IN the second of our comprehensive look at the best wines, at all price points, available for the coming festive season, we take a trawl through what reds are available under €20.
Over the past five days dozens of bottles were tasted and then re-tasted before whitling down the numbers to 20 bottles, with prices from €8.95 to €20.
Again, like in last week’s trawl through a tasting of affordable whites, France comes out on top with eight entries, but with seven other countries also represented.
As expected, blends, almost all of them French, feature heavily (eight), with a couple of Shiraz, and Pinot Noirs.
When choosing wines under a tenner wine lovers should remember that the excise duty on a standard bottle (75cl) of still wine is €3.19.
Add to that the winemakers’ costs (bottle, label and transport to Ireland), importer’s and the wine shop’s margin, and finally the 23 per cent VAT.
After all of that the actual value of wine in a €10 bottle is something like 50 cents! I mention this because many of the costs remain the same the more expensive your favourite tipple gets.
Just an extra couple of Euro spent above €10 means the value, and in most cases the quality, of the wine inside your chosen bottle jumps dramatically.
We tasted only three wines costing a tenner or a little less that we felt offered genuine value and that we could stand over.
NEXT WEEK: Whites costing €20 or more.
Wildflower Pinot Noir 2022 (ABV 12.5%)
Currently €8.95 @ O’Briens Wine
Grape: Pinot Noir
DELICIOUS, medium-bodied Pinot Noir from Romania – and at under a tenner, genuinely terrific value for money.
A pale ruby in colour, with raspberry, cherry, and strawberry notes on the nose.
It has a very approachable, refreshing smooth palate that is light, fruit-driven, with hints of soft red berry fruits, a wisp of oak, velvety tannins and a well-rounded finish.
Enjoy with: Chicken breast fried in butter.
Star rating: ****
Santa Rita Reserva Especial Deep Red 2022 (ABV 12.5%)
Currently €10 @ Tesco outlets
Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere
A WARMING and rich red blend from fruit picked in Chile’s Central Valley.
With an inviting dark ruby colour when poured, it has a distinct nose of blackcurrants and blackberries, along with hints of black pepper and dark chocolate.
That black fruit note is also prominent on an intense yet supple palate that is both rich and balanced. Good length.
Enjoy with: Beef stir fry.
Star rating: ***
Monte Acuro Tempranillo 2023 (ABV 13%)
Currently €10 @ O’Briens Wine
Grape: Tempranillo
A NEW Rioja on the block, made exclusively with Spain’s favourite red grape and using the best of modern winemaking techniques.
A nice garnet colour, it has crushed raspberry and strawberry aromas lifted by a nice hint of oak.
The palate is exceptionally smooth and full of red berry fruit, vanilla, and toast. Excellent value Rioja.
Enjoy with: Grilled lamb chops.
Star rating: ***
Corte Alle Mura Chianti Reserva 2020 (ABV 13%)
€10.99 @ Lidl outlets
Grape: Sangiovese
A GREAT value Chianti Riserva with a medium ruby colour and a subtle bouquet with hints of sour black cherry, red berries and accompanied by a little vanilla.
The medium palate is fresh and lively with blackberry and cherry fruit notes, good acidity, integrated tannins, with a well-rounded and persistent finish.
Enjoy with: Midweek pizza meal.
Star rating: ***
Specially Selected Chassaux Cairanne 2022 (ABV 14.5%)
€10.99 @ Aldi
Grapes: Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache
CAIRANNE is a neighbour of Châteauneuf-du-Pape country in the southern Rhone. Both are quite similar blends, but Cairanne is usually half the price!
Grenache is the leading grape in this full-bodied tipple, deep red in the glass with aromas of soft black and red fruits, cherries, and spice.
The palate has black cherry, blackcurrant, spice and garrigue (wild herbs) notes with yielding tannins and super length.
Enjoy with: Warming winter red meat casserole.
Star rating: ***
Isolado Douro Tinto 2020 (ABV 14%)
€10.99 @ Lidl outlets
Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão
THIS bright ruby coloured, juicy, full bodied red blend is a smart introduction to the wines of Portugal’s Douro valley – better known worldwide for its Ports.
