Garnet red in colour, the bouquet is intense and persistent, fruity with a winery note. Flavour: wood, medium body, good tannins, balanced and ready to drink. Excellent with all the typical courses of Italian traditional cooking.

BODEGAS ALTO MONCAYO Garnacha, Campo de Borja Winemaker: Chris Ringland.

This wonderful red wine flaunts a deep plum colour. The well balanced bouquet offers fragrances of red fruits and raspberries enhanced by a gentle touch of herbs. This delightful nose is followed by mouth-filling flavours of savoury fruit, complex spice and subtle vanilla oak on the palate. Integrated with fine tannins, the resulting drink is very approachable. This wine has been specially crafted to be enjoyed upon release, but can also be cellar for 3 to 7 years for later drinking.

No wonder Spain's El Bombero is a regular Top 10 favourite. For over 20 years, fans have sought it out for its winning combination of 15% power and velvety richness more usually associated with pricier reds such as the Rhône's Châteauneuf du Pape. It comes from Cariñena, a hot, arid region of Spain where sun-loving grapes like Garnacha (same as Châteauneuf's Grenache) achieve amazing ripeness. Ancient vines and a lack of rain means fewer grapes, which in turn means far more flavour intensity. Decanter magazine says it's home to some of the best value reds in the world, and we have to agree! From award winning winemaker Javier Domeque, El Bombero is packed with spicy black fruit and smooth, sumptuous tannins. Delicious on its own and a tasty choice for casseroles, full flavoured pasta dishes, herby roast sausages and mash, and, of course, barbecues.

As famed Spanish wine expert John Radford wrote in Decanter, the tiny enclave of Campo de Borja is “the source of some of the best value wines from Spain, if not the world”. It’s true. Where else could you find such a mellow, complex, oak aged red at this price? It’s made by our old friend Pamela Geddes (who also makes our bestselling Monasterio de Santa Cruz) at the 500 year old Bodegas Ruberte. 60% of the wine is Garnacha from vines planted in 1958. They’re not as prolific these days but the intensity of flavour in the grapes is impressive. The balance is Cabernet Sauvignon, which adds classic cassis character and structure to the spicy raspberry Garnacha. A rich and fragrant Spanish red best enjoyed with rustic lamb dishes.