Alain Grignon, Carignan, ‘Vieilles Vignes’ 2022, Pays de l’Hérault, France
Carignan is not a typical supermarket wine so it’s not appreciated enough as it can make some rather excellent and cheap 😀 wine which this one from Majestic shows. Dry with plenty of blackcurrant and cherry flavours with a hint of spice and oak. It has soft tannins and decent lengh and at £8 it’s a decent mid week drinker.
Lidl, Carinena, Monte Plogar, Gran Reserva, 2016, Valencia, Spain
It’s been a whole since I tried a good cheap red from a supermarket, but this one from Lidl is worth buying. At £6 a bottle, it was a pleasant surprise. Dry with soft tannins and decent flavours of plum, blackberry, cherry with hints of chocolate and a little oak in the background. It’s been left longer than the producer would have recommended before drinking but I think that’s helped soften it up. We had ot with a slow cooked beef joint and it was a perfect fit.
Domaine de la Bressande, 2019, Mercurey, France
The french do know a thing or 2 about Pinot Noir and this one from Domain de la Bressande is a classic. There’s plenty of red fruit with a hint of raspberry and the typical earthy undertone with oak and vanilla poking through. On the light side with smooth tannins and
Vina Ardanza, Rioja Reserva, 2016, Spain
A standard Rioja or something super? Well this Reserva from Vina Ardanza is a cut above the usual. Dry, firm but well integrated tannins you get a pretty intense red wine with plenty of red fruit flavours, spice, cloves and liquorice all in a soft warm fizzy feeling package. Its a grown ups wine to be savoured. At £25 bottle it’s a little pricey but rather good.
Duplico, Puglia Rosso, 2019, Puglia, Italy
This red from Duplico in Puglia is very good. It’s best wine I’ve tasted all month.Dry, medium acidity with fine tannins theres plenty of black and red fruit flavours with spice just sitting in the background. It’s rich in depth and soft giving you a warm cosy feel when you drink it. Pair it with a joint if beef or a rich pasta dish. At £15 a bottle it’s not a bad price.
Terra Argillosa, Syrah, 2019, Marche, Italy
Yep another italian red wine, granted its rather good, in some ways quite excellent. Reasonable dry, solid tannins but not overly so with a “presence” that’s comforting. With red and black fruit flavours and smoke and oak notes it’s all well integrated It’s no Gold medal winning wine but that’s where I think it scores. It’s a wine that red drinkers will like, not have to think about and be happy to open a second bottle. 😊
At about £18 a bottle it’s a bit pricey and that’s the down side.
Orsogna, Nican, Montepulciano, 2009, Italy
Ooohhh, it’s good. Orsogna realy know how to make quality wine. Dry with soft integrated tannins this is a quality red wine. Aromas and flavours of blackberry, plum, chocolate and oak with notes of leather and slight herby undertone poking through.
At about £30 a bottle it’s not cheap but rather good and you are unlikely to disappoint any you serve, unless they are tea total 😀
Val di Luna, Bric del Cedrone, Barbera d’Asti Superior, Italy
Val di Luna’s Bric del Cedrone from Barbera d’Asti region of Italy is rather good. Dry, smooth and on the bolder style it’s got good length in the flavour department. Blackberry, plum, hint of blueberry and soft oak undertones. It’s the price that’s an issue,because at £30plus a bottle it’s a bit expensive. More a sub £15 bottle to me.
Bindi Sergardi, La Ghirlanda, 2018, Chianti Classico, ItalyBindi Sergardi in their La Ghirlanda have produced a wonderful Chianti Classico. Dry, full bodied with well integrated tannins and masses of black and red fruits. There’s spice and oak undertones knitting in perfectly. The down side is the £28 price tag, although I have seen it at a very reasonable £18 for the 2016 variety. Very much worth trying even at the higher price, but better at the lower price of course 😉
Kellerei Bozen, Cantina Winery, Mumelter, 2019, Italy
From northern Italy, this Cab Franc and Cab Sav blend is rather good, dry, smooth and booasting great length and flavours of black fruits, chocolate, coffee, leather with a earthiness and smokey undertone. The down side is at £24 a bottle it will prevent some from trying it. Sub £20 it would be highly recommended, but over the £20, there are others that are as good but cheaper.