Bodacious Bottles for a Tenner (or Less) + a Tasty Offer

Okay, so here at Chilled & Tannin we enjoy a Grande Marque or Premier Cru as much as the next person – but what really gets our founder Rhod’s bibulous hypothalamus pumping is a tasty bargain bottle 😍

And as the nation collectively turns down the thermostat by a few degrees and the sun blooms across our merry nation, here’s a selection of Rhod’s favourite tipples for £10 or less; proof that sustainable, vegan and authentic wine needn’t break the bank!

1. ALICANTE/SYRAH, CASA MIA, SICILY £9- (Vg)

A lovely light bodied red wine from Sicily which could even be served slightly chilled. Soft and floral with fresh red fruits - one sip and you’re living la dolce vita!

2. ZAPALLARES RESERVA PINOT GRIGIO £10- (Vg)

Zapallares make some spendido vino in the picturesque Chilean valleys, where sun and ocean influences ensure top notch fruit. 100% sustainable grapes go into this Pinot Grigio which is richer and more unctuous than its Italian cousins.

3. METIC CARMÉNÈRE, VALLE DE COLCHAGUA £10- (Vg)

Once thought to be a lost Bordeaux grape variety, Carménère was rediscovered in Chile and has since made a name for itself. This natural wine has lashings dark fruits and green bell pepper.

4. BERGERIE DE LA BASTIDE, 'TERRE DU SUD' ROSE 2019 £9- (Vg)

Rosé season is upon us and this out-of-the-ordinary Southern French beauty is ideal if you seek a little more complexity than those thin pink plonks from the supermarket. Red fruit, Mediterranean flowers and a hint of spice.

5. ORGANIC MONASTRELL', FAMILIA CASTAÑO, YECLA DO £10 - (Vg)

Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre) thrives here in Yecla and it’s the perfect climate for organic farming. An amazing wine for the price, packed with morello cherry, plum and spice.

6. PERGOLINO, BIANCO VERONESE £9- (Vg)

It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Which is a good thing as this bottle of delicious organically produced Italian Chardonnay isn’t blessed with good looks. It’s damn tasty mind, with melon, peach and almond. Mmm.

7. L’EPICURIUS, CALMEL & JOSEPH, LANGUEDOC £10- 

This canny blend of floral Petit Verdot and robust Malbec comes from this talented sustainably minded producer. A super slurper with complex fruit and a touch of herby garrigue. We love it.

8. MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE, DOMAINE DE LA NOE, LOIRE £10- (Vg)

Hello, is it lees you’re looking for? We love Muscadet from the Loire and this organic practicing example is a lively example brimming with white stone fruit, citrus, orchard fruit and a hint on nuttiness from time left resting on its lees before bottling.

9. CAPE LEOPARD RESERVE MERLOT, VONDELING, PAARL £10- (Vg)

Merlot just loves the South African climate - oodles of sun and cooling breezes make for a rich and developed wine with ripe fruit and smoky notes. Like so many super SA wines it’s sustainable and fair trade too.

10. CASA FERREIRINHA 'PLANALTO' BRANCO, DOURO £10- (V)

Portuguese still wines from the Douro are made with a plethora of unpronounceable indigenous grapes varieties. All you need to know is this sustainable Branco blend is bloody marvellous. Citrus, mineral and tropical notes galore.

11. ECCE HOMO GARNACHA TINTO, CAMPO DE BORJA DO, NAVARRA £10- (Vg)

Bodegas Aragonesas are on a quest to save the region’s wonderful old bush vine Garnacha and this full bodied and heady wine is a case in point! Loads of fruit and savoury notes too. 

12. GOOD HOPE CHENIN BLANC 2019 £10- (Vg)

With a philosophy of minimal intervention, The Winery of Good Hope have made a ludicrously good value Chenin Blanc. Honeyed apple, citrus, waxy charm and spice - yum!

Still good reading? Well HERE’S A TASTY OFFER… get all twelve of the wines in this blog post in Rhod’s Dirty Dozen Case for only £100...