Highly commended wines

Italy red wines (continued)

Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany 2018 (£32.49, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Lovely example of Chianti Classico: leather, cherry, nice grip.

Vigneti Zabù Il Passo Verde Organic Nero d’Avola, Sambuca, Sicily 2022 (£13.99, Liberty Wines): Really interesting. Soft plum, blackcurrant; smoke, herbs.

Poggiotondo Organic Chianti Superiore, Tuscany 2020 (£19.99, Liberty Wines): Very easy to drink – lovely freshness on the palate. Smooth, well balanced.

Alpha Zeta R Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto 2020 (£17.99, Liberty Wines): Bright, sour cherry and a hint of herb/mint – riper plummy palate. Great pasta wine.

Campo alle Comete Bolgheri Stupore, Tuscany 2021 (£27.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Loads of welldefined fruit; everything in its place on the palate.

Buglioni Il Bugiardo Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore, Veneto 2020 (£24, Delitalia): Cassis and plum – lots concentrated fruit and savoury finish.

Ciacci Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Tuscany 2020 (£21, Mentzendorff): Classic Sangiovese with great depth and presence and character at an excellent price.

Celestino Pecci You Can Sangiovese di Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2020 (£23, Marcato Direct): Lots of red fruit, some spice, pleasingly sweet-sour; great for the price.

Fertuna Pactio Rosso, Maremma, Tuscany 2018 (£16, Mentzendorff): Classic Super Tuscan at a very attractive entry price point. Spicy pepper; sour cherry.

Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2019 (£28, Vindependents): Brambly fruit; blackberries and cherries; refreshing acidity.

Buglioni L’(I’m)Perfetto, Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Veneto 2020 (£17, Delitalia): Great cherryfilled palate with sweet spice and vanilla.

Achille Boroli Ulmus Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2019 (£43.29, Top Selection): Astonishingly savoury; gentle redcurrant; woody spice. Serious wine.

Tenuta Ormanni Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2020 (£22, Vindependents): Authentic Sangiovese profile. Classic food-orientated wine; very nicely put together.

Avignonesi Desiderio, Tuscany 2019 (£56, Vindependents): Plum, blueberry, mulberry; redcurrant and strawberry. Very smooth and well balanced.

Montresor Capitel della Crosara, Valpolicella Ripasso, Veneto 2019 (£18.99, Boutinot): Intense cherry bakewell chocolate charm; incense and spice.

Azienda Agricola Cortese Sabuci Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Sicily 2020 (£21.99, North South Wines): Light, juicy; chillable, great well balanced acidity. Zesty, vibrant.

Di Filippo Villa Conversino Rosso, Umbria 2021 (£13.25, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Pale, soft fruits nose. Bit of garrigue. Pleasant pepperoni pizza wine.

EM Family of Wine Duo Rosso, IGT Veneto 2019 (£15, Marcato Direct): Bright cherry, with touch of tar on the nose; violets, mocha. Tasty and quaffable.

Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2018 (£28.49, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Attractive; lovely mouth feel; cherry, tobacco; good value.

Pricipiano Giuseppe Barolo DOCG Boscareto, Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, Piedmont 2015 (£48, Marcato Direct): Impressive, gorgeous expression of Nebbiolo.

Duca di Saragnano Toscana Rosso da Uve Leggermente Appassite, Tuscany 2020 (£11.99, Cachet Wine): Excellent depth for the price point.

Celestino Pecci Rosso di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2020 (£28, Marcato Direct): Brilliant baby Brunello that’s as good as the “real thing”; very drinkable now.

Principiano Giuseppe Langhe Nebbiolo DOC, Piedmont 2020 (£21, Marcato Direct): Elegant, stylish; dry hedgerow fruit. Very lovable at this price.

Tasca Lamuri, Sicily 2019 (£23.50, Berkmann Wine Cellars): Well integrated, with a deep rich concentratration of black fruits and balsamic notes on the finish. Good acidity.

Cascina Vèngore Belgardo, Terre Alfieri DOCG, Piedmont 2020 (£21, Vindependents): Elegant, perfumed, complex, lovely; exceptional value.

Badia a Coltibuono Sangioveto, Tuscany 2015 (£42.50, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Gorgeous, mature notes of leather; sour cherry; balanced acidity.

Tenuta di Sesta Campanovo Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2021 (£17.49, Top Selection): Mass appeal, great value; herbal-savoury nose; mulberry palate.