It is a nice ruby colour, with full-on aromas of red fruits.
The well-structured palate has a velvety texture of red fruits, with soft tannins, and nicely integrated hints of wood. Good length.
Enjoy with: Carbonnade of beef.
Star rating: ***
Wild Garden Pinotage 2022 (ABV 13%)
€11.99 @ Good Independents
Grape: Pinotage
SOUTH Africa’s signature red grape is beginning to win Irish admirers.
Swartland and Pederberg vineyards in the Cape Coast region supply the fruit for this smooth and juicy tipple.
Fermented in stainless steel vats to ensure maximum freshness, this medium-bodied red is a deep garnet colour, that delivers up notes of red and black fruits on the nose and palate.
Lively and satisfying finish.
Enjoy with: Slow cooked lamb shank.
Star rating: ***
Nugan Estate Single Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022 (ABV 14%)
Currently €12 on promo @ SuperValu
Grape: Shiraz
NUGAN Estate wines are amongst the best value, quality Oz wines available in Ireland, and this is a great example of how good Down Under Shiraz can be.
With a deep crimson colour, the nose has cherry and plum notes, with hints of chocolate and spice.
The rich and intense palate has concentrated earthy flavours of plum, dark chocolate, black pepper and a very satisfying, lingering length.
Enjoy with: Osso Buco.
Star rating: ****
Enzo Bartoli Barbera d’Asti 2020 (ABV 14%)
Currently €12 @ Dunnes Stores
Grape: Barbera
SOME 14 months in barrel before bottling gives this traditional Piemonte wine a deep, ruby red colour with intense and heady aromas of blackberry jam, prunes, spices and a wisp of vanilla.
The palate is full-bodied with great balance, good acidity, soft tannins and ripe, soft, dark notes of blackberry and blueberry fruits, with a wonderfully persistent finish.
Enjoy with: Roasts or mature, hard cheeses.
Star rating: ****
Carmen Insigne Merlot 2023 (ABV 13%)
€15 on offer at Dunnes Stores
Grape: Merlot
I HAVE always had a soft spot for Merlot. That silky, easy-drinking, jammy fruit mouthfeel. So, this Chilean offering was a pleasure to taste and enjoy.
A deep ruby colour, with delicate violet hues, and those tell-tale plum notes are present on the nose, along with blackberries spice, vanilla, and an undercurrent of caramel.
The mouthfeel is big and full, with soft, squishy black and red fruit, and soft tannins. Dangerously easy to drink.
Enjoy with: Pot roast.
Star rating: ****
Cuvelier Rouge 2020 (ABV 13.5%)
€15 @ Whelehan Wines
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
FRIGHTENED by the minefield that Bordeaux’s thousands of vineyards can be? Well, here’s a proper Bordeaux, without airs and graces, and wonderfully uncomplicated.
Dense ruby red and medium bodied, with aromas of plums, raspberries, and cassis. Those plums are joined by cherry notes on a well-balanced palate, with some spice. Long aftertaste.
Enjoy with: Perfect with a Sunday roast.
Star rating: ****
Chateau Beauchene Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2022 (ABV 13.5%)
€15 @ Whelehan Wines
Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Marselan, Carignan
A REAL smoothie, with an intense garnet red colour. This classic, warming southern Rhone blend, with a little Marselan in the mix, has a bouquet of red ripe fruits, violets, and spice.
The inviting, smooth and juicy palate has nicely integrated tannins, with raspberry preserve, spice, and bramble. The finish lingers beautifully. A perennial favourite.
Enjoy with: Slow roast lamb shoulder.
Star rating: ***
16 Stops Shiraz 2021 (ABV 14%)
€15.99rrp @ Good independents
Grapes: Shiraz
THIS is a little beauty from southeast Oz… from a Willunga vineyard some 16 stops by rail from Adelaide!
A vibrant, deep plum red colour in the glass, it has a complex bouquet with dark fruit, pepper and mocha notes.
The medium bodied palate has great balance with subtle, ripe tannins in harmony with notes of blackberries, plum and dark chocolate. Excellent length.
