A thrilling wine at a thoroughly reasonable price

2017 Sino da Romaneira, Quinta da Romaneira, Douro, Portugal

£17.95, reduced to £15.95 by the case, leaandsandeman.co.uk

I find myself talking up great wines every single day. Last year I talked up 2016 Quinta da Romaneira Reserva on this very page, and it is a magnificent wine slowly evolving into a titan of the Douro. The 2017 vintages are in stock this year, and at 30 fewer pounds per bottle, this grand estate’s Sino is sounding genuine alarm bells in the wine trade. So, in contrast to my lifelong, spendmore-and-spend-accurately mantra, I am genuinely talking you down this week so you can experience a thrilling red wine with a thoroughly reasonable price tag.

Romaneira is run by Christian Seely of AXA Millésimes, which controls the interests of legendary estates such as Châteaux Pichon Baron and Suduiraut as well as super-star Douro leviathan, Quinta do Noval. Carlos Agrellos makes Romaneira’s ports and wines and while this is a small property and a less starry name, the wines crafted here are stunning.

Sino is made from traditional varieties Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Tinto Cão, it is matured in old oak for ten months, and it sports a genial 13.5% alcohol level. It is a pure and sonorous wine with immediate charm and drinkability – an epic advert for classic Douro red wines. There is more than a smattering of claret-like flair here – not surprising given Christian’s vinous heritage. So save some cash with this alluring, autumnal red wine.

Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (MatthewJukes.com).