Autumn is the perfect time to dig out the jumpers, wrap up warm and catch up with those who have been off jet-setting over the summer. The ideal way to do this is, of course, with a good bottle of wine in hand, but with all of the tasty tipples out there to choose from, where does one begin?
With a great selection of warming reds, richer whites, fruity roses for those odd sunny days, and some Champagnes and sparkling wines for the celebrations, we’ve rounded up some of the finest wines to sip on this autumn.
Warming and flavoursome reds
Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combe aux Jacques 2020
From the tip of Chablis to the toe of Beaujolais, from regional, village, 1er Cru and Grand Cru wines, Louis Jadot produces Burgundy and nothing but Burgundy.
This Beaujolais-Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques’ should be drunk quite cool in order to protect the delicious aromas of fruits and the delicate freshness which is the signature of this wine. This Burgundy is perfect with pâté, charcuterie and lots of crusty French bread; mild creamy cheeses on a cheese board are a great match; and roast beef and other red meats are ideal, too.
Price: From £11 for a full size bottle
Where to buy: Fareham Wine Cellar or Tesco
Cune Reserva Rioja, 2018
Soft and supple with good integration of wood and attractive fruit character, this Reserva Rioja, from a very well-respected traditional bodega, is made from a careful blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano grape.
Price: £13.50
Where to buy: Sainsbury’s
Journey’s End Sir Lowry Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Stellenbosch
Here, you’ll find a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine, complex with darker fruits like blackcurrants and rich dark plums standing out. This wine pairs very well with red meat dishes, so whether you fancy some duck, venison, or beef this autumn, you’ll be in good hands with this pairing.
Price: £14.99
Where to buy: Waitrose
Señorío de La Eralta Gran Reserva 2016, Rioja
Scored as one of the top 100 wines in the recent ‘Best of Spain” tasting, this wine is cherry red and bright in colour with hues of ochre. The prominent aromas are of ripe blackberries and black pepper spice.
As a Gran Reserva wine, this has spent two years in a combination of American and French oak barrels and a further three years in bottle, resulting in a wine which is full and complex. The palate is rounded and velvety with elegant tannins with a long finish, perfect for pairing with stews, red meats, Iberian sausages and cured cheeses.
Price: £15.50
Where to buy: wickhamwine.co.uk
Domaine Bousquet’s Cameleón Organic Malbec, Mendoza 2021
Domaine Bousquet – a leading organic winery – has launched its Cameleón Organic Malbec, a wine which symbolises the Bousquet family’s move, 25 years ago, from France to the unchartered territory of Argentina’s high-altitude Tupungato and subsequent adaptation to this terroir.
Cameleón is 100% organic and produced sustainably. It is bottled in the U.K., an initiative which contributes to Domaine Bousquet’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2025. This 100% malbec is wonderfully expressive, with aromas of dark cherry and plum leading to rich flavours of blackberry and figs. With its velvety tannins, it is best matched to rich red meat dishes.
Price: £15.99
Where to buy: majestic.co.uk
Constitution Road Shiraz
Robertson Winery’s unfaltering commitment to quality led to the creation of this exclusive range named after the winery’s home at No 1 Constitution Road in Robertson, South Africa. This gorgeous red is velvety and vibrant, perfect for those cosy autumn evenings.
Price: £16
Where to buy: Tesco
Journey’s End V5 Cabernet Franc 2019, W.O Stellenbosch
A soft, easy and elegant Cabernet Franc from the Western Cape in South Africa, expect excellent floral aromas and delicious, soft and forward red fruits on the palate. Pair with beef, lamb, game and poultry for a winning meal.
Price: £16.60
Where to buy: Tanners
Faustino I Gran Reserva
Faustino I Gran Reserva is the icon wine for Faustino, boasting deep cherry-red and maroon tones. Their Gran Reserva is only made on exceptional vintages and spends eight years in the bottle to refine the flavours.
Faustino is the largest vineyard owner in Rioja committed to the traditional style of the region’s wines. As the leader in Gran Reserva wines in the Rioja region, it produces the world’s most select Rioja wines. The Martínez Zabala family boasts a history spanning more than 160 years of expertise and passion for its vineyards and the world of wine.
Price: £17
Where to buy: Tesco
Clos du Vieux Bourg Morgon 2020, Beaujolais
The originality of Clos du Vieux Morgon wine lies in rich aromas of kirsch, cherry, plum and unique spices. It’s ready to drink now if you just can’t wait, but like many Morgon’s this could be cellared for up to five years. This 100% Gamay wine goes very well with most of the world’s cuisines – but it may be best when paired with grilled red meats.