Enjoy with: Your favourite steak cut.
Star rating: ****
Chateau Fontareche Vieilles Vignes 2022 (ABV 13.5%)
€17.99rrp @ Good independents
Grapes: Syrah, Carignan, Grenache
GLAD to see this sumptuous wine turning up again after a positive review three years ago.
The fruit comes from old vines, aged 60 years plus, harvested in the Corbières region of the Languedoc, France, and are the starting point for this rich and concentrated, purplish coloured blend.
It has fragrant aromas of black fruits and a herbal hint, while blackberries carry on to a vibrant palate, balanced by supple tannins., and a long finish.
Enjoy with: Slow cooked rabbit stew.
Star rating: ***
Guigal Cotes Du Rhone Rouge 2021 (ABV 14.5%)
€17.99rrp @ Good independents
Grapes: Syrah, Grenache & Mourvèdre
THE Guigal family make consistently good wines in the southern Rhone. Their Cotes Du Rhone is generally seen as the standard by which all others are judged.
A dark red colour in the glass, with an intense nose of red fruits, with hints of black pepper and spice.
The palate offers opulent dark fruit flavours and smooth tannins, along with some comforting warm spice on the finish.
Enjoy with: Shepherd’s pie.
Star rating: ****
Chateau de Caraguilhes Tian 2022 (ABV 13.5%)
€18.95 @ O’Briens Wine
Grape: Cinsault
A WINE I eagerly look forward to drinking vintage after vintage. Made with 100 per cent organic fruit from a wonderful vineyard in the Corbières region of the Languedoc, it is a delicate, bright ruby violet colour in the glass.
It has wonderful aromatics, with intense notes of rosemary, thyme and red fruit. The generous and fresh palate delivers notes of crushed raspberries and strawberries, velvety tannins and a tangy finish.
Enjoy with: Confit of duck.
Star rating: ****
Specially Selected Chateauneuf du Pape 2020 (ABV 14.5%)
€19.99 @ Aldi outlets
Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre
THIS vibrant red blend boasts enticing aromatics of ripe raspberries, red apples, baked plums and garrigue herbs.
Very much a lighter, leaner version of the Chateauneufs we have come to know and love, but all the same has its own elegance and savoury character.
The palate has some richness, is quite textured, has soft tannins, with cherry, stewed black fruit, spice and pepper notes. Medium length.
Enjoy with: Turkey.
Star rating: ***
Castellore Barolo 2020 (ABV 13.5%)
€19.99 @ Aldi outlets
Grape: Nebbiolo
DRINKABLE expression of Nebbiolo, the noble grape behind one of the world’s great wines, Barolo.
A fragile and fickle grape grown in Piedmont, northern Italy, it needs TLC, and lots of oak aging. The best wines cost a small fortune.
But this under €20 bottle is worth a punt. A small light, but with a nice red fruit flavour profile, tannic grip and earthy notes.
Enjoy with: Prime rib
Star rating: ***
Rioja Vega Edicion Limitada 2019 (ABV 14%)
€19.99 @ good independents
Grapes: Tempranillo, Graciano
PACKAGED in a Gift Wine Tube for the coming festive season, this attractive ruby red Rioja, with 14 months aging in American oak before bottling, has an appealing nose of black fruits, with a nice layer of spice, and subtle toasty notes.
The palate is warming, inviting and well balanced, with silky tannins and strawberry, raspberry and vanilla notes. The finish is quite long and very satisfying.
Enjoy with: Roast lamb.
Star rating: ***
Jean Max Roger Sancerre Rouge 2019 (ABV 13.5%)
Currently €20 on offer at larger Dunnes Stores
Grape: Pinot Noir
A RATHER special and classy ruby red Sancerre from the highly respected Loire winemaker Etienne Roger.
The nose has nice red fruit intensity with cherry, strawberry and plum notes, along with a significant floral streak.
Bright acidity, excellent freshness, superb balance and a nice roundness are all hallmarks of a textured palate with softening tannins and a bowl of ripe red berry flavors. Hugely satisfying length.
Enjoy with: Grilled fresh salmon.
Star rating: ****
