Tenuta, San Giorgio, ‘Ugolforte’, Brunello di Montalcino, 2016, Tuscany, Italy
This could be described as the typical Tuscan quality red wine. At £35 a bottle it’s not outrageously expensive either. What it is though is too young. At 6 years old it needs another 3 to 6 years in the bottle to develop further. There’s nice black fruit flavours and notes of oak, blueberry vanilla and some freshness but it’s all a little lacking. All it needs is time and this will be great
Domaine Rochou, Les Chateliers, 2014, Loire, France
Another great red wine from the Loire this Domaine Rochou, Les Chateliers shows French wine at its best. It’s not particularly complex or out of this world but it’s very good all round with good length, plenty of black fruit, blackcurrant, plum and hints of blueberry. There’s oak, leather, earthiness and smoothness which makes this a red wine that you want to drink with or without food. At about £15 a bottle it’s excellent value.
Domaine Charles Joguet, Chinon Les Varennes Grand Cru, 2013, Loire, France
The Loire Valley has amazing red wines and this Domaine Charles Joguet, Chinon Les Varennes Grand Cru, is a cug above thd best, truly wonderful. Its dry, well integrated tannins and plenty of red and black fruit aromas and flavours. The length is long and there are notes and hints of tobacco, oak, chocolate, leather and a little earthiness th
Duca di Salaparuta Calanica, Syrah, 2020, Southern Italy
This southern this southern Italian red wine is really rather good. It’s dry, bold but smooth. There’s plenty of red and black fruit flavours and works well on its own znd with food such as pasta or red meat dishes. At £13 a bottle it’s not bad value.
Calvet, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2020, Southern Rhone, France
It’s hard to get a bad Châteauneuf-du-Pape and this one from Calvet is no exception. This good aromas and flavours of black fruits, oak, vanilla, with notes of licorice and coffee. At £10 a bottle it’s a good and well worth trying. Sure there are better ones but at £10 is very good value.
Bodegas Murviedro, Pasion, Monastrell Garnacha, Spain
Dry, firm tannins with dark fruits, spice, oak and hints of eucalyptus make this Bodegas Murviedro, Pasion, Monastrell Garnacha from Spain. It’d rather good and at about £12 decent value.
Ronc Soreli,
Schioppettino, Italy
A half decent red wine from northern Italy made with Schioppettino it’s a good wine. Its got decent flavours of red fruit, with hints of spice but it’s a little light on the length and body for me. It’s not bad but not one that you would get a case in.
Cillar de Silos, La Viña de Amalio, Tempranillo, Spain
This tempranillo from Cillar de Silos is quite a surprise. Bold and pretty dry with medium tannins with very good length. There are plenty of flavours of blackcurrant and plum, chocolate and oak notes with licorice and mint hints in the background.
At £60 a bottle it’s a bit overpriced. Then again when you go over £30 a bottle it probably won’t make sny difference, the only question is, is it any good and yes this is very good. Have with red meat or a tomato pasta dish to drink out the best.
Cà dei Maghi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy
At £40 a bottle this Cà dei Maghi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico from Italy is not cheap but its flipping great, there’s plenty of red fruit with notes of chocolate, oak, vanilla, dried fruit, raisins and cherry. It’s on the sweet side but there’s boldness and smoothness overflowing with great length.
Grand Crès, Cuvée Majeure, Corbières, France
This Cuvee Majeure from Grand Cres is a typical south french red wine. Its dry, bold with decent length of tannins. There’s plenty of red, black fruit flavours with oak and spice in there.
Its a good blend of syrah and grenache that won’t disappoint but there is something missing that I can’t quite pinpoint. At £15 a bottle it’s a little bit to expensive.