Price: £17.50
Where to buy: wickhamwine.co.uk
Sharpham Pinot Noir 2021
Sharpham Pinot Noir 2021 has quickly become one of Sandridge Barton’s best-sellers. Expect bright aromas of wild strawberry, dark cherry and cranberry with a hint of baking spice, a rounded and delicate palate with a redcurrant acidity, fine tannins and spice on the finish.
This wine is drinking well in its youth but those with patience will reap the rewards a few years down the line. Production is limited due to the challenges that come with growing red grapes in a cool climate, so it’s only available while stocks last.
Price: £22
Where to buy: sandridgebarton.com
STILL Pinot Noir 2020, Hattingley Valley
An excellent choice for cosy winter nights and candlelit Christmas dinners, the STILL Pinot Noir 2020 features rich hints of dark chocolate, deep accents of oak and delicate aromas of cherry and raspberry. With an elegant structure and silky finish to every sip, this red wine is best enjoyed with a slice of pie, a warming casserole or plate of cheese and chutney by the fire after a long winter walk.
Price: £25
Where to buy: Hattingley Valley
Queirón Mi Lugar Vino de Quel 2018, Rioja
Rigorous selection of only the best fruit from high altitude vineyards, and from Bodegas Ontañón’s new winery in the centre of Quel, has produced one of the new Rioja classifications: a ‘Vino de Pueblo’, which can only be produced from family-owned vineyards within a named village.
This highly anticipated release doesn’t disappoint, it has pronounced aromas of ripe black fruit and blueberries, backed by spice, mocha, fig and balsamic notes. The palate is generous with complex bramble and plum fruit characters, well-integrated oak and bright acidity. It is structured yet elegant.
Price: £26
Where to buy: wickhamwine.co.uk
Domaine de Mont Joly ‘85.45’ Beaujolais Villages 2019
85.45 is a special wine made in very small quantities, using the best grapes from the oldest vines. One to be enjoyed and savoured, it is made using 100% Gamay grapes and given 21 months in oak barrels. The colour is the deepest garnet with hints of ruby, the nose is bursting with black fruits and touches of coffee and liquorice and the palate is fleshy and complex with well-integrated tannins. The finish is long and satisfying.
Price: £28.50
Where to buy: wickhamwine.co.uk
Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz
Penfolds Bin 28 is a showcase for warm-climate Australian Shiraz – ripe, robust and generously flavoured. First made in 1959, Bin 28 is named after the famous Barossa Valley Kalimna vineyard purchased by Penfolds in 1945 and from which the wine was originally sourced. Today, Bin 28 is a multi-region, multi-vineyard blend, with the Barossa Valley always well represented, providing a substantial proportion of the fruit for this vintage.
This wine shows notes of black fruits and pipe tobacco and can be drunk now but will further improve if carefully stored for up to 10 plus years.
Price: £30
Where to buy: Tesco
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Napa Valley
Renowned Cabernet Sauvignon producers since 1933, today, Louis M Martini continue this tradition at the historic winery in the Napa Valley with a range of unforgettable wines that celebrate Cabernet’s indelible combination of power and structure married with elegance, grace and finesse.
Grapes for this wine were selected from several premium Napa Valley vineyards, including Cypress Ranch Vineyard, Sun Lake, and Sage Canyon. This range allowed the crafting of a complex Cabernet Sauvignon that represents both high elevation and valley floor fruit in a beautifully balanced blend. This is a densely layered wine showcasing plush notes of cherry cobbler and wild blackberries backed by hints of vanilla and spice. Full-bodied and elegant, this Cabernet has a polished mouthfeel and an exceptionally long finish.
Price: £35.99
Where to buy: majestic.co.uk
Chateau Lassègue 2015
Ripe plums, black cherry liquor and dried cassis provide sumptuous aromas while hints of orange peel, toasted allspice, fresh cinnamon bark and dried tea leaf beckon. A velvety, Merlot-driven mid-palate slowly opens into a multi-layered bouquet of red fruit, toasted baking spices, truffle and coffee bean. An iron-rich minerality provides a taut, complex structure, while fine-grained tannins and firm acidity grip the palate to sustain a long and elegant finish. This classic expression of Saint-Émilion offers a dual brightness and sophistication that will continue to improve for years to come.
Price: £45
Where to buy: thegoodwineshop.co.uk
Cava d’Onice Brunello di Montalcino ‘Colombaio’ DOCG 2016
Colombaio is the name of the estate, purchased by the Nannetti family in 1983. Simone Nannetti only produces about 2,000 bottles of Brunello Colombaio each year. He says this wine is the true expression of his winemaking style, and the fine quality Cava d’Onice is known for. Brunello matures for four years – Italy’s longest ageing period. Colombaio spends its first three years in a combination of 500-litre and 1500-litre French oak barrels. It then matures for another year in the winery’s temperature-controlled ageing cellar.
