The best fuller-bodied reds for less than a tenner
As the nights get chillier, the kind of wine we drink tends to change to chunkier, fullerbodied styles to match heartier winter dishes. Here are our favourite red bargains to try this autumn.
Molise, Italy: Biferno Rosso Riserva Palladino 2011 De Lellis
This wine stood out in our tasting for its mellowness and maturity. A real hidden gem from one of Italy’s smallest regions east of the Apennines just north of Puglia, it has a very smooth palate with a bright fruit character and spicy undertones. Our tasters loved its cedary notes and softness from 18 months in oak ageing.
£9.99, Valvona & Crolla, www.valvonacrolla.co.uk
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand: Terakau 2015
It was a surprise to have a Kiwi Bordeaux blend under £10 in our tasting. This really is superb value with its elegant, ripe blackcurranty fruit, lush succulent palate and soft mellowness making it easy to drink on its own.
£6.99, Aldi, www.aldi.co.uk
Douro Valley, Portugal: Azinhaga De Ouro Reserva 2015
This wine (in previous 2013 vintage) has done well in our column before – and this 2015 is even better. It will suit those who like big, voluptuous ripe fruits and firm tannins – not unlike a plummy rich port – but with less alcohol than port. A great price too.
£5.99, Lidl, www.lidl.co.uk
Stellenbosch, South Africa: Warwick First Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Named after the Cape winemaker Norma Ratcliffe, who founded Warwick winery, this will suit those who think cabernet is usually too austere, as it has a fine, sweet, ripe blackcurranty flavour, smooth softness and undertones of dark chocolate and vanilla from 18 months in old French oak.
£9, Sainsbury’s, www. sainsburys.co.uk
Navarra, Spain: Viña Zorzal Graciano 2014
Graciano can be quite a bruiser, but with a little bottle age this grape has started to mellow. The result is a wine with charming blackcurrant and dark plum aromas, very savoury earthy notes with peppery hints and a distinct minerally finish made by brothers Xabier, Inaki and Mikel Sanz.
£7.50, The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com
Puglia, Italy: Terre De Faiano Organic Primitivo 2015
Primitivo is the same grape as California’s zinfandel. Grown in Salento in Puglia it has very ripe fruits with a distinctive sweetness to it. Our tasters loved its rich blackberry and silky soft palate – but it only really suits those who want a big, chunky, brooding red with high alcohol. Great value at its offer price – and organic too.
£7.49, reduced from £9.99, at Waitrose until 11 October, www.waitrose.com
Central Valley, Chile: Monos Locos Reserve 2016
From Virgin Wine’s crazy monkey range – the aim here is easy drinkability. They have certainly achieved that with this cabernet with its very juicy, moreish, fruitdriven palate, very soft ripe tannins and spicy twist to the finish.
£9.99, Virgin Wines, www.virginwines.co.uk
SE Australia: 16 Little Black Pigs Shiraz 2016
Steve Grimley breeds pigs as well as making wine, hence the name. He sources grapes across a huge area to get the best. This is a very ripe example of Aussie shiraz with a distinct underlying sweetness from its blackcurranty fruits. £9.99, Virgin Wines, www.virginwines.co.uk
Abruzzo, Italy: Il Faggio Montepulciano d’abruzzo 2016
A very modern youthful example of this grape made by Alpha Zeta. Our tasters enjoyed this for its savouriness and spicy twist. Il Faggio is a beech tree in Abruzzo’s national park on the Adriatic coast.
£9.99, Drinkmonger, Edinburgh & Pitlochry, www.drinkmonger.com
Languedoc, France: Corbieres Rouge Vieilles Vignes 2016 Château Fontarèche
This sleek, ripe, spicy blend with sweet plum jam flavours, herby notes and a smooth, succulent finish is from one of Corbieres’ oldest vineyards dating back to 1350. Surprisingly no oak was used at all. It’s an impressive example of how good Corbieres reds can be – this comes from a small owner run estate which has been in the same family since the 17th century.
£9.95, Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com
Sicily: Nero Oro Appassimento 2016
The Appassimento on the label refers to the use of dried grapes – an ancient method used in Valpolicella for its amarone and now used in many other Italian regions – which adds richness and texture. This Sicilian red has very intense cherry and damson fruits for those who like their reds chunky and sweet. ■
£8.99/£9.99, Majestic Wine