Lirac Les Closiers 2017,
£10, M&S
Lirac is close to the Châteauneuf du Pape area in France but its wines taste more of black fruit. This Syrah-Grenache blend delivers a taste of blackberries and dried herbs with a little bit of spice to warm the palate – it’s a deep, elegant red that simply bursts with berry flavours. It’s great served on its own but would be a perfect match with a steak and at 14.5 per cent it’s one of those wines that certainly packs a punch...
Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon, £9.50, Asda
A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small portion of Malbec, sourced from vineyards across New Zealand with an array of profiles, this wine displays fragrant aromas of cassis, red fruits and dried herbs. A rich mouthfeel balanced with subtle tannins leads to a really smooth red wine – it’s bold but approachable. The dark fruits are a perfect counterbalance for a roast lamb Sunday dinner.
WINE OF THE WEEK
Irresistible Chilean Carmenere, £7, Co-op
This Irresisitble Carménère, a grape perhaps more synonymous with French winemaking, hails from the Maipo Valley in Chile. A deep wine, with concentrated aromas of blackcurrant, red cherry and a touch of vanilla... and some plum, fig and a twist of black pepper. An easy-drinking wine – in a very colourful, entertaining bottle – that pairs perfectly well with most meaty winter dinners.
