A dozen quality reds to enjoy over Christmas
France: Chateau Clos Fontaine 2014 Thienpont
Claret lovers looking for a good bargain should check out this hidden gem from Côtes de Francs, Bordeaux’s smallest appellation eight miles east of famous Pomerol and St Emilion. The Thienponts are adept at producing superb merlots.
£13.99, Raeburn Wines
Italy: Barolo 2013
One of Lidl’s current best buys for those who like oaky tannic reds, this Piedmontese bargain has nebbiolo’s typical tar and rose aromas, hints of peppery, initially rich red cherry fruits with a dry firm finish.
£10.99, Lidl
France: Lirac Rouge 2013 Chateau Montredon
We tasted several southern Rhône blends before choosing this wonderfully smooth grenache-based red as the best of the bunch. This is a great value look-alike Chateauneuf du Pape. It has vibrant cherry fruits and a velvet-like structure which can take on the richness of roast beef or even turkey and its trimmings.
£15.99, Virgin Wines
Germany: Toreye Spatburgunder 2015 Weingut Eymann
For those who love pinot noir with their turkey. Our tasters adored the savoury spicy notes and herbal undertones in this soft, succulent, ripe, juicy and approachable example made by a small family winery from a mix of vineyards near Gonnheim village in Germany’s Pfalz region. An interesting good value comparison to Burgundy. £19.50, Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com
Spain: Rioja Vega Reserva 2010
If you’re looking for a bargain rioja, this is the one – from my current favourite rioja producer for good value consistently well-made wines. This satisfyingly smooth tempranillo, mazuelo, garnacha blend has spicy roasted notes with lush, succulent red fruits. £13.95, www.
fromvineyardsdirect.com
South Africa: Seriously Old Dirt 2014 Vilafonte
Cape leading winemaker Mike Ratcliffe from Warwick Estate and Californian Zelma Long set up Vilafonte recently in Paarl to produce standout Bordeaux-style red wines using a high percentage of malbec (here 28 per cent) in each blend. This lightly oaked Bordelais blend has zip and structure alongside its delicious damson fruits. £21, The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com
Italy: Nero Di Troia Canace 2013 Cantina Diomede
This is Puglia’s answer to Amarone. Made from Puglia’s indigenous grape, uva di troia, grown as bush vines on calcareous rocky soils between Bari and Foggia, there are raisined aromas and rich cherry fruits.
£20, Luvians; Valvona & Crolla
Spain: Les Sentius 2011 Joan Simo
Joan was Gerard Simo’s grandfather who established their Priorat vineyard. Having stopped selling their grapes to the local co-operative, the family now make this very clever blend of grenache, syrah and cabernet grown at high altitude on land which had been left barren after phylloxera. Tasting notes say – deep, dense, blackcurranty fruits, gentle smokey hints, spicy and full without being too overblown. £22.50, Swig winemerchants, www.swig.co.uk
South Africa: Iona One Man Band 2013
Rhône meets Bordeaux in this excellent six grape blend from a boutique winery in the old apple growing region of Elgin in the highlands of the Western Cape. Focusing mainly on syrah with cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, merlot, viognier and mourvedre, Andrew Gunn has crafted a fabulously spicy and cedary red with floral bouquet, succulent creamy palate and really fine tannins.
£16, Marks & Spencer
New Zealand: Esk Valley Merlot/cabernet Sauvignon/malbec/ Cabernet Franc 2015
If you normally drink claret, try this very successful Bordeaux-style blend from Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay. Winemaker Gordon Russell has the midas touch crafting this delicious dark fruited, herby, soft velvety blend which focuses on 44 per cent merlot, 30 per cent cabernet sauvignon with a little malbec and cabernet franc. Shows more ripeness than you normally expect from Kiwi reds. £14.49, Woodwinters; Luvians; Ellies Cellar; D Bryne & Co; www.nzhouseofwine.co.uk; www.winedirect.co.uk
California, US: Rocky Top Amador County Zinfandel 2014 Sobon Estate
Amador County is California’s old mining country with the best old zinfandel bush vines in the country. Like all good zinfandels this has a raisiny sweetness, rich cassis fruits, but it’s still elegant without too much alcoholic kick. A great match for a big juicy steak or beef casserole, but enough spiciness to match with roast turkey too. £16, The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com
Portugal: Callabriga Douro Tinto 2015 Casa Ferreirinha
A very classy Douro red from the homeland of port. This historic producer has crafted a really fine table wine from three native grapes, touriga franca, touriga nacional and tinta roriz (aka tempranillo). Superb rich blackberry, plum and spice aromas, velvet smooth palate with density, complexity and well integrated French and American oak. ■
£17.99, Henderson Wines