Wine Type: Dry Red

(2026) If you know the wines of Puglia in the 'heel' of Italy, you are bound to know Primitivo, one of the region's main grapes and the one with most worldwide recognition. Nero di Troia (also known as Uva di Troia), is another indigenous variety, perhaps less familiar, but I have always found it to make excellent wines. This, from near Brindisi, comes from vineyards on rocky soil, and is made in stainless steel tanks. It has the most vibrant magenta colour and a bright nose of crushed lillies, red berries and slate. The palate is medium-bodied and straightforward, but the fruit density, svelte tannin profile and gentle acid grip all add up to excellent balance, a little clove-like spice in the finish too. Watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.

(2026) Partner to the Bisou white, also reviewed, this organic Cinsault from the Languedoc weighs in with just 12.5% alcohol and bears a similar temperature-sensitive label to its partner: designed to be served chilled, the pair of lips on the label (Bisou means 'kiss') turn bright blue when the wine is cool enough. I really enjoyed this: it's a delicately fruity and spicy wine of low tannin, moderate acidity, and light to medium body that's all about summer freshness and vibrant crunch. It has a strawberries and cream character that brought a smile to my face. No UK retail stockists listed at time of review. Importer Hallgarten has the pink version, so maybe this will appear in time.

(2026) I note the bottle image on Caves de Pyrene's web site shows a screwcapped wine, but this and the sister white were closed with DIAM corks and sealed with wax on my bottles. It is Carignan, Syrah and Grenache, made in stainless steel. Aromatically it is 'vinous', with vine fruits, plum and a little balsamic note. The palate is quite creamy and svelte, an endive character adds bite, Pontefract cake and Italian bitters. It's a taut, black-fruited wine with a bit of structure and serious character, but very sippable too.

(2026) Compsed of the three Pinot grapes, Pinot Noir, Pinot Précoce and Pinot Meunier, this is a multi-vintage, organic blend of the years 2020 to 2024 from a 'perpetual reserve', a solera-like system that gives consistency as the barrels are topped up with the latest vintage as wine is withdrawn. It's probably fair to say that with just 11% alcohol and a pale, translucent colour, its a fragrant and delicate Pinot that's not for everyone. I really enjoyed it however, the dry cranberry and redcurrant fruit, gentle twiggy herbaceousness and underlying floral and cherry nuances in a lightweight, fresh wine with an orange acidity. It speaks softly rather than shouting, but if that sounds like your style you should enjoy it.

(2026) What a beautifully perfumed wine, exotic with sandalwood, incense and floral notes, rose-hip, strawberry and cherry in a fruity style, but with herbs and soft, sous-bois notes adding a caressing softness. In the mouth, medium bodied and quite charming: that red fruit, pulpy berry softness maintains, but the savoury aspects of gentle cedar and forest floor earthiness are lovely. Refined tannins and perfect balancing acidity means this is a joy to drink nine years on from vintage.

(2026) From 45-year-old vines in an estate founded in the 1960s, there are 35 hectares of vines planted on Schist soils. Made in stainless steel and weighing in with just 11% abv, this has a soft, gently leafy blueberry fruitiness, dry with cranberry notes. In the mouth that cool, well-delineated fruit and acid composition is balanced, though for me the wine does lack a certain fruit density - I don't want a blockbuster Gamay, and this is elegant, restrained but perhaps a little lacking in the final analysis.

(2026) It is relatively rare to see a Gran Reserva Rioja listed these days, the GR rules stipulating a long minimum period of barrel ageing, which for the past few decades has been somewhat out of favour in the region. This Gran Reserva spent around two and a half years in oak, plus three more in bottle before release, although the barrels were all French, rather than the often more obvious American oak. It is 95% Tempranillo plus Graciano. It is aromatic, but more about cedar and sweet damp earth, a hint of chocolate, than overt fruitiness. In the mouth it continues on that cedary path, though there is a solid core of plum and blackcurrant, that is really quite plush on the mid-palate, before juicy acidity, firm tannins and the graphite and spice character reasserts in the long finish. Top tip: decant this for at least one hour and the fruit will emerge more. One for something off the grill or barbie. Watch the video for more information.

(2026) A blend of 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20%, Syrah  and 10% Cinsault from Mediterranean red sandstone, this is fermented with wild yeast and matured for 15 months in stainless steel tanks. The nose is immediately firm and svelte, a taut black fruit character like black cherry and plum skin with a hint of mulled wine spices. Taut and juicy on the palate, this maintains that supple, smooth black fruit character, the tannins super-fine and the acid integrated a balancing elegantly. What a lovely wine, and well-priced for this quality and refinement.

(2026) A Pays d'Oc Merlot made by the Foncalieu co-op for Tanners, this quite intense crimson red wine has attractive cherry and juicy red plum aromas, touched by a little oak I think, but showing a nice buoyant character. In the mouth a little espresso and chariness, the tannins roughening the surface but the overall balance pretty good. Arguably the tannin/acid axis overpowers the finish very slightly.

(2026) From a partnership between British born Max Franks and Donny Sebastiani, whose family name is synonymous with Sonoma wine. There's a very attractive spice, truffle and sous-bois element here that does not dominate the ripe red and black fruits. On the palate the sweet ripeness surprises, a creamy overflow of sweet cherry and plum, some orange juicy redcurrant and a lightly roasted earthiness. Tannins are supple, acidity is moderate, but it does balance in a rich, full, enjoyable Pinot.