Greek red wine can be excellent, world beating and it’s not to say that this red made from the Liatoko grape is bad. It lacks any real sense of depth or standout flavours. Its a lunch time, dry red wine to be drunk and enjoyed with a meal. Certainly at £20 a bottle there are better wines out there, but at least it’s a “not to be refused if you are offered a glass” category.
Martin, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2020, Croatia
Croatia makes Some great wine and this isn’t a bad example. It’s not gold medal by any standards, but for a dry red wine., it’s very pleasant. It’s got enough flavour dark and red fruits to keep you drinking, there’s some reason tannins, and it’s very easy to drink, especially with food. At about Euro 30 bottle, it’s a bit on the pricey side, that said, nice wine.
Vinha do Fava, Reserva, 2021, Portugal
This family run vineyard produces a rather excellent red wine, primarily made from Touriga Nacional grape it’s dry, full bodied with plum, cherry and spices coming forward and lasting in the mouth. It’s smooth and subtle, quite beautiful. At £16 a bottle nicely priced too.
Reguta, Pignolo, 2020, Northern Italy
What a wonder red to sit in the garden and just relax. Reguta certainly knows how to make a great red wine with this pinolo grape. Its smooth, subtle, rich and yet light. Redcurrant, blueberry and hints of cranberry give long lasting flavours that dance in the mouth. Its one of the best reds of the year or even the 2020’s. At about £20 a bottle it’s amazing value too.
Fondo Antico, Nenè Nero d’Avola, Sicilia, Italy
Dry and bold but pretty smooth best describes this southern Italian red wine, or great red to just enjoy. With Red cherry and redcurrent flavours and notes of oak and leather with a very slight smokiness and chocolate poking though its very easy drinking and doesn’t need food to be enjoyed, just what I like. Pasta and red meat would still go very well with this. At about EUR12 a bottle its a wine to buy by the case.
Dagernova
Dernauer Schieferlay Spätburgunder
Most of the German Pinot Noirs you get in the UK are pretty good. This one from Dagernova is excellent. Light, dry with soft tannins and well integrated fruit flavours of cherry and red current. This a little oak and hints of earthiness poking though. Delightfully subtle and easy drinking it’s hard not to drink the bottle in one go.
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.