perfect for tomato-based dishes, meatier fish, or drinking on its own.

Richly flavoured, sun-baked premium Fitou, with aromas of herbs and hot roads. 

Packed with lively red and dark fruit flavours, this is a wine with polish and length that is nonetheless completely true to its southern origins on the Languedoc schists.

This is the perfect lighter red to choose if you're looking for something Italian that's smooth and a little spicy, but not too heavy

Avignonesi's basic Rosso is a versatile, everyday wine that really sings alongside roast meats, meat pies, and strong cheeses. It's produced from hand-picked grapes grown on 300m high south-facing slopes around the Tuscan town of Montepulciano, and is aged for nine months in large oak barrels before bottling, with a further three months' bottle rest prior to release.

• 88/100 Bronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards
• 90/100/smart buy - Wine Spectator
• 2 red glasses/price-quality award - Gambero Rosso

Selected in the 2014 Top 100 competition for wines from the Languedoc Roussillon Sud de France

Chateau Jouclary’s top wine, aged in new oak barrels, is decadently rich and sumptuous, with a dense palate of baked black fruit, earthy minerals, soft, ripe tannins and a dry finish, redolent of prunes and chocolate.

If this wine came from Bordeaux or the Rhône it would be at least €10 more expensive.

Enjoy with game pie, rib-eye steak and other fine meats.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, awarded DOCG status in 1980, is made in the hills surrounding the Tuscan town of Montepulciano. It is surrounded by the large Chianti subzone of Chianti Colli Senesi.

Regulations dictate that the vineyards must sit on the hills (250m-600m) around the town and that the grape to be used (at least 60-80% of the final blend) is Prugnolo Gentile (the local name for Sangiovese Grosso, the strain of Sangiovese used in Tuscan superstar-wine Brunello). The balance is made up of a combination of Canaiolo, Mammolo, Malvasia and some international varieties.

90/100 "A light, elegant style, delivering cherry, iron, leather and earth flavors in a balanced profile. Clean and lively, with a lingering aftertaste of leather, earth and almond. Drink now through 2023."
Wine Spectator

Blended from the grapes of two areas, this is a premium, reserva-grade Malbec, bursting with cherry and blueberry fruit tinged with vanilla and tobacco from ten months' aging in French oak.

The Maipú grapes are from the Barrancas sub-zone, which is a little warmer than its surroundings and yields fruit with darker, softer character. The other 50% of the blend comes from the prestigious high-altitude Uco Valley, which typically gives wines with concentration and refinement in equal measure, and dark, dry undertones.

This is another polished, layered example of just how much wine you get for your money from South America when you trade up a little.

Smoky red fruits, good acidity and a long spicy finish make this a great choice for dining. Medium bodied, lightly tannic, with ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, and toasty oak flavours.

This 2015 vintage was awarded a gold medal at the 2017 competition for French independent winemakers.

The Château, which dates from the fifteenth century, belonged to successive Comtes of Ségur Cabanac until 1888 and then, to a Bordeaux wine merchant, M. Saint-Cyr Mortier. The Lacombe family are its current occupants.

Estate-bottled Cahors, deeply-hued and aromatic with distinct notes of black fruit, pepper and liquorice. Savoury and dark, but with persistent freshness too - a real food wine, with steak or roast lamb for instance. A dash of Merlot lends softness and enhances the charm of this wine when young.

Cahors is a region in SW France that specialises in fairly tannic, dark reds made from Malbec.
Its wines have been famous for centuries for their inky 'black' color, and were once used to bolster more anaemic wines from Bordeaux. This calling card is sometimes emphasized by wineries, where heat is used to extract maximum amounts of pigment from the Malbec grapes.

Malbec must constitute at least 70% of the blend, while the balance is split some way between Merlot and Tannat (the former being favoured for softer styles and the latter for sturdier ones). Until recently, the obscure variety Jurançon Noir was also permitted in the blend. Cahors is unusual among the appellations of the SW in not allowing the use of either Cabernets Franc or Sauvignon.

A serious charmer, cherry red in colour with a rich, enticing nose of spices and ripe fruit. The concentrated red berry flavours are balanced by notes of cherry, blackberry and spices with just enough structure and pleasing length.

