Food suggestions > Red meat

Navaldar 2007

Tempranillo means 'early ripener' in Spanish and you'd have to get up very early indeed to find one that's better value than this. It may be young, but it has the heart and soul of classic Rioja, with its ruby red colour, ripe berry flavours and good finish. Its sheer drinkability makes it perfect for an informal roast lamb Sunday lunch or for sharing with friends on a summer's evening outdoors.

Finca del Mar 2004

Light and soft. Very much a Merlot. Chill it, quite an experience!

Intense aromas and yet quite soft, like a good Merlot. This is one of the good wines of this house. Did you know that chilled Merlot goes very well with fish? Try it with pan fried sea bass, superb!

Magalia Red 2006

Bold and full-bodied, this is a big wine with a small price! Good notes of ripe red fruits and spices fly out of this blend of Grenache and Syrah. Aged in oak over three months, the wine has all the matured aromas of red fruits and sticky red jams. Very pleasant to the palate, long and persistent. This really is terrific value - don't let the label fool you!

Mas Comtal Red 2005

This is a good blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with a topping of Merlot and Cabernet Franc for softness. It comes from a very fine estate where the land hasn't been chemically treated since 1992. There are aromas of ripe fruit with a slight edge of oak, with a lovely long finish. It's ideal with pasta, cheese or cold cuts, and a great one to enjoy with grilled meats (so pick up some next time you’re thinking of having a barbecue).

Tempus 2005

This smashing young wine has a very clear taste of red berries with notes of liquorice, black pepper and lots of oak. An intense, bruised purple in colour with raspberry and blackberry flavour and a well-balanced oak edge. Full body and long aftertaste. A good blend of hand-picked Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Carignan grapes. Aged in French and American oak during 6 months, this is the perfect wine to warm your cockles on a cold winter's night - and only 32,000 bottles produced.

Petalos 2007

Descendientes de J. Palacios are one of the oldest wine makers in Spain, but still pioneers in the development of new wines. This is the case with Petalos, which is today one of the flagship wines of Bierzo, quite capable of satisfying the most discerning palate. Made with 100% Mencia, the characteristic grape of the area, this is a wine full of the flavour of bright cherry and cranberry fruit, with liquorice and mineral accents and a very light hint of oak. A beautifully balanced red, not a big wine but an intense one. Highly recommended.