Bright, intense ruby red in colour, Tasca Regaleali Nero d'Avola is full flavoured with notes of sour cherry, mulberry, blueberry and vanilla. Herbaceous spice such as sage add further complexity leading into a beautifully balanced red wine.

Its colour is a bright ruby red. On the nose, it is clean and precise, with hints or morello cherries, wild berries and a moderate spiciness. The palate reveals a full and firm flavour, expressing all its intensity and elegance.

It’s no coincidence Pillastro is one of our bestselling Italian reds – customers love all that richness, warmth and bold, ripe fruit. Pillastro comes from Puglia, in Italy’s deep south, best known for big, smoky wines made from prized local varieties Primitivo and Negroamaro. It is made by Angelo Maci, a leading figure in the quality revolution of the last two decades, whose cellar Cantine Due Palme has twice been named Winery of the Year. Angelo made this wine purely from Primitivo, which produces rich, powerful reds with plenty of ripe fruit. A period of oak ageing has infused the wine’s generous plum and damson character with notes of spice and vanilla. Enjoy with hearty casseroles, pasta with a rich tomato sauce, or garlic roasted lamb.

Cantina Vallebelbo is located in Piemonte, in the small village of Santo Stefano Belbo, between the provinces of Cuneo and Asti. The name of the winery is inspired by the river Belbo that runs through the valley. Over the centuries, the river has shaped the surrounding hills, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Very bright crimson red color, with intense aromas of redcurrants and complex notes of dusty baked earth. Very juicy berries on the palate with sweet, plump red fruits on the mid-palate in particular, supported by floral notes and prominent but refined Nebbiolo tannins. An excellent, well-priced introduction to this classic Italian variety.

Saracosa is inspired by the ‘Super Tuscans’ – a style first developed in the 1970s. These wines kickstarted the region’s renaissance and became some of the most exclusive and expensive in the world. Saracosa is from the Barbanera family estate, where half the vineyards are in the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, and the remainder just beyond. In the 5-Star 2017 vintage Saracosa’s old vines delivered exceptional concentration. Dense, dark cherry and chocolatey tones make this a serious choice for pasta with pork ragù or bistecca alla fiorentina (steak with cannellini beans in tomato sauce).

Italy’s deep south is best known for big, smoky wines made from its prized local varieties – Primitivo, Negroamaro, and in this case the uniquely Puglian Susumaniello grape. In local dialect Susumaniello means something like “loaded like a donkey”, referring to the wine’s massive amounts of aroma and flavour. Pillastro’s creator Angelo Maci is a leading figure in Puglia’s recent quality revolution, and is fervently proud of local traditions and rare grape varieties. As fans of southern Italian wines – and Pillastro fans in particular – will agree, Puglia offers “undreamed-of character and potential” (Hugh Johnson), and mouthwatering Susumaniello is the supreme example of this. Serve in large glasses with braised lamb shanks or caponata.