This is part of a new varietal range from the Waddesdon/Rothschild team and comes from a relatively cool area near Limoux in the Languedoc. It’s a great value, fruity and easy-drinking pinot with notes of strawberry and raspberry as well as spice and menthol. Around 20% of the wine has some ageing in French oak so has more structure than one would expect at the price. A very good entry-level pinot.

Available in the UK from Waddesdon Wines and a range of other retailers.

This is a concentrated, structured wine, with dark plum and bramble notes, which is made in the hills of the Corbières region of the Languedoc, not far from the sea. Strong maritime winds help temper the heat. The wine compliments red meat stews and the confit dishes so popular in the region. Carignan is the main grape variety, supported by Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. To tame some of the rusticity of the Carignan it undergoes carbonic maceration and then the blend is matured for 6 to 12 months 50% in wood and 50% in stainless steel. Available in the UK from the Wine Society.

One of my go-to everyday red wines – easy drinking and excellent value for money.  This wine is made in Campania on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius combines Piedirosso “red feet” and Aglianico. As with most Italian reds it has good acidity with flavours of red berries and sweet, soft tannins. It’s said to be closest to the wines the Romans would have drunk. Currently available in the UK from Campania Wines.

A very Burgundian Pinot Noir made in South Africa’s Hemel-en-Aarde region by Andrew and Peter-Allan Finlayson, the third generation of a winemaking family alsoknown for their excellent Bouchard Finlayson Pinots. This is a pale ruby wine with ripe redcurrant and strawberry fruit, smooth tannins, spice and a touch of vanilla. The freshness comes from 300m altitude and cool breezes from Walker Bay. A perfect cool climate Pinot. Currently available in the UK from Lay & Wheeler, Philglas & Swiggott and Cru World Wine.

A ripe, red fruited, slightly aromatic wine from the Nemea region of the Peloponnese. Made in a smooth, easy-drinking style with soft tannins and medium acidity. Aged for four months in stainless steel before release.  Similar to a young Beaujolais in style. Available in the UK from the Wine Society. They also make a fuller-bodied, Ktima Mitravelas which is aged for 6-8 months in older French oak barrels.

Crete’s answer to Pinot Noir (?) from an upcoming grape variety. A pale wine which packs a punch. Plenty of redcurrants, ripe red cherries and a herbal note you often find in Cretan wines – perhaps like the “garrigue” in southern French wines. Excellent acid and tannin structure from the 12 months in large old oak casks. Should age well – expect leather and spice notes over time.  Available in the UK from Maltby + Greek.

This Xinomavro-based wine from Pella in northern Greece is the closest Xinomavro I’ve found to a Nebbiolo. It has a light ruby colour, powerful aromas of rose, red fruit notes, refreshing acidity and fine tannins which give the wine substance and structure but an overall impression of freshness. Vintages up until 2020 vintage contained an element of Roditis (hence Xi-Ro), a pink-skinned grape variety, traditionally used with Savatiano in the making of Retsina.  Available in the UK from Dynamic Vines.

Hedgehog is an excellent mid-priced Xinomavro from Amyndeon in northern Greece. A great alternative to a young Barolo or Barbaresco. The wine has a light ruby colour with red berry and strawberry fruit as well as spices and a toastiness from its 12 months in medium grain French oak. A wine of complexity and great balance. Lovers of pinot noir should also give it a try. Available in the UK from Maltby & Greek.

This wine is a great introduction to Aglianico (see my article on Aglianico for more background) and represents excellent value for money. It is made in Campania in southern Italy through a collaboration between Farnese Vini of Abruzzo and local producers.  The Aglianico grape generally lends itself to structured long-lived wines due to its high acid and tannins but this is perfect for earlier drinking –   a spicy, red-fruited wine with light, soft tannins from a relatively short, 8 months maturation in barrels. Available in the UK from Rannoch Scott, VINUM and others.

This wine by family winemakers, Feudi di San Gregorio, from Campania in southern Italy shows off the Aglianico grape at its best (see my article on Aglianico for more background).  This is a spicy wine with pronounced notes of plum and sour black cherry and soft tannins from 18 months ageing in medium-toasted oak barrels and 9 months in bottle before release. It can be drunk now or left to mature for a few more years. Available from the Wine Society and widely in the UK.

The Galpin Peak towers over the Hemel-en-Aarde valley in the Walker Bay area of South Africa – one of the leading areas for pinot noir outside Burgundy. Made by Bouchard Finlayson, whose co-founder, Peter Finlayson, planted the first vineyard in the area. Although wild fires reduced yields in 2019, this exhibits the hallmark red berries, spice and fine-grained tannins with a touch of vanilla from the 30% of new oak. Will age well. In terms of the value for money/quality trade-off, this is one of my favourite pinot noirs from SA. Available from Wine Direct (Sussex), Vinum and Lea and Sandeman among others.

