Four Red Wines

Recently I have tasted some great red wines which are very good value for money.

Anciano Tempranillo 2003 Gran Reserva, Valdepeñas from La Mancha, Spain. This is an exceptionally fruity wine which has been aged for two years in oak which lends a vanilla flavour. The tannins are beginning to soften nicely and the wine has all the spicy complexity and long length which characterises a good wine. This full bodied wine will keep longer and still improve in the bottle. A bargain at about 6 pounds a bottle from Waitrose Supermarket; no wonder it is now sold out on their website. We drank this with roast lamb, what else could it go best with?

Domaine de la Charité,Côtes du Rhône, Charité, 2009 I bought this wine from Wine Discoveries and it is very good value for money at about nine pounds a bottle. This wine is made from Grenach, Carignan and Syrah black grapes which are all suited to the soil and climate of the region. It has concentrated tastes of strawberries and blackberrie, it is a full bodied wine which is well balanced for tannin and acidity. This wine will keep much longer and improve in the bottle and like all the wines listed here should be consummed with food. I thought this wine went particulary well with french cheeses.

Whilst browsing in Laithwaites the other day I found this wine Le Prieuré de Vinsobres 2009. Vinsobres used to be classified as Côtes du Rhône Villages but within the last few years it has been awarded its own apellation. This wine is Grenach and Syrah based and once again has a concentrated and complex taste of red fruits and spices. This full bodied wine has the tannic structure which will enable it to improve in the bottle for five to ten years. At ten pounds it is exceptional value for money and it compares favourably in quality to good wines from anywhere in the world. It could certainly be saved for a special occasion and I would not be disappointed had I paid thirty pounds for a bottle. Laithwaites have found a winner here. Also, try Domaine Constant-Duquesnoy which is formerly Domaine les Aussellon if you can find it. I once stayed in a farm right next door to the Domaine Aussellon and what a wonderful location it was too.

Domaine Colinot Irancy, Côte du Moutier 2005 AOC Irancy. This wine is produced from the Pinot Noir grape mixed with a small proportion of the local César. The vineyards are situated on the Kimmeridgian soils typical of the Yonne. If anyone doubts that a wine has a "gout de terroir" then they should try wines from this area. The taste of these wines reflects both the soil and the microclimate of the region. Côte du Moutier is a fine and classic example of the Irancy appellation with a taste of Cherry, Stawberry and red fruits combined with a slight minerality typical of wines from the area. This wine has the tannic structure to convey longevity. The wines are medium bodied and have an elegance which befits the Pinot Noir grape grown in a cool environment.The local César contributes structure to the wine. I have seen Irancy wines on the menu in London restaurants for over 35 pounds a bottle, wines which I have obtained for less than ten euros a bottle form Auxerre, and no-one was complaining. Côte du Moutier is available in Britain for around 17 euros a bottle but I paid a much lower price in the region. This is a great wine which reflects regional character; I recommend that you try a few bottles.