Mucho Malbec

£51 - 6 bottles 4 countries                    

Verne Malbec, Nieto, Mendoza, Argentina

Bellefontaine Malbec, Languedoc, 

France

The Bird Malbec, Showdown, California

Alberca Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Stone's Throw Malbec, Victoria, Australia

Les Volets Malbec, Aude, France

Might have said "macho" too, but that would be silly. Mind you, it is a grape that likes to deliver plenty of in yer face fruit and flavour. Happily, this lot also offer up interest and style aplenty, while also honouring their country of origin. They are all good examples and together provide a Malbec fan some exciting anti-lockdown foreign travel.

An Organic Case

£125 - 12 bottles, 3 each of these four:    

Rosé Cotes de Provence, Chateau      Gairoird, France

Rioja Ecologica, Bodegas Ontanon,    Spain 

Merlot, "O" Range, Emiliana, Chile

Verdejo, Menade, Rueda, Spain

These are some of the best tasting organic wines we have discovered, each of them a fine example of its kind whether certified organic or not.

Modestly Fizzed

£118 - 12 bottles, 3 each of these four:    

Durello, Brut Spumante, Veneto, 

Cava, Brut, Mas Macia, Spain

Martinotto, Prosecco Brut, Veneto 

Lunetta, Sparkling Pink, Trentino

Guzzling sparklers from Italy and Spain that always do the job and persuade us there is cause for celebration. These are each stylish wines, worthy aperitifs as well as food friends and good to party..

Bueno Borsao

£39.50 - 6 bottles, 2 of each

Bodegas Borsao, Campo de Borja, Spain

Garnacha Clasico

Rosado Clasico

Macabeo Clasico

Some of the very best Spanish value from Bodegas Borsao, a coop at the top of its game and justly famous for very quaffable and charming native wines, such as this trio.

Rhone Rangers

£55 - 6 bottles, 2 of each                       

La Ruchette Dorée

Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2019

Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2018

Côtes du Rhône Villages Rouge 2016

A persuasive advert for the Rhone Valley's ability to serve up smashing wine across the spectrum, these bottles from La Ruchette Dorée are each worthy examples and a proper age to do their duty.

Lesser Spotted Spaniards

£96 - 12 bottles, 3 each of these four:      

Rosado, Bodegas Borsao

Verdejo Diez Siglos, Rueda

Garnacha Seleccion, Bodegas                Borsao

Monastrell Albacea, Jumilla 

Lesser known and strange-sounding names often means lower prices and higher value, as is the case here: each of these wines delivers and impresses.

Piemonte Please

£140 - 12 bottles, 3 each of these four:       

Sauvignon Blanc, Camillona

Gavi, La Battistina

Barbera d'Asti, Ceppi Storici

Barolo, Flori, Araldica

The Piemonte region of North West Italy is home to some of the world's finest wine producers, famous for many types of bold robust reds as well as unctuous elegant whites. Without pushing the purse too far, we hope, here is a selection that should give an idea what the fuss is about.

Languedoc Liquer

£41 - 6 bottles, 2 of each                       

Rosé Grenache Cinsault

Grenache Noir

Sauvignon Vermentino

From Pasquiers in the Languedoc, red, white and rosé but not quite your usual blends, and in each case the difference is very welcome, adding extra charm and interest to the familiar. 

Saving SA Wine

£47.50 - 6 bottles, 2 of each

Plenty of smashing wine being made in South Africa, but drastic Covid impacts on export and production are causing serious damage to the industry. Best we support it by buying some, and here are a trio of charmers we'd recommend. 6 bottle case, 2 bottles each of the 3.

Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Heights

Cinsault Mourvedre Rosé, False Bay

Cinsault, Mantelpiece

The BBQ 6

£46 - 3 red 2 rosé 1 white:                            

Shiraz, Seriti, Cape, South Africa

Merlot, Peculiar Mr.Pat, Australia

Garnacha, Borsao, Spain

Rosé La Grande Plage, Languedoc

Rosé de Grenache, Languedoc

Verdejo, Diez Siglos, Rueda, Spain

Just because BBQ flavours tend to be strong doesn't mean the wine should lack character, and these certainly don't.. Robust enough to manage the charred solids and yet add to the gustatory experience through developed and succulent flavours, these bottles should be welcomed at any ritual burning.

Chilean Duet

£40 - 6 bottles, 3 of each                             

Merlot, Mucho Mas

Sauvignon Blanc, Mucho Mas

The name means "much more" and I hope you'll agree that while good to guzzle, both these offerings have bags of mouthfilling character, much more than their price.

Rioja'n'Roll

£132 - 12 bottles, 3 each of these four:             

Vetiver, Blanco

Rioja Ecologica, Tinto, organic 

Clarete, Rosado 

Rioja Reserva 2010 Tinto

From Bodegas Ontañón,one of the best privately owned firms in Rioja, if not Spain, here are four wines that exemplify the width of styles the region can offer together with just how gorgeous and high quality well made Rioja can be.

Classic House Wines

£79 - 12 bottles, 3 each of these four:              

Cotes de Gascogne, Sentier dans les Vignes, France

Grenache Syrah, Sentier dans les Vignes, France

Sauvignon Blanc, Camino de la Cabana, Chile

Merlot, Camino de la Cabana, Chile

One of the hardest things in the wine world is to make wines suitable for everyday drinking that not only impress and demand compliments but do so day after day. The above are excellent examples of their genre.