12 best red wines, recommended by a vino connoisseur

A best red wine list wouldn’t be complete without a Bordeaux, this classic French blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot from Lagrange, is the perfect combination of structure and elegance.

A cabernet sauvignon led from St Julien, Les fiefs tastes of graphite, berries with hint of eucalyptus, the soft oak adds dimension and for the price point this is a spectacular example of Bordelais elegance. The second wine from Lagrange well worth trying.

Aldi’s cote du rhone is an honest relaxed wine that may feel a little bit rustic but has some pleasant black fruit flavours. This red has a nice softness and gentle structure, hints of oak, cherry and bramble.

This wine is great for the price, super easy to understand, a budget CDR won’t set the world on fire, but it is a good robust red wine, a good match for any dish that calls for it.

Lots of generous fruits and freshness from the Portuguese Les Pim Pam Pum, the Atlantic coastal air sets up these reds to be bright, cooling and fresh. Packed with plenty of cherry, plum and earthiness. There’s a little element of chalk and minerality from the coastal region, too.

The wine has structure but is low in tannins, making it a fun, easy to drink wine. Fresher than expected for a Portuguese wine but still packed with flavours, I have deducted some points as natural natty wines are not to everyone’s taste.

This one is a bit different. Made by a female winemaker in the Languedoc, Clos des Nines cinso loco is a vibrant and bubbly Southern French red. The label states cinsualt et rien d’autre, cinsault and nothing else surprisingly. Light in colour for a cinsualt, the wine definitely has texture and tastes like ripe berries mixed with dried figs and some floral notes.

There is a good bit of richness while maintaining a sharp acidity, making it interesting and a great conversation starter. It could be divisive but it is a quality wine with light natural vibes. Perhaps not for everyone, but try and see.

Gerard Bertrand is known to make wines all over the Languedoc. With many of his vineyards farmed biodynamically, the winemaker has a large array of wines, from budget to super premium. La Sauvageonne, sits on the lower end price wise but it certainly doesn’t compromise on quality.

Perfect for winter, it’s packed with concentrated flavours which include leathery flavours, smoke and tobacco. From a tiny appellation in the Languedoc. Terraze de Larsac, this wine is velvet rich and would pair elegantly with dishes like duck and short rib. Though at 15% ABV (a high ABV we see less of these days), this may be a little rich for some.

A region often being overshadowed by Rioja, Ribera is known to make high quality wines. In fact, most Ribera wines are fantastic, and this is certainly true with Hispania. Black fruits make the base of this tempranillo blend. It is a wine that develops, adding more layers of flavour as it does.

This velvety concentration of plum, leather, liquorice and blackcurrant turns into coffee, aniseed, balsamic and violet. Enjoy this Spanish red with friends over a long relaxing dinner, it feels like a decadent treat. Though again the high ABV means the richness won’t suit all palettes.

Pinot noir is the go-to light red grape. This one from Te Kano is a pleasant Kiwi example. In the glass we have bramble, blackcurrant and pepper adding to fresh and earthy notes. The wine for this season may be a little thin, perhaps making it suited to more of a summer drink with the freshness and earthiness, or for those who prefer something a little lighter.

Patagonia is such an interesting region. Deep in the Southern tip of Argentina, temperatures can fall as low as -20C. So, this is coldest place to make wine on earth. Otronia is making delicious fresh pinot noir using the adverse weather to its advantage, producing lighter in body, high acidity wines. A modern take on the pinot noir, it opens beautifully with raspberry, dried fig and fresh plums, while in the background there is a peppery greenness, crushed berries and hints of forest leaves. There’s a tartness and brightness that is not always present in pinot noir, too. At around £60, this is a treat wine made in the most southerly winemaking region in the world.

Historically Georgia is the oldest wine region, with evidence of winemaking discovered from as long as 8000 years ago. This rich, smooth and full bodied red has cherries and hint of spice, and while it is heavy, it’s not too heavy. The Georgian grape saperavi has a lovely inkiness, making it dark in the glass but bursting with fruit flavours. You’ll find a bit of winter spice and well-hidden tannins, too. This wine is incredible value for money.

This wine is earthy and woody, where dark cherry and cranberry turn into forest notes and savoury characters. The region south of Burgundy makes reds with the black grape, gamay, making this quite a grown-up wine. I’d say that it’s perfect for hearty Autumn dishes with it’s chewy structure, hints of bitterness and gamey savoury notes. Though not particularly easy drinking, if we were to gender wine, this is quite masculine and punchy. Definitely a good dinner wine on a cold evening.

Sometimes when money is no object (or someone else is paying) it is good to know what to buy and this sammarco is a mastery in winemaking. A renowned name in the Tuscan wine world, Castello has been making these exceptional wines for generations. The wine has power, intensity and clarity, while opulent fruit give way to chocolate and leather. I recommend trying this classic even just to pair with simple spaghetti Bolognese.

Fresh and bright, fruit forward, and clean with hints of dried fruit and cranberry, this wine is light but has present tannins, making it a great introduction to pinot noir and a good wine for pairing with food.

It could even be paired with the Christmas dinner as it is light enough for poultry but also not out of place with beef or red meats. That being said, it may be a little bit too simple for some but it’s a good supermarket choice.