(2017) Pinot Noir remains something of a holy grail for both wine lovers, and winemakers, the grape requiring specific growing conditions and a delicate hand from the winemaker to give of its best. While the top red wines of Burgundy represent the pinnacle of Pinot perfection, it's always nice to find a good example at a modest price that is widely available. From Marlborough, this wears cooler climate credentials with a birary, truffle and twig character on the nose, small, dry red berries like redcurrant and cherry, and a wisp of smoke. In the mouth it is delicate and light, those truffly characters matched by more of that pert cherry fruit, a line of tannin and more of that smokiness to balance nicely.  Watch the video for more information and food matching ideas.
(2017) KWV is one of the great old names of South African wines and spirits, but today is a very modern winery with a youthful winemaking team, access to great fruit, and some excellent wines. They are also part owned by a Black Empowerment business, so represent the modern South Africa too. This is exuberant, explosive stuff with fruity and bright aromas of stone fruits and red apple, before a palate overflowing with fruit - more of that nectarine juiciness - and a good bedrock of acidity to offset the ripe sweetness of the fruit. Watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.
(2015) This wine was a 'Wine of the Week' over three years ago, when an earlier vintage scooped a top trophy at one of the major UK wine competitions. This 2013 also won 'silver', but my main reason for choosing it is a) that it is a lovely little wine, and b) that it's currently on offer with a handy £1 off. Made in the Languedoc from one of the local grape varieties, Mourvèdre, it is an unoaked wine that overflows with cherry and buoyant raspberry fruit. On the palate that creamy, fleshy fruit fills the mouth, developing a touch of chocolate and spice, but all the time crunchy and fresh with an easy, but balanced and savoury dry finish. Watch the video for my full review and for specific food matching suggestions. It's £6.49 on offer until 24th November 2015, normally £7.49.
(2015) A typical blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, this from giant Ogier is a medium ruby colour and offers dry, lightly leafy scents of redcurrant and cranberry, with a gentle floral lift. In the mouth the red fruits are creamy and nicely fresh - ripe enough, but with a bit of cut and earthy dryness against the soft tannins. Fairly lightweight (12.5% abv) and finishing on a touch of spice, it is solidly gluggable without setting the heather on fire.
(2015) A hint of softening to the colour of this for sure, in another Grenache-dominated blend with 14.5% alcohol. Quite creamy, quite gentle on the nose, and back into the soft red berry spectrum of aromas, with a hint of pepper and sweet earth. This fills the mouth with juicy red berry fruits too, a bit of keen raspberry flavour and tart acidity, more earth and leather, a broader base filling in on the mid-palate. The finish shows plenty of spice and a little heat, with easy-going tannins but good overall balance.
(2011) And the second least expensive pink hits the spot too. From the Languedoc's Pays d'Oc, it has a nice pale peach colour and quite refined redcurrant and raspberry fruit. The palate is dry and balanced, with a little creamy weight too.
(2011) This is a new wine for the Co-op, that will be in stores from August 2011. With a fairly deep cherry tinge to the colour and 12.5% ABV it has a very inviting creaminess to the soft, pulpy berry fruit on the nose. The palate is flavoursome too, with lots of mouth-filling fruit, nicely balancing acidity and a robust nip of tannin in the finish. Good value.
(2011) Grenache and Cinsault combine in this screwcapped Provence Rosé which has a very delicate, pale colour. Gently mealy and herby, it has some currant and raspberry pit fruit on the nose, and leads onto a palate with plenty of acidity and a nicely clean, savoury character. 13% ABV means it has a bit of authority, with racy, dry flavours in the finish.