Produttori di Manduria Lirica Primitivo di Manduria DOC, Puglia 2020 (£16.49, Alliance Wine): Sweet raspberries, dark chocolate, coffee; so much character.

Paololeo Millefiore Appassimento Rosso, Veneto 2020 (£13.49, North South Wines): Chocolate, cherries and herbs – lovely feel and intensity. Great value.

Al-Cantàra Etna Lu Veru Piaciri, Sicily 2019 (£24.49, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Ruby red in appearance and flavour: laced with herbs and spice.

Moldova red wines

Chateau Purcari Rara Neagra, Stefan Voda 2021 (£14.99, Transylvania Wine): Great value Moldovan red; soft, full, spicy aromas; refreshing vibrant fruit.

Chateau Purcari Saperavi, Stefan Voda 2020 (£19.99, Transylvania Wine): Lovely juicy weighty style; good complex wine for the price.

Chateau Purcari Negru de Purcari, Stefan Voda 2019 (£22.99, Transylvania Wine): Nice texture, integrated tannins; crunch. Dark fruits and blackberry leaves.

Chateau Purcari Freedom Blend, Stefan Voda 2019 (£19.99, Transylvania Wine): Refined and serious. The palate is very smooth, with good balance.

New Zealand red wines

Esk Valley River Gravel Merlot Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon, Hawke’s Bay 2019 (£28.20, Hatch Mansfield): Wonderful Kiwi claret!

Nautilus Southern Valleys Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2017 (£25.99, Fells): Classic Pinot forest floor and cherry; lovely feel and seamless texture.

Babich Black Label Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2019 (£23.50, Berkmann Wine Cellars): Refreshing and appetising acidity; lovely clarity of red fruit.

Rockburn Pinot Noir Devil’s Staircase, Central Otago 2021 (£22.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Sumptuous rounded fruit; black and red cherries.

Villa Maria Ngakirikiri, Hawke’s Bay 2019 (£76.60, Hatch Mansfield): Beautifully structured and deep; cassis and great tannins and length.

Villa Maria Attorney Organic Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2019 (£64.50, Hatch Mansfield): Elegance but great shimmering fruit concetration; a lovely example.

Trinity Hill Homage Gimblett Gravels Syrah, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay 2019 (£101.99, Liberty Wines): Fragrant, complex, like very good northern Rhône.

Portugal red wines

Real Companhia Velha Dandy Tinto, Douro 2021 (£16, Marta Vine): Raspberry, cherry, plum and chocolate. Very bright and fresh – keeps you wanting more.

Alves de Sousa Caldas, Douro 2020 (£14.79, Top Selection): Perfumed nose leading to bright layered palate of fruits of the forest; good price.

House of Beja Tinto, Vidiguera, Alentejo 2019 (£9.99, Propeller): Ripe, dark fruit; hint of menthol. Very ripe palate; jammy plums and damson; notes of liquorice.

Prats & Symington Post Scriptum, Douro 2021 (£22.99, Fells): Refined, beautifully structured, deep layered flavour and velvety tannins. Good length.

Vila Nova Barao de Varzea do Douro Reserva Tinto, Douro 2020 (£15.99, Boutinot): Fragrant floral nose –classic Douro violets. Succulent black fruits. Value.

Real Companhia Velha Quinta da Carvalhas Tinto, Douro 2018 (£17.99, Alliance Wine): Smooth; cassis and chocolate notes. Integrated oak. Good value.

Herdade do Rocim Indígena, Alentejano, Alentejo 2021 (£21.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Dusky dark fruit; some crunch and bite; great with food.

Cartuxa Geno Tinto, Evora, Alentejo 2019 (£8.99, Mentzendorff): Fresh fruit and spice. Nice body, great summer barbecue wine with a bit more going on.

Global Wines Portugal Cabriz Edição Especial, Dão 2015 (£21.50, Marta Vine): Something of good Rioja here. Great balance and quality. An exciting wine.

Vallegre Old Vines Reserva Especial, Douro 2016 (£24.99, Lanchester Wines/Vintrigue): Powerful and brooding. A very good example of a bold Douro red.

Symington Family Estates Florao Red, Portalegre, Alentejo 2019 (£12.49, Fells): Lots of black and red cherry and plum. Nice focus and intensity; good value.