In the glass, Brunello Colombaio has a deep ruby colour. It offers a rich, concentrated aroma of violet, raspberry and wild strawberry, complemented by notes of mint and sandalwood. The palate reveals flavours of sweet tobacco and dark chocolate sprinkled with dried strawberry and juniper berry.
Price: £51.45
Where to buy: independent.wine
Viñedos y Bodegas García Figuero Tinto Figuero Noble Cosecha 2017
Planted in 1950, the Parcela de Torrosillo is the source of this single vineyard expression, which combines chalk and red clay soils. Matured in new French oak, as the top Tinto Figuero wines always are, this is a ferrous, complex, somewhat backward red with assertive but well-integrated wood, lots of inky fruit and enough supporting acidity to freshen and lengthen the finish.
Price: £67.90
Where to buy: Vinissimus
Vérité Le Desir 2018
2018 Le Désir has a dark inky appearance with a violet hue that extends to the rim. The compelling characteristics of Cabernet Franc are expressed on the nose and palate with flavours of crunchy cranberry, ripe raspberry, red currant, dried sage, crushed mint, and cinnamon bark, followed by spice cake, subtle vanilla liquor, and singed toast. The persistent finish and bright acidity suggest the wine will continue to evolve in the cellar for many years to come.
Price: £398
Where to buy: Hedonism.co.uk, stationplazawine.com
Tasty whites
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2021
The family-owned Villa Maria Estate was founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich who, through his dedication to quality, has led Villa Maria Estate to claim the title of New Zealand’s Most Awarded Wines.
Blended from selected superior parcels of fruit from the cool Awatere Valley and the warmer Wairau Valley in Marlborough, New Zealand gives a crisply tropical and pungent winner with gooseberry and lime notes.
Price: from £11
Where to buy: Majestic, Sainsbury’s
STILL Chardonnay 2020, Hattingley Valley
This STILL Chardonnay 2020 is a silky-smooth white wine made from 100% Chardonnay grapes aged for six months in oak barrels, lending a touch of creaminess to the palate whilst still retaining a vibrant freshness. With pronounced aromas of ripe orchard fruits and an earthy oak texture, this wine is the ultimate accompaniment to any buttery seafood supper, creamy curry or flavour-filled fish or white meat dishes.
Price: £20
Where to buy: Hattingley Valley
Louis Jadot Saint-Veran 2019
Louis Jadot was established in Beaune by Louis-Henry Jadot in 1859. The company has carefully striven to establish and maintain the quality of its wines for 160 years through the steady acquisition of the best vineyards in Burgundy.
Saint Véran is vinified in stainless steel tanks and bottled in spring in order to keep all its freshness and fruitiness. Poised and elegant, this shows what lovely wines Louis Jadot makes in the Mâcon Crus. Dry and fine with touches of soft peachy fruit and a delicate nutty rounded character on the long-balanced finish. This wine is ideal for drinking now but can be kept for up to two years.
Price: £23
Where to buy: Tesco
Chateau Peybonhomme, Le Blanc, 2019
This wine has been recommended by Martin Hagen, founder of Cave Bristol, an online bottle shop specialising in small producers, organic, biodynamic and low-intervention wines.
Martin says: “Fermentation using yeast native to the estate, 40% fermented in new barrels, the remainder in concrete vats. Harvesting by hand in crates very early in the morning to preserve freshness, with the afternoon devoted to gently pressing the grapes. Maturation for six months with regular yeast stirring. A slight dose of sulphur is added to the must, followed by another before bottling. Rich and luscious, this a great example of an affordable white Bordeaux.”
Price: £24.70
Where to buy: cavebristol.co.uk
Journey’s End Destination Chardonnay 2019, W.O Stellenbosch
Full-bodied and rich on the palate, expect white peach, nectarine, lime zest and orange flavours with almond and vanilla oak spice. There’s a long and creamy finish to this opulent Chardonnay, will work well with many types of rich seafood, pork, and veal dishes.
Price: £25.50
Where to buy: Noble Green
Giant Steps Sexton Chardonnay 2020
Located on the steep north facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges, the Sexton Vineyard is exposed and demanding. Being on the higher slopes, topsoil is thin and root systems have established themselves in shallow gravelly loams above a tough rocky clay base. Bunch yields set naturally low in this environment, resulting in intensely flavoured fruit with high skin to juice ratio.