Serve this attractive red from the prestigious Perrin stable at a comfortable room temperature for effortless pleasure, with or without a special meal in mind.

This 2017 vintage will be remembered as the year of all records: the driest year in thirty years and non-interventionist vineyard work before optimal harvest conditions and a very small yield.

Though this is a wine for immediate enjoyment, it can certainly age for a while if necessary.

Smooth, fruity Tempranillo. Dark cherry red, with intense aromas of red fruits and hints of liquorice – a bit of the crianza effect too, after its month in oak casks. Enjoy this wine with lamb cutlets, paella, charcuterie or picnic food. Our bottles are screwcapped, making this a great choice for when you are entertaining or simply out of reach of a corkscrew.

Full-bodied and expressive, with silky-sweet blackcurrant, pepper, liquorice and thyme flavours.

1. What the critics say ...
Jancis Robinson MW: "Lively crimson. Extremely sweet, candified nose. The Pomerol of the southern Rhône? Clean palate scrub on the end. Real energy."

Wine Advocate: "Cairanne tends to produce cool climate, earthy wines with a lot of pepper and spice notes, and, in this case, notions of raspberries and sweet, dusty cherries. There is a nice interaction between sweet and sour cherries in this medium to full-bodied, cool climate styled wine."

2. CAIRANNE was one of the first Côtes-du-Rhône villages to be singled out and allowed to use its name on labels. Its 848 hectares make it the largest of the named villages. Most reds from this southern part of the Rhône Valley are made from the same raw materials: grenache, syrah and mourvèdre with maybe a little cinsault, carignan or counoise.

Dante's Divine Comedy mentions the Ormanni property: proof of its ancient heritage.
For proof of its remarkable wines, try this mouthwatering Chianti with brisk tannins, fresh acidity, and savoury notes of black cherry, tea leaves and herbs.

The Sangiovese grape can sometimes pose a challenge for producers and even for drinkers, and in the past some very indifferent wines have been passed off as "Chianti" – but the prestigious history of the Ormanni estate and the Brini Batacchis' constant striving for improvements in both vineyard and cellar mean that there's nothing to worry about in this case.

The estate's basic Chianti DOCG is a medium-bodied, lively red with aromas of cherries and hints of the distinctive violet scent of great Sangiovese. Savoury notes of herbs combine with its bright acidity and judicious tannins to deliver a satisfying and easy-drinking wine that looks as good in shirtsleeves at a casual lunch or picnic as it does dressed up for dinner.

The Ormanni estate is located right in the heart of Chianti, between the towns of Poggibonsi and Castellina, and dates back to at least the thirteenth century.

For the last two hundred years, the estate has been owned by the Brini Batacchi family, and it is Paolo Brini Batacchi together with his daughter Paola who run the winery today.

The farm covers an area of 242 hectares, 68 of which are vineyards dedicated principally to the cultivation of Sangiovese. There are also two beautiful agriturismo resorts, Podere La Querce and Podere Montignano, on the property.

Intense aromas of black cherry, fig and plum with hints of black pepper and cinnamon in a full, dry red, one of those versatile Italian wines that suits a range of dishes from cold meats and cheeses to roast lamb or beef, stews and even dark chocolate desserts.

It's dry, with velvety tannins, but the fruit character is soft, spicy and moreish.

Because the grapes used to make it come from a carefully assembled selection of the best vineyards along the Adriatic—in this case, the Teate sub-zone of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo area, the brand name ‘Ferzo'—which means a patch of sailcloth stitched together with others to make a full sail—is especially appropriate.

Awards for the 2016 vintage

• Decanter Asia 2019 • BRONZE
• Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 • 90/100 SILVER
• Mundus Vini Summer Tasting 2019 • SILVER
• Guida Vinibuoni d’Italia Ed.2020 • 4 stars
• Berliner Wein Trophy • GOLD
• Mundus Vini Spring Tasting 2019 • 86 points
• IWSC TRANCHE 2 • BRONZE 89 points

Fleurie is probably the most feminine of the Beaujolais cru wines. This new addition to the Perrachon domaine is a very special example. Within the Fleurie area, some parcels are of greater quality, like the Perrachons', which lies at the feet of La Madone, a very rugged landscape with steep slopes, probably the best climat (in Burgundy, a delimited area with specific characteristics) in the Fleurie appellation.

