Wines Under £15

Gorgeous dark fruit flavours, almost syrupy in its concentration. Dark, rich and potent, with layers of black cherry, raspberry and cinnamon. Deep, with pretty fruit cake and spicy aromatics. A lovely long finish.

Cramele Recas

This wine is produced from selected Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano grapes sourced from 30 to 40 year old Rioja Alta vineyards whose distinctive stony soils are ideal for the long, even ripening of quality grapes. The fruit is hand harvested in mid October. Each variety is fermented separately in small tanks using natural yeasts at 28-30° C. After 20 days on the skins the wine is gently pressed and racked to stainless steel tanks for malolactic fermentation. The clear wine is then racked to 2nd and 3rd year American and Russian oak barrels for 24 months maturation before blending and bottling.

An intense wine, classically designed and crafted. Aromas of ripe red berries, a touch of oak, cinnamon and spice. The palate is silky and ample with layered complexity - berry fruit, spice and liquorice building to a complex finish.

Feteasca Neagra (literally translates as Black Maiden) is one of the most widely planted red varieties in Romania (and Moldova), and easily the most widely planted native one. Late ripening, high yielding, and thick skinned, the grapes can reach high levels of sugar and acidity meaning in the past it was mainly used to make sweet and semi-sweet reds with lots of new oak. Nowadays new investment in vineyards and wineries are leading to a new wave of winemakers making much more elegant and balanced wines.

From the geniuses at Cramele Recas, this has a brilliant spicy nose of black pepper, black berry, black currant and red cherry. A bit pinot noiry but medium bodied with rich, grippy, very dry tannins and beautifully balanced acidity. A hint of coffee right at the very end.

Vibrant black fruit aromas with a touch of spice. On the palate layers of ripe plum, blackcurrant and juicy black cherry balance spicy, developed flavours. A well-structured and complex wine with ripe tannins and bright acidity on the finish.

Azienda Uggiano

Fresh black cherries and cassis notes of the nose. With a juicy palate showing soft tannins with more red fruit flavours, and a touch of spice on the finish.

From Chris- "I was properly bowled over when I tasted this a couple of weeks ago. Whilst the prices of top end Bordeaux place them well out of reach of mere mortals, many properties further down the food chain have struggled in recent years and countless Chateaux have simply thrown in the towel in the face of competition from across the globe. Others, have seen it as an opportunity to raise their game as Michael Regaud has done here. An investment programme started by his father in 1979 has seen quality levels consistently outperforming those of their neighbours – this is “proper” Bordeaux but at an accessible level."

Full-bodied, supple wine with soft tannins and a fruity finish

A classic Crianza style, from vineyards in Rioja Oriental. A blend of Tempranillo, with a touch of Mazuelo and Garnacha, producing a wine with lovely aromas of wild red berries, blossom, nutmeg and hints of sandalwood. Here the oak is poised and only enhances the fruit, creating an authentic and accessible style of Crianza to please the palate, and at a price to please the pocket too.

Bodegas Manzanos

This wine is a unique blend from the Colchagua Valley that seeks to showcase the great potential achieved by mixing red varieties to highlight their individual and collective character. With a bright ruby red colour, it displays an interesting and expressive nose where the fruity and spicy style predominates, showing aromas of cherry, blueberries, blackberry, violet flower accompanied by notes of red pepper, rosemary, and tarragon. On the palate, it is of medium concentration with a beautiful acidity that gives it great liveliness and juiciness. Soft and silky tannins provide a subtle and elegant finish that makes it an easy-to-drink wine, ideal for sharing and enjoying.

Intense, bright and ripe raspberry Grenache fruit balanced by peppery, savoury characters from the Syrah and Mourvèdre. Generous but properly balanced and underpinned with smooth, ripe tannins.

Immediately impressive, this wine reveals its class from the start. Brambly fruit underpinned by subtle oaky nuances, lovely sweet spice - warm star anise with a touch of cinnamon. This classic Côtes du Rhône Villages is enriched with specially-selected parcels from Séguret and Sablet.

Pronounced, classic Cabernet Franc leafiness with blackcurrant fruit on the nose followed by robust, crunchy currant fruit on the palate with firm tannins.. Vibrant, young acidity provides freshness through to the finish. Best enjoyed with a good lunch.

Aromatic and intense, lovely aromas of wild red berries, blossom, nutmeg and hints of sandalwood. Fresh, fruity and well balanced with sensations of raspberries, vanilla and cinnamon.

Bodegas Manzanos

This red is 100% Monastrell, cultivated organically in chalky limestone soils at around 700 metres altitude. Low rainfall and plenty of sunshine are perfect for this variety. With no sulphites added during production - this low intervention wine is also low in histamine.

Bright cherry and floral aromas lead to a palate of ripe bramble and blueberry fruit, supple tannins and fresh acidity.

From Nicosia's organically farmed vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna. Delicate, complex aromas of wild strawberry and redcurrant with lightly floral notes. Fresh bitter cherry and red berry fruit on the palate with fresh acidity, earthy notes and a savoury finish.

From Chris- "I was properly bowled over when I tasted this a couple of weeks ago. Whilst the prices of top end Bordeaux place them well out of reach of mere mortals, many properties further down the food chain have struggled in recent years and countless Chateaux have simply thrown in the towel in the face of competition from across the globe. Others, have seen it as an opportunity to raise their game as Michael Regaud has done here. An investment programme started by his father in 1979 has seen quality levels consistently outperforming those of their neighbours – this is “proper” Bordeaux but at an accessible level."

Full-bodied, supple wine with soft tannins and a fruity finish

With a deep ruby red colour good structure and and medium body, this elegant wine has notes of cherries and spice, black pepper, with some oak notes in the background.

Owned by siblings Louis and Marie Farbre who were early pioneers of organic viticulture in the Languedoc, Château Coulon sits on a hill near the village of Cruscades close to the Via Aquitania, a Roman road which links the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. The vineyard extends over smooth, rounded pebbles deposited by the river Orbieu and refreshing winds assist in the organic management of the estate..

A concentrated and savoury red from the deep south of France. This Corbières shows intriguing savoury and herbal aromas of bitters and thyme. The palate is full of morello cherry fruit and carries through savoury flavours to the finish. Fantastic with charcoal-grilled lamb, rosemary potatoes and a green salad.

Famille Fabre Ch. Coulon

This wine displays an intense ruby red colour with violet hues. The nose reveals aromas of red fruit and black fruit with balsamic tones, which complements with notes of vanilla, chocolate, cherry and plums. It has a soft palate, fine-grained tannins, and refreshing acidity.