Wine Type: Dry Red

(2026) This is a rich and sweet, black cherry and blueberry filled rendition of Pinot, coming from the prime Oregon terroir of the Dundee Hills. Gently smoky, grilled meat inflections join the fruit on the nose, then the wine proves its ripe aromatic impression on the palate, with a flood of plush and particularly sweet and fleshy fruit. The backing of the creamy and gently chocolaty oak is there, tannins are svelte and the acidity is nicely balanced. A smooth and relatively solid, pleasing Pinot Noir.

(2026) Not from Katie Jones own domaine Jones, but made with fruit sourced from the local cooperative, mostly very old vine Carignan in the blend. Deep and vibrant crimson, there's a perfume to the nose, subtle rose and violet, and the sense of crunchy red fruits with a little smoky spice. Sweet fruited on the palate, perhaps a touch of residual sugar, but there's a breeziness to the acid that cuts through the 14.5% alcohol, though that touch of heat and some tannin is felt right in the finish. A barbecue basher I'd say. Angels pay £13.99 but please note the vintage on sale has moved on to 2024.

(2026) A Côtes-du-Rhône-Villagesblend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah from the Cairanne cooperative, this is deeply coloured with a certain ruby warmth. Blackcurrant and black cherry dominates the nose, a suggestion of cedar and something delicately herbal. In the mouth this has good juiciness, despite the 14.5% alcohol feeling nimble thanks to pert tannins and a raspberry kick of tart acidity pushing out the finish.

(2026) From the mainland of Greece in Greek Macedonia, this blends the familiar Xinomavro with the much less commonly seen Limnion. Medium ruby in colour with a deal of transparency, aromas are fresh, redcurranty and crunchy, quite sappy with a dry, fresh cep mushroom touch too. In the mouth that redcurrant and raspberry has some sweet ripeness, but the earthy and briary note combines with fresh acidity and a bit of nicely roughening tannin. Comes across like a decent Bourgogne red in some ways. The £12.99 Angel price seems good, but note the 2024 vintage is on sale at time of publication.

(2026) Fermented spontaneously with 15% whole-bunches, this Stellenbosch Syrah is matured for 14 months in 225-litre barriques, 10% new. A sumptuous melange of ripe, juicy plum, liquorice and creamy, smooth oak, this is immediately appealing. The sweet, black fruit floods the mouth, textural and rippling with creamy fruit, barely ruffled by chocolaty tannin and pert cherry acidity. Such a delicious wine, five years old and drinking perfectly. Angel price is an attractive £18.99 but please note this has moved on to the 2020 vintage.

(2026) A superb blend of Tannat (50%), Malbec (27), Cabernet Franc (15) and Petit Verdot (8). Alluring red and black fruit; elegant with silky tannins, yet notable structure from 100% new oak (comfortably absorbed). Only 2,500 bottles made. No UK retail outlet at time of review. (Geoffrey Dean)

(2026) A Merlot dominated blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon. It's fermentated in stainless steel then half of the blend aged in steel tanks and half in French oak barriques for one year, one-third new barrels. There's a light incense and wood ash character over taut, small red berries. There's a herbal leafiness too, adding to the fresh appeal. Dry, but nicely fruited on the palate, juicy with some tight tannins and a tingle of spice giving grip, and very good, gastronomic acidity. The oak just smooths and rounds the finish, adding a little creaminess to the cranberry and redcurrant fruit picture.

(2026) Fratta is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon plus Merlot from Maculan's best, low-yielding vineyards. Fermentation is in small, open top stainless steel tanks before one year in new French oak barriques. Minty and ripe, this has an opulence and juicy black fruit intensity, the oak very sophisticated, adding just a shimmer of polish and coffee. The fruit on the plate is sweet, supple and rich, a bold and arguably 'new world' style with that opulence and density. Chocolaty tannins are silky and dense, and the acid and oak spice firms the long finish. Price and stockist for the previous vintage at time of review.

(2026) In terms of a genuine wine-like experience, the booming sector of 0% abv, alcohol-removed 'wines' are a complete disaster; none of the taste anything like wine. Now there's a growing sector of 'mid-strength' wines that come in between 5% and 9% abv and have a lower calorific value. Though viticultural and winemaking decisions can keep alcohol in check, most of these use technology to remove alcohol from a full-strength base wine. At 6% abv this cannot legally be labelled as wine because, it is below the 8.5% threshhold. In style it falls mid-way between one of the thin, non-descript, 0% efforts and an inexpensive, very light Merlot. Unfortunately it's a bit closer to the former; certainly the words on the back label like 'Smooth' and 'Velvety' are complete fantasy. What it does have going for it is that it is dry, has a bit of wine-like character, and reasonable balance. It might wash down a pizza easily enough, but there we have the elephant in the room: its price of £15.99. The additional processing needed will add to cost, and I don't wish to put a new wine enterprise down, but I just cannot square the experience with the price. I am still waiting for a properly recommendable example of the genre. Watch the video for more information.

(2026) This Languedoc Syrah is made with traditional winemaking methods and aged six months in barrel. Dense and saturated in colour, this is a highly aromatic, dark fruited Syrah with blueberry and damson juiciness immediately suggested aromatically, along with some sweet spices. The palate confirms that richness and ripeness, the oak worn quite lightly here just as a subtle tobacco and chocolate underpinning, but it is all about the plush and mouth-filling fruit. Tannins are also ripe but do a nice job of grounding the wine, as does the blueberry tartness of the acidity.