The piece of land from which this wine comes, in the lieu-dit "La Cadole", is almost completely surrounded by the prestigious La Madone vineyard that gave a Gold Medal winner at the International Wine Challenge in London in 2008, among more than 40,000 samples from all over the world.

A vibrant red in colour, with a rich, velvety texture and an elegant mix of fruit and floral aromas such as iris, violet, summer roses, peach, blackcurrants and red fruits. Serve this beauty cool at 13° C, with lamb, poultry and white meats.

Pure, exuberant Pinot, aged in oak for fourteen months, with twenty per cent of the barrels new French oak. Its initial aromas are reminiscent of raspberry and cloves, followed by a mid-weight palate of racy acidity with juicy pomegranate freshness, rich, silky flavours, black cola aromas and a hint of spice on the nose.

There's attractive, lingering structure and full flavours of cherry and plum all the way through to the pleasing finish of this food-friendly wine, which has body enough to be able to stand up to a variety of rich foods.

The Cycles Gladiator range enjoyed an enormous boost to publicity when its wines were banned in the US state of Alabama. The image of a naked cyclist on the label, inspired by a French advertisement from the early years of the twentieth century, was considered an affront to public decency. The winery, unsurprisingly, made what it could of the unforeseen exposure.

An opulent, plush style of Rioja. There's a big, tempting nose of sweet black cherry and cinnamon, with a mid-weight palate of cassis and tobacco leaf, before a long finish with suggestions of cool mint chocolate.

This is the wine that the bodega considers the embodiment of its style and values: a blend of the best of tradition with a contemporary, global outlook.

‘A round and soft red with berry and chocolate character, medium body and a flavorful finish. Delicious and inviting red. Drink now.’
90/100 James Suckling

Located just 8km from Chateauneuf du Pape, the appellation of Gigondas is geographically very diverse and benefits from cool air from the Dentelles de Montmirail.

Grenache reigns supreme here, especially on the sandy soils that give its unique elegance and aromas of cherries, chocolate and blackberries. The wine is complemented by Syrah that brings spice, violet and smoky flavours to the blend.

‘…the 2015 Gigondas La Gille (80/20 Grenache and Syrah) offers classic Gigondas character in its framboise, ripe cherries, spice and floral aromas and flavors. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a light, elegant texture and is beautifully balanced, and it’s going to keep for 7-8 years.’91/100
Jeb Dunnuck - 19/10/2017

Bright, energetic red fruit aromas and flavours make this an easy choice for all kinds of occasions with food or without.

It's a fruity, rounded young wine with great ruby colour in the glass, arresting raspberry and cranberry aromas from the off and delicious, crunchy fruit flavours.

A real taste of Spain and of Rioja at an irresistible price.

The baking heat of Puglia is reflected in the concentrated fruit flavours of this intense red.

Dark fruit aromas with herbal hints develop on the palate into a smoky, savoury cocktail of rich, juicy plum jam with balancing notes of sage and bacon.

This is a big red for the price, with a finely controlled tannic grip and a lasting finish. Ideal with red meats, punchy and satisfying too as an accompaniment for a pizza or lasagne.

Toni Garriga's semi-crianza from the Mas Codina estate in Catalonia, north-eastern Spain is a fresh, light red with depth and a good finish.

Fans of the Cabernet Sauvignon crianza from the estate will almost certainly enjoy this 'little brother' when a less intense experience is called for. The fruit is pure and smooth, with blackberry and red fruit juiciness, and though this is a light-bodied wine, it has real character and more length than you might think. The modest alcohol percentage is a refreshing change from the slowly increasing average, and a reminder that there's much to be enjoyed about a wine that doesn't overwhelm you after the first glass.

It would make a terrific wedding, buffet or picnic wine, and has full organic certification—as do all wines from the estate since the 2017 vintage.

Mas Codina is located in the Alt Penedès, Catalonia, and is protected by two benevolent mountain ranges. All the fruit it uses is estate-grown.

The Penedès region spans a long strip of land between the sea and the mountains, half-way between Barcelona and Tarragona. This wine comes from the Costers de l'Anoia zone of the Penedès, coloured in red on the map below.