Red wine drinkers - recommendations please

[SWnewstart]

I don't drink red wine but would like to gift a bottle to somebody who does enjoy it - usually Italian or French. I'd like to get something quite full-bodied, soft, fruity and mellow (the red I've tasted always hits me with a "harsh" mouth taste first which is why I don't like it). Budget £15-20 and needs to be readily available from Tesco or Waitrose. Can anyone help narrow this down from the huge variety out there - I am spending a lot of time in supermarkets (when I'd rather not be) reading wine labels and still none the wiser!

I just bought a few cases of esprit des trois pierres costieres de nimes and Gerard Bertrand minervois from Waitrose. Both really nice French full bodied wines

Chateauneauf du pape with the crest embossed on the bottle neck for French. Chianti classico for Italian. Or Barolo if they like a heavy wine. If you go southern hemisphere, Syrah/shiraz or malbec are all very smooth at the price point you gave

This is one of the nicest wines in your price range. It’s from the coop.

I’d echo Barolo if they like Italian red, nice full bodied fabulousness

19 Crimes. They're amazing. I'm getting through quite a bit of it... You'd never pick it based on the label, I only discovered it through recommendation.

Terre di Faiano Primitivo Organico Puglia - One of the nicest wines from Waitrose at £9.99 a bottle.

Cantina di Negrar Amarone Valpolicella is a bit more pricey, but also very, very drinkable.

Primitivo is less punchy than Amarone, but both are very nice and drinkable.

However, if you want to play it properly safe - I'd probably go for a French Merlot to be honest.....

As it's nearly the third Thursday in November, you might want to go for something a bit mad and go for a Beaujolais Nouveau. I know some people hate it (and even my wine tutor who's French says it's awful) but I actually really enjoy it as it's VERY easy drinking.... plus everyone's palate is different

Chocolate block is lovely but not easy to get hold of. Last time, I ordered it through Waitrose. Dh and I are also big fans of an Italian wine called Lu which you can only get direct from Italy. He was given some by an Italian colleague and was hooked. Both wine are light but with a really juicy fruity taste- I'm not great at describing wines.

Thank you to everyone who has made recommendations. I am currently checking them out online. Hopefully one will fit the bill!

FluffyPersian - are any of those wines truly soft and smooth? I really want to start liking red wine (and will get to try the gifted bottle) but can't get past the initial harsh mouthful.

@KenAdams

19 Crimes. They're amazing. I'm getting through quite a bit of it... You'd never pick it based on the label, I only discovered it through recommendation.

Was just coming in to say 19 crimes. Bloody gorgeous stuff.

Jam Shed. Often to be found on offer for £6 in supermarkets. It's almost as good as my favourite Cabalie, which is from Laithwaites wines for about £8.95, and is far better than many that are twice the price.

19 Crimes, as someone said above, is beautiful. Absolutely my favourite around at the moment.

A bit below your price point but Marqués de los Riós Rioja is nice from Morrison’s, but it is of course a matter of individual taste. Very smooth! (Apologies if I added accents that aren’t actually there.)

This Australian Shiraz from Waitrose is incredible. I bought a bottle for me and my mum when she was last over (no Waitrose in N.I.) and the next day she got me to order a case of it to be sent to hers🍷🤣.

It really is good. Full bodied but smooth. No harshness. Really juicy and fruity with great depth.

There's another one from Waitrose that I love as well - has a pig on the label. Bit pricier. Will find and post. Is it The Hedonist?

I found the 19 Crimes too heavy and syrupy and almost port-like 🤢. Can't remember which specific one it was though.

The Hedonist. Here it is.

Love this one from waitrose. Got through several bottles, last Christmas.
www.waitrosecellar.com/cabernet-sauvignon/journeys-end-sir-lowry-cab-sauv-624331

I know there are a few varieties of 19 crimes but the one I tried gave me terrible gut rot.

I'm reading lots of reviews and narrowing it down - doesn't help that different years for same name wines have different reviews! Really appreciate all recommendations though. Would you say that a bottle costing £20 is much better than say £8-9-10? Or just personal taste?

It's a bit of both. One of my favourite wines is trapiche pure mslbec, which is £8 at coop. I only go over £12 or so for special occasions and have found anything from delicious to indifferent. Where the personal taste comes in is that I don't always enjoy heavy oak or tannins and some slightly pricier supermarket wines have these features due to the maturing process (while others have mellowed a little)

Thanks again for all your comments. A huge learning curve but I'm sure I will find something as a suitable gift!

I think once you hit about a tenner it’s more personal taste

Do not buy Jam Shed! Vile, sweet stuff. Shouldn't be labelled as red wine.

Not Italian or French, but a decently priced Californian Zinfandel would be my choice.

I don't live in the UK (or California!) so have no idea what supermarkets are currently offering. We can usually find something nice in Waitrose or Morrisons when we are back for a visit.

Bonterra Merlot. It's also organic and sulphite free. Bloody lovely and doesn't give you a hangover!

Go to Majestic and get them to recommend something ? But for you I'd agree with Jam Shed. Maybe not for your gift though. I love one called 3 Little Pigs which my friend orders from, I think, Virgin Wines. You'd love that. Oh, I see you say Tesco or Waitrose. Sorry !!

I'm a big fan of new world wines and your description of full bodied, fruity, soft and mellow perfectly describes a decent Australian shiraz or cabernet sauvignon, possibly a Chilean one too. Malbec or merlot will be fruity but a little sharper and less soft, more in the style of a European old world wine.

With your budget you'll be able to pick a really fabulous bottle or even two, you'll get something very nice for a tenner.

Joseph Drouhin, Chorey Les Beaune - Waitrose.