Red wine lovers help!

[Thelonelychicken]

Planning on doing OH a box of different red wines now I'm not a wine drinker and need advice on some "nice" ones from wherever looking for up to £20 a bottle.

He likes Casillero Del Diablo Merlot from tescos so any ideas?

Chocolate block is delicious so is Cloof The very sexy shiraz.

For a supermarket red the 19 Crimes is a good all rounder

Apothic the original not the Cabernet and Dark corner

I’d get a Barolo, an Amarone and an Argentinian Malbec from any wine merchant.

If you’re paying £20 a bottle you won’t get a “bad” one whichever brand you choose, even the supermarket own brands Barolo that I’ve tried have been decent.

Pinot Noir is also good

Sorry if this comes across as snobbish but if I was buying at that price point (which is a good budget to have a treat) I would go to a good wine shop. Much better range and a better likelihood of a good fit. Personally I love a good Malbec or Cabernet Franc. Shiraz tends to come up quite sweet for the uk market.

Go for a decent Malbec. I have a subscription at the moment to Good Pair Days and am yet to have a ‘bad’ bottle. I think you get a decent welcome gift too

Join The Wine Society and either buy one of their mixed cases or choose your own.

They've been Decanter's best large online retailer for 3 years in a row.

It's a really accessible way to buy nice wine.

But Booths and M&S are really good supermarket wine retailers.

Do a themed box and go for Spanish!! Pizarro has an amazing selection in your price range.

19 crimes range are good for the price

Do you have a local Majestic?

Ours has wine tastings with very knowledgable staff-they will help you put together an assortment.

I'm no expert but this is one of my favourites. A really smooth red www.waitrosecellar.com/wine-under-%C2%A310/terre-di-faiano-primitivo-appassime-607989

Or sign him up to Naked Wines as an angel (monthly subscription) and he can choose his own. My next box of 12 bottles comes on Saturday!

Berry Brothers do some lovely mixed boxes and cases (I don't know how much you want to spend)- would something like this suit? www.bbr.com/products-10007002766-festive-favourites-red-three-bottle-gift-set

Pecking order , merlot
It s the bees knees!

Might be good to do wines from different countries, or just different varieties. I always like a malbec or malbec blend. Like 19 crimes brand, also bruce jack brand.
A friend of mine says "you know where you are with a pinot noir", they are rarely a bad bottle. Shiraz/Syrah can be a bit big on its own, but usually great in a blend - maybe a GSM mix.

Aldi organic Malbec is very nice, as is Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Malbec, but if your budget is going up to £20 a bottle I would go to a wine shop where they can advise rather than getting from a supermarket.

I agree with a PP about going to a good wine supplier. You can explain what you are looking for and they will make suggestions to suit your taste and budget.

I’d second going to Majestic as they will help out together an interesting mixed case.
Catena Malbec is always good (which they stock)
Push the boat out a bit and get an Au Bon climat Pinot Noir which will be in their fine wine section.
Maybe add a Spanish Rioja or Priorat, an SA Merlot, a Chateuneuf du Pape and something from Italy - maybe a Valpolicella Ripasso and you’ll have a good mix

Have also quite like errazuiz, penfolds, and oyster Bay as producers.
DH is a member of wine society, and they also has have loads of good wines at good prices - interesting ones too - including Austrian, Hungarian, Romanian, Greek etc. His brother gave him membership as a present one xmas, and I think you only have to pay the once. Think it was about £40 (a few years ago, so not sure if has increased). They do good mixed cases.

If he likes merlot then he wont really like any of the fuller bodied reds mentioned above. A lot are wine brands as opposed to small producers. He will like fruit forward from Languedoc, Chile and Italy. Pinot Noir wont float his boat. I would go to a good local wine merchant to buy.

Im an ex wine manager and WSET L3 qualified.

It is only cheap but the barefoot - Cabernet Sauvignon is SO nice

And majestic always good too!
If you have any independent wine shops they can usually guide you well too - and help the small business. If anywhere near Bristol I can recommend Grape and Grind.

@Onceuponawhileago I don’t necessarily agree - a chilenan melody isn’t too jammy or light bodied so I don’t think it’s too far a stretch to enjoy a fuller bodied US Pinot or a Malbec. I don’t think anyone has mentioned anything too obscure/difficult/
savoury or heavily oaked. Often people stick to what they know they like but enjoy broadening their horizons. (WSET DIPLOMA qualified)

@StickyCricket my three favourites!