Corte Mayor Rioja Crianza 2016, Spain (£9, Co-op)
A youthful Tempranillo, this Crianza has a little bit of oak-ageing for some cedar freshness, and it has an approachable style that’s smooth and round with heaps of ripe red fruits with blackcurrant flavours and aromas. It’s a really good food wine with Sunday roasts or something as simple as olives and bread. It would also pair well with lamb cutlets or a Spanish tortilla. Price-wise it seems a bit expensive but it’s worth it...
Tesco Finest Barossa Shiraz 2017, Barossa Valley, Australia (£8, Tesco)
Wine lovers are spoilt for choice when it comes to Australia’s rich pickings, especially Shiraz, which thrives under the blankets of sunshine in the famous Barossa Valley. This is a red that’s laden with vibrant rich black fruits and draws you in with powerful aromas of plums, cherries and blackcurrant, hints of vanilla and spicy black peppercorn... great with steak with pepper sauce.
WINE OF THE WEEK
M&S Clocktower Pinot Noir 2018, Wairau Valley, New Zealand (£12, M&S)
A plush Pinot Noir, and a real favourite of mine, it is a ruby red with a fruity, silky elegance, balanced by good acidity with flavours of wild berries and red cherries. Matured in French oak with subtle spicy notes, this would be good with a weekday dinner of veal chops, or take the time and rustle up a beef stew.