The 2020 season was a bit of a rollercoaster and the cool Spring delivered very low yields across the Chardonnay blocks, primarily driven by tighter, smaller bunches – the consequence of which is naturally high acidity and fresh savoury flavours. Expect to be greeted with a fabulous nose of mixed citrus, sorbet and peach cobbler, while toasted nuts and aromas in abundance on the palate.
Price: £28.60
Where to buy: vinvm.co.uk
Celebratory sparkling wines
Bodegas Sumarroca Cava Brut Rosé Organic, DO Cava, Spain 2018
Generations of the Sumarocca family have devoted themselves to making Cava. Combining their passion for the land and tenacity in cultivating vines their Cava’s have bags of personality and character.
This is a certified organic Rosado Cava with a lovely salmon pink colour. Expect plentiful aromas on the nose, with elegant strawberry and red fruits, combined with floral notes. On the palate it is fruity with a delicate finish.
Price: £14.99
Where to buy: Borders Wine
Journey’s End Cap Classique Brut Reserve, W.O Stellenbosch
A blend of two thirds Pinot Noir grapes and one third Chardonnay, expect notes of citrus, pear, crushed almond and biscuit with this South African fizz. Full bodied and well balanced with fresh zestiness due it’s acidity and delicate fruit, enjoy this sparkling wine as an aperitif or with shellfish or sushi for the perfect as the ideal accompaniment.
Price: £22.50
Where to buy: Noble Green
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2017, Robertson, South Africa
This fizz is created with 100% Chardonnay grapes, hand selected from the limestone rich vineyards on Graham Beck’s Robertson estate in South Africa. It’s bright lime green in colour with rich aromas of fresh limes, green apples, pears and lemon zest on the nose. Delicately balanced flavours of succulent citrus, brioche and spice combine with yeasty complexity, broadening the palate with layered textures and leading to a long finish.
Price: £24
Where to buy: Majestic
Chapel Down Brut NV
Ideal for sharing and celebrating with those you love, as well as the perfect gift for the those who are impossible to buy for, purchase a bottle, magnum or even a jeroboam of Chapel Down’s Brut NV.
Enjoy any festivity over some bubbles from the comfort of your own home, with the liquid pairing perfectly with delicate starters such as smoked salmon blinis, smoked salmon and scrambled egg, salmon en croûte or white meats.
Price: £28
Where to buy: Tesco, chapeldown.com
Chapel Down English Rose NV
A classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc, this rosé sparkling wine has aromas of redcurrant, strawberry and rosehip. A delicate rose petal pink, the fine and persistent bubbles within pair wonderfully with light canapés to kick off any celebration.
Price: £29
Where to buy: Ocado
Champagne Taittinger Brut Réserve NV, Reims, France
Renowned for its golden colour with a consistent and fine lingering mousse, the nose is light and delicate with hints of peach and brioche. On the palate it has considerable depth, yet is quite light in style with a subtle elegance and a long fresh finish. A great non-vintage brut.
Price: From £30
Where to buy: thefinestbubble.com
Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvée
Hambledon Classic Cuvée Brut is a well-balanced blend of all three traditional grapes (52% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir, 17 % Pinot Meunier), handpicked on the 50-acre Hambledon estate in Hampshire. Aged at least 35 months, this exceptional award-winning English Sparkling Wine is vibrant, with structured yet ripe acidity. Tasting will elegantly unfold to reveal layers of floral and stone fruit aromas.
Price: £33
Where to buy: Waitrose
Ridgeview Fitzrovia Rosé
The Fitzrovia Rosé is a delicate salmon colour with an abundance of fine bubbles and a fresh fruit finish. Serve as a refreshing aperitif or it will pair beautifully with smoked salmon and fish dishes or fresh English strawberries, a party Pavlova or red berry desserts.
Price: £36
Where to buy: Waitrose
Hattingley Valley Sparkling Rosé 2019
Delicate pale pink in colour and bursting with notes of bright red fruit, flavours of pink grapefruit and a touch of sweet marshmallow, the Rosé 2019 is a versatile and vibrant number welcome for any occasion. Offering both a gentle sweetness and a slight earthy texture, the Rosé 2019 has the power to transform ordinary moments into celebratory ones. Enjoy alongside a range of sweet and savoury bites such as a honey glazed gammon or a cranberry pavlova with lashings of cream.
Price: £38
Where to buy: Hattingley Valley
Champagne Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvee Multi Vintage
Bruno Paillard is an independent and family-owned Champagne house, with vineyards across the region’s very best cru. A ‘Champagne for Champagne lovers’, its Première Cuvée is a Multi Vintage Champagne, a very personal interpretation of the region.
