Highly commended wines

Spain red wines (continued)

Finca Nueva Crianza, Rioja Alta, Rioja 2018 (£16.66, Bancroft): Good balance of fruit, sweet tannins and a good finish; very good value for the quality.

Dominio de Atauta, Ribera del Duero 2019 (£37.99, Boutinot): If you’re looking for stylish rich Spanish red, look no further: great balanced Ribera del Duero.

Vintae, Clea By Bardos Crianza, Ribera del Duero 2020 (£15, Vindependents): Nice deep scented mulberry – excellent quality here.

Ontañón Rippa Dorii Crianza, Ribera del Duero 2020 (£14.99, Boutinot): Wonderfully intense, rich and long finish. Warming, with a mix of savoury and fruit.

Viña Mayor Crianza, Ribera del Duero 2018 (£19.49, North South Wines): Mature dark fruits, blackberry, dark chocolate. Really attractive; very good price.

Gómez Cruzado Rioja Predilecto, Rioja 2021 (£19.99, Boutinot): Sweet spices, generous; luscious, smooth and mouthwatering.

Cosme Palacio Vino de la Guardia, Rioja Alavesa, Rioja 2018 (£21.49, North South Wines): Modern, intense, complex with acidity to balance the hefty tannins.

Cosme Palacio Reserva, Rioja 2016 (£29.99, North South Wines): Lovely rich fruit and plush mouth feel. Good seam of acidity. Well-balanced; moreish.

Álvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat, Gratallops, Priorat 2021 (£22.80, Bancroft): Juicy, generous, smooth, and velvety; fine acidity. Very well balanced.

Marco Abella Mas Mallola, Priorat 2020 (£30, Vindependents): Full-bodied with lots of grip. Nicely balanced. Textbook Priorat: a really good example.

Vintae Clea by Bardos Reserva, Ribera del Duero 2018 (£19.50, Vindependents): Great concentration but beautifully balanced; polished and layered.

Finca Museum Vinea Crianza, Cigales 2018 (£15.99, Liberty Wines): Extremely enjoyable red. Soft, oak, vanilla. Great value for the price. A crowd pleaser.

Finca Bacara Time Waits For No One Stone Elephant, Jumilla 2021 (£14.49, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Cocoa and black fruit; robustly succulent.

Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero, Ribera del Duero 2020 (£26.99, Alliance Wine): Very savoury, meaty and smoky. Dark and deep. A thinking wine.

Bodegas Muerza Crianza, Rioja 2018 (£11.99, Cachet Wine): tangy acidity throughout. Well balanced, mature and, for the money, very very good.

Uruguay red wines

Viña Progreso Revolution Tannat, Progreso Valley, Canelones 2020 (£17.25, Ucopia Wines): Big and full –even gnarly – with tannins, but very rewarding.

Viña Progreso Overground Cabernet Franc, Progreso Valley, Canelones 2018 (£22, Ucopia Wines): Great example of Cabernet Franc: fragrant and lovely feel.

Viña Progreso Overground Cabernet Franc, Progreso Valley, Canelones 2018 (£22, Ucopia Wines): Great example of Cabernet Franc: fragrant and lovely feel.

Usa

red wines

Terlato Wines The Federalist Zinfandel, Lodi, California 2018 (£31.50, Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies): Classic Zin for Zin fans: palate-filling blueberries.

Andrew Will Involuntary Commitment, Columbia Valley, Washington State 2020 (£25.41, Bancroft): Mint, raspberries; good acidity, good finish.

Terlato Wines Rutherford Hill Merlot, Napa Valley, California 2019 (£42.95, Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies): Gorgeous Merlot with fine tannins.

Hahn Family Wines Smith & Hook Proprietary Red Blend, Central Coast, California 2020 (£34, Castelnau Wine Agencies): Full bodied; enjoyable dark fruit.

Norton Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2018 (£14.95, Propeller): Well balanced with plum, cherry and warm spice. Soft, round; good value at this price.

