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Wine Spectator calls Portugal “the most exciting wine place on the planet”, with its terrific range of native grape varieties and wines that always offer standout value. The rich, mouthfilling Lobo e Falcão fits firmly in that category. It’s made at a 17th century estate owned by the Lobo de Vasconcellos family, once the location of the king’s falconry. Special barrels of wine were kept for the king when he visited. Today, talented winemaker Joana Lopes makes this red specially for us, blending Syrah with Portugal’s exciting native grapes. Previously awarded a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Award, the 2018 has lovely intensity of flavour due to another low yield year. Generous wild berry fruit and spice with a velvet texture – a very moreish red.

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.

Coming from selected vineyards in Valpolicella near Lake Garda, the Tommasi Valpolicella is made up from Corvina (60%), Rondinella (20%), Corvinone (10%), and Molinara (10%).

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.

With an impressive award-winning history, this densely flavoured, spicy champion comes from the Padró family cellar founded in 1898, in Spain’s Tarragona region. Combining concentrated, old bush vine (up to 70 years old) Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre or Mataro) from Tarragona with a little from warm Jumilla for extra richness, plus a portion of strawberry scented Tempranillo, this rich and spicy red is spot on with barbecued, lamb or beef, or try it with a range of Spanish tapas-inspired delicacies.

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.

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).