It is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier with 20% fermented in barrel and the addition of up to 50% reserve wines. With three years maturation on its lees and an extra low dosage, this is both a complex and very elegant Champagne. Perfect as an apéritif.
Price: £39.80
Where to buy: Hedonism Wines
Núria Claverol Gran Reserva Homenatge 2014
Produced by Bodegas Sumarroca, this Cava is made from Xarello, Parellada, and Chardonnay. Pale yellow, with fine and slow-rising bubbles in the glass, this wine presents a variety of notes on the nose including hints of toasted bread, going as far to a slight touch of smokiness. On the palate this is elegant, slightly sweet, and complex and this Cava would be ideally paired with starters or hors d’oeuvres.
Price: £48.80
Where to buy: Vinissimus
Frerejean Frères Blanc de Blancs NV Premier Cru
This Blanc de Blancs is developed exclusively from Premier Cru and Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes, creating a generous and complex cuvée for the most discerning of wine drinkers.
This wonderful new release from Frerejean Frères has a satin texture and a plumper mouthfeel and a slightly richer level of sweetness than the other Champagnes from this house. It features notes of nutty brioche on the nose as well as apples and orchard fruits, and its mouthfeel is rich, silky and plump.
Price: £65
Where to buy: honestgrapes.co.uk, frerejeanfreres.co.uk
Pommery Apanage Rosé Champagne NV
Pommery Rosé Apanage is the perfect gift for those with great taste. The Apanage rose differs from others because the grapes are taken from 17 of the best ‘crus’ in Champagne and cellared for a further six months in the chalk cellars at Domaine Pommery to add extra finesse and elegance to the wine.
On the nose it has great freshness and wonderful elegance revealing aromas of redcurrants and raspberries. The palate is rich and well-balanced, easy to savour before culminating in an unforgettable finale with wonderful freshness.
Price: £80
Where to buy: ocado.com
Porte Noire Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne, France 2010
Porte Noire, the Champagne and rosé brand that launched in 2018 was co-founded by actor, DJ and philanthropist, Idris Elba and founder of Connaught Cellars, David Farber, a French oenophile with a long and demonstrated history working in the wine industry.
The first sparkling wine in the portfolio, classic blanc de blancs notes of apple and pear make up the well-rounded flavour profile complete with an elegant buttery finish. It is recommended to pair the Champagne with white fish and shellfish, but Idris suggested, it is also perfect with a decadent chocolate dessert.
Price: £90
Where to buy: portenoire.co.uk, harveynichols.com
Heloise Lloris
One of the finest and most luxurious champagnes on the market Heloise Lloris uses 500-year-old champagne producers who are proudly based in Chigny- Les-Roses – only one of the 44 out of 300 villages that have been granted ‘Premier Cru’ status.
The casings of the bottles are produced by the same British craftsmen that make metal badges for an iconic British supercar brand, coins for the Royal Mint and the medals for the Olympics. Finished in either 24k gold or 18k rose gold, they cannot be removed and with every single one handmade, no two are identical, making it a champagne that is truly a one-of-a-kind collaboration between skilled artisans on both sides of the Channel.
Only available on-board luxury yachts and in the world’s most exclusive nightclubs, this gorgeous champagne is now available to buy online too. With prices ranging from £720 to £1550, this is the gift for the person who has everything. What’s more the bottles can also be personalised and Héloïse Lloris has already created one-of-a-kind creations for A-listers around the world.
Price: £720 to £1,550
Where to buy: thechampagnecompany.com
Fruity rosés
Terres de Ravel Chateau Montaud
This rosé is elegant and fresh, with mineral notes and citrus on both the nose and palate, and a long finish. Made from Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah, grown in red sandy clay soils, this wine should be served between 5 and 7°C.
Price: £12.55
Where to buy: York Wines
Berne Inspiration
Cuvée Inspiration is a classic Côtes de Provence rosé which is beautifully salmon pink in the glass. The bouquet is expressive with aromas of peach and red fruits, and the wine is dry and refreshing on the palate, with good length and an impressive finish.
Price: £17
Where to buy: Ocado
Château Sainte Roseline Lampe de Méduse
With a unique shaped bottle, Lampe de Méduse is Château Sainte Roseline’s most iconic and historic wine. A pale salmon colour, this wine has a complex nose with notes of lychee, rose and citrus. With a lively palate and persistent aromatic finish, this rosé is crisp and elegant with a nice freshness.
Price: £19.52
Where to buy: Vinatis
All prices are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
