JM 1ST APPROACH

Made by the unflappable Javier Murua. Almost entirely tempranillo but co-fermented with a smidge of grenache. Sees a small portion of old French and American oak. Elegant yet characterful and then punchy through the finish. Has structure. Has a big dry finish. Licorice and cherry and twiggy sinewy almost-bitter notes. Chicory too. A grunty wine. Will be a handy drinking option through the cooler months. Like it. 90 points Winefront

The family that owns Pico Maccario is a true Barbera specialist! With an intense purple color, this wine features a bouquet of plum and cherry with hints of baking spice. It has a super silky mouthfeel, finishing in sweet fruit and velvety tannins. A rich, satisfying glass sure to please any crowd.  ... A scent of pine or rosemary leads off, followed by flavors of pure black cherry and blackberry. This has density and grip, but in proportion with the juicy fruit. Drink now through 2016.

Cranberry, damask rose, pomegranate, cherry juice and cracked dark husky spices (not quite clove, or black pepper) mingle in a beautifully pure Toro red earthiness. A full and velvet-soft fruit palate, sheeted on quality fruit tannin. Medium volume, with spread and reach, never sweet, not heavy nor lumpy. Effortless and lovely.

A jam-packed cranberry+field herb nose (red lavender anyone?) is perfectly struck - fresh fruit and earth, lift and depth ... The palate is perfumed, ovoid, lissom, and really harmonious - built beautifully on Telmo's trademark natural fruit tannin-acid twin-track. Juicy and deft, it's not just good and typical, nor merely delicious … this is spectacular wine for the $$

Decent, quaffable pinot noir for under $20? It's almost impossible to find but this terrific value import from the south of France manages it ... “the best French Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy” .... It's on the riper side of the pinot spectrum, certainly no shrinking violet, but no brash bogan either. The (French) girl next door with smoothness, dark cherry fruit flavours, hints of earthiness and plenty of length. Windsor Dobbin

A bright brick red colour with crimson highlights. The palate is complex and alluring, combining dark berry fruit and blueberries with underbrush and hints of chocolate and toasted coffee. The palate is rich and fruit driven with Barbera’s vibrant berry flavours matched by the savoury tobacco leaf and fine tannins of Nebbiolo.

A 'mini' Barolo, for this price? Unbelievable ... yet true. Stock up, I have! Gavin Trott

A bright brick red colour with crimson highlights. The palate is complex and alluring, combining dark berry fruit and blueberries with underbrush and hints of chocolate and toasted coffee. The palate is rich and fruit driven with Barbera’s vibrant berry flavours matched by the savoury tobacco leaf and fine tannins of Nebbiolo.

A 'mini' Barolo, for this price? Unbelievable ... yet true. Stock up, I have! Gavin Trott

A steal at the price. Importer: Fourth Wave Wine It works best as a quaffer but quality-wise it’s better than that. Beautiful fruit. Clean savouriness. Tastes of black cherries, spice, and peanut oil. Ferrous aromatics. Builds in the glass. I wouldn’t age it but I’d buy a case of this for drinking over the next year in a heartbeat. Rated : 91 Points

A steal at the price. Importer: Fourth Wave Wine It works best as a quaffer but quality-wise it’s better than that. Beautiful fruit. Clean savouriness. Tastes of black cherries, spice, and peanut oil. Ferrous aromatics. Builds in the glass. I wouldn’t age it but I’d buy a case of this for drinking over the next year in a heartbeat. Rated : 91 Points