Alain Brumont is probably the leading producer in Madiran, a region in south west France which specialises in Tannat, a black grape variety also found in Uruguay.  His Vielles Vignes is 100% Tannat and needs to be kept for many years but here he has blended 50-70% Tannat with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. As such the wine retains the depth and power of the Tannat but can be drunk now.  This is a full-bodied and rich wine with concentrated blackberry fruit, vanilla and soft tannins from 12-24 month maturation in French oak barrels 30-50% new. From the Wine Society and other retailers.

This is a fine example of new wave Spanish Garnacha (Grenache) made by José Navascués of Contino Rioja fame under his new venture Enología in the Cariñena region. It blends Garnacha and Cariñena (Carignan) grapes and has pronounced sweet, creamy raspberry and red fruit notes combined with blackberries and a backbone of smooth tannins from the Cariñena grapes.  A soft, well-balanced wine. From Vinatis UK.

A wine from Herdade do Rocim in southern Alentejo, Portugal which I first encountered in Madeira. Its 100% Alicante Bouschet, one of the few teinturier grapes (with red flesh) which give deep coloured wines with high acidity and tannins. Rocim have opted to destem and mature in concrete to maintain the wine’s freshness while retaining the concentrated black fruit which balances well with the acidity. A touch of eucalyptus here too perhaps.  A delicious introduction to a grape variety which deserves to be better known. From Corking Wines of York.

From the Bairrada region in Portugal this wine from Filipa Pato and William Wouters is made 100% from the local black grape, Baga, which despite being known as the variety behind Mateus Rosé, can produce both approachable red wines and long-lived reds of great quality.  Their Nossa Calcario Tinto is a great example of the latter. Here though is an unoaked fruity wine with notes of raspberries, cherries and red plums with great acidity and soft tannins. Available from South Downs Cellars.

The Alentejo in Portugal is known for “big” ripe reds and this Reserva from leading producer Esporão is a good example. Dark ruby with purple hints, it offers spice and concentrated ripe red and black fruits on the nose which are well-balanced by the good acidity. There is a toastiness here from the one year maturation in a blend of French and American oak and the tannins are slightly chalky suggesting more time in bottle will pay off. Differs from the ripe reds of say Australia with its dry, Old World finish. From Portugalia. The 2017 is available from the Wine Society.

Quinta do Escudial in the Dã0 region of Portugal is known for its unoaked wines which prove that Touriga Nacional’s tannic structure does not need the support of oak ageing. In this blend TN (50%), is joined by Tinta Roriz (20%) with local grapes Jaen and Alfrocheiro offering red fruits and lighter notes. A dark crimson colour, with red plums, blackberries, blackcurrants and dried herbs. It’s a well-balanced wine with smooth tannins which make the high (14.5%) alcohol unobtrusive. Available from the Wine Society.

DouRosa comes from the Quinta de la Rosa stable and is their freshest wine for early drinking. Fermented and matured in stainless steel it features ripe, red berries, light, smooth tannins and a medium body. Ideal for summer drinking. Available from Berry Bros.

From vineyards 500m up in the terraces above the Douro in Portugal, this wine from Quinta de la Rosa comprises a selection of port grapes – 50% Touriga Nacional, 10% Touriga Franca and 8% Tinta Roriz. De la Rosa prides itself on expressing its terroir while keeping tannin levels and oak flavours low, through fermentation in stainless steel and 12 month ageing in old French oak. Medium to full-bodied , red and black fruits and smooth tannins. They also offer a Reserva and the easy-drinking DouRosa. From Berry Bros.

Meaning “Let it be” in the local Occitan language, this is a powerful red from Château Ollieux Romanis in Corbières in the Languedoc in southern France. The main grape Carignan provides tannic structure and dark fruits while the Grenache gives lighter raspberry and herbal notes and the full-bodied Mourvèdre offers earthiness and rich blackberry flavours. No need for oak with this combination. Ideal with cassoulet or confit du canard. Available from the Wine Society.

English pinot noir is getting better and better and this is a very good example. It’s made in Devon but the grapes are sourced from Essex which Oz Clarke has singled out as amongst the promising areas in England for growing pinot. Rated 95 pts in the IWSC 2022, this is a refined wine with raspberry and deeper blackcurrant notes (2020 was a very hot summer) and subtle, smooth tannins from the combination of French, American and Eastern European oak. Like most English pinots not cheap at around £28 but in Burgundy terms very good value. Available from Grape Britannia.