One of those mass-market wines that rarely, if ever, lets you down, this 26 million bottle blend from Chile’s biggest producer uses grapes from Maule, Rapel and the Maipo Valley. Subtly wooded, with classic blackcurrant pastille, mint and fresh herb flavours and a whisper of oak spices. Outstanding at the price.
Retailer: Asda
2012 Asda Extra Special Dão
( £5, 13.5, Asda )A tasty, appealingly priced blend of Touriga Nacional, Jaen and Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo), this tastes as good as it looks. Floral, fresh and lightly oaked with subtle red fruit flavours and tangy acidity that refreshes the palate. A total bargain. There aren’t many red wines this good selling for a fiver or less.
2011 Three Choirs Regalia, Gloucestershire
( £6, 12%, Asda )The focus is rightly on English sparkling wines, rather than the unfizzy stuff, but this fruit salad blend of five grapes is well worth trying, especially at only £6. It’s got that classic English bouquet of hedgerows and elderflowers, combined with some stony, minerally notes. On the palate it’s crisp and just off dry with crunchy acidity and bright grapefruit and green apple flavours. An excuse to buy British, or rather English.