£14.50, or £12.95 in any 12 bottles, Lea & Sandeman
I don’t begrudge Rioja any of its success, but I wish it didn’t overshadow the exciting happenings in Spain’s other regions, especially new-wave wines like this glorious red. Made by a new producer, Maquina & Tabla, from old Mencía vineyards in Bierzo, it’s full-bodied but light on its feet and slips down in a cascade of cherries, delicate spice and soft tannins. The label is as attractive as the wine (there’s a long story about it that you can read at maquina-tabla.com, but I can tell you here about the name: laderas are slopes and Leonila is the grandmother whose vineyard Maquina & Tabla rent. It’s a wine that can take quite intense flavours – bring on the roast red peppers – as well as meats such as lamb and pork, but it won’t overpower many foods either.
Maquina & Tabla Laderas de Leonila 2013, Bierzo, Castilla y Leon, Spain
£14.50, or £12.95 in any 12-bottle mix, Lea & Sandeman shops and leaandsandeman.co.uk