Old Stage Pinot Noir, Monterey, California 2019 (£20.25, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Excellent value in this high-end category. Bright and engaging.

Hahn Family Wines Hahn Appellation GSM, Arroyo Seco, California 2021 (£34, Castelnau Wine Agencies): Juicy but balanced; herbs, smoke, liquorice.

Charles Krug Napa Merlot, Napa Valley, California 2020 (£38.49, Top Selection): Plums, cherries, bramble fruit, liquorice spice. Well defined; long.

Precision Wine Co Prototype Lodi Zinfandel, Lodi, California 2020 (£16.79, Top Selection): Packed with cherries. A smooth, fruit-filled Zinfandel. Good value.

Postmark Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, California 2020 (£29.99, Top Selection): Blackberry, plum and spice. Elegant tannins and a long finish.

Decoy Limited Napa Red Wine, Napa Valley, California 2018 (£37.49, Top Selection): Rich, generous flavours; delightful. Blue fruit and blackberry subtle oak.

Crosby Cellars Crosby Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2018 (£14.95, Propeller): Gentle sweet red fruits, finishing with an attractive sweet sensation.

Taken Wines Taken Red Blend, 2019 (£32.99, Vintrigue Wines): Remarkable intensity of sweet dark fruit; a fruit bomb with very obvious appeal.

Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir, Central Coast, California 2018 (£34.79, Top Selection): Graceful, vivid, pure fruit in a darker style. Wide appeal.

Hahn Family Wines Hahn SLH Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, California 2021 (£44.50, Castelnau Wine Agencies): Super fine, elegant: vividly complex.

Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot, 2018 (£53, Top Selection): Soft, rounded, plummy. All elements in harmony. A very enjoyable wine with a long finish.

Domaine Carneros Avant Garde Pinot Noir, Carneros, California 2020 (£25.75, Hatch Mansfield): Extremely aromatic; raspberry, red cherries; silky smooth.

Portugal fortified wines

Rozes Mellor’s Tawny NV, Douro (£10.53, Russell Mellor & Co): A pleasant herbal, earthy quality: adds interest to the chocolate and fruit.

Henriques & Henriques 10 Year Old Malvasia, Madeira NV (£23, Mentzendorff): Nutty caramel sweetness. Burnt almond, raisin and coffee. Complex.

Ferreira Dona Antónia 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro NV (£24.99, Liberty Wines): Dried fruits and a lovely spicy, nutty finish. Rather attractive.

Fonseca Crusted, Douro NV (£20, Mentzendorff): Attractive nose of lifted red fruits and almond. Really well balanced in the mouth; delicious. Good value.

Ferreira Late Bottled Vintage Port, Douro 2017 (£22.99, Liberty Wines): Candied fruits, raisins, black forest gateau, blood. Sweet with some spice.

Graham’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro NV (£40, Fells): Really nicely balanced with some good acidity still apparent. Moreish (if not cheap).

Fonseca LBV, Douro 2016 (£18, Mentzendorff): Fruitcake; gently warming spice; lingering sweet fruit. Fantastic: definitely worth stocking it for the price.

Spain fortified wines

Valdespino Premium Collection Amontillado Tio Diego Pago de Macharnudo, Jerez NV (£26.40, Liberty Wines): Full flavour: dried apricot, walnut, soft spice.

Bodegas Hidalgo Pasada Pastrana Manzanilla, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Jerez NV (£18, Mentzendorff): Wonderful rich yeasty depth of flavour; briney finish.

Valdespino Classic Collection Pedro Ximénez El Candado, Jerez NV (£28.49, Liberty Wines): Really fresh, not too cloying. Raisin, fig, hazelnut.

Valdespino VOS & VORS Collection Palo Cortado Viejo CP, Jerez NV (£46.99 Liberty Wines): World class. Would fit nicely into a fine-wine gift box range.

Valdespino Premium Collection Manzanilla Deliciosa Pago de Miraflores, Jerez NV (£18.99, Liberty Wines): Fresh, lifted nose. Beautifully dry, tangy and clean.