Warm, bold and smooth.

La Bollina Tavros Primitivo di Manduria 2023

A rich Italian red wine made from 100% Primitivo. It feels warm, bold and full-bodied, with ripe fruit, dark chocolate, espresso, cinnamon, vanilla and subtle notes of tobacco, cedarwood and leather.

According to the seller, this wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to 8 years. It is recommended to decant it before drinking, so it can open up properly.

My opinion: This is probably my personal favorite in this selection. I like wines that feel warm, dark and smooth, and this Primitivo sounds exactly like that. It is not a shy wine — it has weight, richness and a slightly sweet, intense character.

Pairs well with: beef, lamb, pasta dishes, rich sauces or dark chocolate.

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Lapostolle Apalta 2022

A Chilean red wine from Apalta, made as a Bordeaux-style blend. It combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Syrah and Merlot, giving it a rich, structured and elegant character.

The blend is made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Carmenère, 5% Syrah and 3% Merlot. With 14.5% alcohol, it feels powerful, deep and full-bodied, but still refined.

My opinion: This wine feels more serious and elegant than a simple everyday red wine. I like that it has both strength and structure. It sounds like a bottle for a proper dinner, a calm evening or a moment where you want something a little more special.

Pairs well with: steak, lamb, roasted vegetables, rich sauces or hard cheese.

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Bessa Valley Enira 2019

A Bulgarian red wine from the Bessa Valley winery, located between the Rhodope Mountains and the Maritsa River. It is made in a Bordeaux-inspired style with Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine spends one year ageing in French oak barrels, which gives it more polish, depth and complexity. It can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to 8 years. According to the seller, there is no need to decant it before serving.

It shows dark berries, plums and mulberries, with deeper notes of cinnamon, clove and vanilla. On the palate, it feels full-bodied, smooth and rich, with firm tannins and a long finish with sweet spice and light woodsmoke.

My opinion: I like this wine because it feels serious, but still easy to enjoy. It has the dark fruit and smooth character I like in red wine, but also a more classic Bordeaux-style structure.

Pairs well with: charcuterie, mature hard cheese, grilled meat, rich pasta dishes or roasted vegetables.

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Winiveria Kindzmarauli 2024

A semi-sweet Georgian red wine made from traditional Saperavi grapes. It comes from the Kakheti region, one of Georgia’s most important wine areas, and shows a very different side of red wine.

The wine is produced in the Kindzmarauli microzone near Kvareli. It matures for two years in traditional Qvevri terracotta pots, giving it a strong connection to Georgian wine culture.

It has a dark garnet colour, with aromas of red fruits, cherries and delicate violet notes. On the palate, it feels sweet, smooth and elegant, with velvety tannins and a long finish with hints of wild berries.

My opinion: I like this wine because it brings something different into the red wine selection. It is softer, sweeter and more cultural than the other bottles. For me, it sounds like a wine for dessert, quiet evenings or for someone who wants to try something special from Georgia.

Pairs well with: red fruits, nuts, caramel desserts, chocolate desserts or a calm evening on its own.

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Volarevic Plavac Mali 2019

A Croatian red wine from Dalmatia, made from Plavac Mali grapes. Volarevic is a family-run winery that started as a farm and later focused on producing high-quality local wines.

The grapes come from an organically farmed vineyard in Komarna, close to the sea. The warm days, cool nights and limestone-rich soils help create ripe fruit, balanced acidity and a strong Mediterranean character.

The wine ages for 1.5 to 2 years in a mix of new and used barrels, followed by stainless steel stabilization and another year in the bottle. It can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to 10 years. Decanting for around half an hour is recommended.

It has an intense ruby red colour, with aromas of black cherry, wild berries, vanilla and tobacco. On the palate, it feels full-bodied, concentrated and elegant, with firm but smooth tannins and a long fruity finish.

My opinion: I like this wine because it feels powerful and Mediterranean. With 15.5% alcohol, it is definitely a stronger red wine, but it still sounds elegant and balanced. For me, this is a bottle for grilled meat, a long dinner or a warm evening with serious food.

Pairs well with: grilled meat, stuffed lamb leg, roasted vegetables, strong cheese or rich Mediterranean dishes.

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Doppio Passo Primitivo di Manduria Riserva 2022

The Riserva version of the hugely popular Doppio Passo Primitivo. Only the best Primitivo grapes from southern Italy are used, harvested in two passes (Italian: “doppio passo”) so the later grapes can concentrate their aromas.

The Riserva ages for an extra 12 months in oak barrels. The result is a soft, intense bouquet of ripe plums with gentle coconut and vanilla, fine wood spice and a long, deep finish.

My opinion: This is exactly my kind of red — soft, warm and full, with that sweet, intense Primitivo character. A great step up for anyone who already loves the classic Doppio Passo.

Pairs well with: grilled meat, pasta with rich sauces, hard cheese or dark chocolate.

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Fantini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2024

A reliably good and very popular Italian red. A cold maceration draws plenty of colour and aroma from the grape skins, while fermentation in stainless steel keeps the wine fresh, harmonious and soft in tannin.

Deep ruby red with garnet reflections, with forest berries and a gentle spice on the nose. It feels full and round on the palate, but never heavy, with a long finish.

My opinion: An easy, everyday red that simply works. Great value and a perfect midweek bottle.

Pairs well with: pizza, pasta or a creamy risotto.

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Luna Argenta Negroamaro Primitivo Appassite 2024

A fruit-forward blend from Apulia in deep ruby red. Aromas of dark berries, raspberry and strawberry are lifted by soft notes of vanilla for a complex, inviting bouquet.

Full-bodied and harmonious on the palate, the fruit-driven character and a fine touch of residual sweetness make this a real crowd-pleaser. The Luna Argenta winery (“silver moon”) is known for its biodynamic farming.

My opinion: Soft, fruity and a little sweet — an approachable red that is very easy to enjoy.

Pairs well with: lasagne, grilled rib of beef or slightly bitter chocolate.

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Lunatico Negroamaro 2024

A fine example of the Negroamaro grape from the sun-blessed vineyards of southern Italy. Ruby red with violet accents and a rich, layered nose of spice, dark fruit and subtle wine-y notes.

Black berries, cassis and blackberry lead the fruit. On the palate it shows a medium body and soft texture, with a nice balance of freshness and warmth and a long, savoury finish.

My opinion: Smooth, balanced and very drinkable — a great little red for the price.

Pairs well with: pasta, grilled vegetables, pizza or mild cheese.

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