Serve up a cracking red at your Easter feast
My top 12 red wines from around the world for serving this Easter – to suit all budgets, priced from £6.99 to over £20.
Under £10 New Zealand: Winemaker’s Selection Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016
Last year it was Aldi’s pinot noir which won our tasters’ star vote, but this time Lidl has come up trumps with an even cheaper version. In Marlborough’s classic candy character with light cherry and plum fruits, it is lightweight, but pretty, juicy and easy-going with an appealing freshness typical of the region. Good value.
£6.99, Lidl
New Zealand: Te Haupapa Pinot Noir 2017
2017 was a cool, wet vintage compared to 2016, so this has a distinct lightness of fruit compared to most Otago pinots, which you would expect at this price as you rarely see them under a tenner.
£8.99, Aldi
France: Vinsobres 2015 Domaine de Crozebrunet 2015
One of the least known Côte du Rhône Villages, beautiful Vinsobres is about 40km north of Chateauneuf du Pape. Soft, fleshy, spicy plum at a very good price.
£7.99, Lidl
Italy: Montepulciano D’abruzzo Vigna Corvino 2016
Our tasters loved this lush, peppery, unoaked Italian. East coast Abruzzo often gets overshadowed by better known Tuscany and Puglia, but Rocco Pasetti has done more to champion this region than anyone. Once the famed winemaker of the Roxan co-operative, he now runs his own estate near Pescara between the Appennini mountains and the Adriatic making brilliant value wines. £7.95, The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com
Argentina: Finca La Pampa Barrel Selected Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
One of Aldi’s new premium wines made by the reputable Bodegas Salentein in Uco valley tucked in the Andes foothills in Mendoza. Black pepper and mint, vanilla, spice and tobacco (from 12 months French oak) – a smooth easy drinking cabernet with a surprisingly mellow character given its youth.
£9.99, Aldi
Under £20 Spain: Marques De Valdecanas Gran Reserva 2010
If you normally buy Rioja, Aragon’s Carinena in Zaragoza offers more for your money. This old vine garnacha/tempranillo/ cabernet sauvignon blend has a wonderfully mellow, mature bouquet with ripe berry fruits, silky palate and spicy length – needs plenty of aeration after opening to show its best. Serve with roast chicken or lamb.
£12.99, www.laithwaites.co.uk
Greece: Thymiopoulos Xinomavro 2015
I’m delighted to see M&S stocking Greek wines as they often get forgotten. Apostoles Thymiopoulos, Greece’s most exciting winemaker, delivers a very approachable, savoury and moderately tannic red at a good price to serve with duck.
£11, Marks & Spencer
Australia: Pastor’s Son Shiraz 2015 Peter Lehmann
Barossa Valley is well known for its big, juicy, brambly shiraz and this example is no exception. Lashings of plum and cherry fruits, bitter chocolate notes, velvet smooth palate and hints of oak. A match for steak or venison.
£15.99, www.laithwaites.co.uk
Spain: Muga Rioja Reserva 2013
From one of my favourite Rioja producers. Vanilla and strawberry aromas are paired with sweet spicy cinnamon notes. Great price for a Rioja Reserva – ideal with roast lamb or game. £14.50, The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com
Israel: Clos De Gat Har’el Merlot 2013
If you normally drink Chilean merlot, you might well enjoy this unusual example from the Judean Hills near the Ayalon Valley, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The very ripe luscious sweet style is perhaps more Australian, as Clos de Gat’s stellar winemaker Eyal Rotem trained there. Very popular with tasters who enjoyed its soft, smooth, plummy fruit style. £17.95, Rude Wines, www.rudewines.co.uk
Under £25 France: Crozes Hermitage Rouge 2015 Maison Les Alexandrins
This 100 per cent syrah from the superb 2015 vintage made by new micro-negociant Alexandrins (Nicolas Jabolet and Perrins of Beaucastel’s joint venture) is delicious, with blackberry aromas and poised ripe black cherry fruits. £23.99, Henderson Wines, Edinburgh; Lockett Bros, N Berwick; Sutherland Bros; Beerhive, Edinburgh; Markinch Wine Gallery, Fife
Portugal: Quinta Das Carcalhais Alfrocheiro 2015
Dao reds have a wonderful herby earthiness. They are usually made from blends of grapes, so this is unusual in being 100 per cent alfrocheiro preto. Very attractive floral aromas, bright raspberry fruits and hints of smoke from short French oaking. £21.99, Fine Wine Co, Musselburgh
Join Rose’s Hidden Gems of Australia wine tasting in Edinburgh on 11 April, £42, www. rose murray brown.com