Charles Lea's favourite (reasonably priced) Italian reds

The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo emerges from vines in Coste di Rose and Castelleto. Bright and floral, with lovely purity of fruit, Barale’s Langhe Nebbiolo is terrific. Blood orange, cinnamon, spice and kirsch are front and ce...(read more)

Wonderfully fragrant, raspberry and polished cherry fruit, in the background just a hint of black pepper with floral roses pushing through. A wonderfully fragrant red fruit and wild flower filled palate, with a rich tann...(read more)

As ever here, the Langhe Nebbiolo is a true baby Barolo - from Barolo vineyards - and treated in the same way as all the Barolos. After a year in barrel Claudio tastes all the wines and at this point decides which will h...(read more)

This gem is the entry point for the Le Piane stable. Bright red fruits abound on the nose; cherries and strawberries with hints of dried roses too. This is just so fresh and inviting. In the mouth whilst lighter in body...(read more)

50% Merlot, 20% Cab Sauv & Franc, 10% Syrah, aged in stainless steel and older oak then concrete. Black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit, good fruit density, dark and nicely delivered with chocolate and spice on the...(read more)

Plum, cassis and dark cherries, touch of underbrush, pencil lead, smoked tea, nicely fragrant. Sleek, succulent and ripe with lovely core of plum and cassis, supple rich tannic frame, tobacco and gently smoked tea note,...(read more)

Red cherry and damson, balsamic spice, as always very elegant. Bright acid on the entry, crisp woodland fruits, earth, tobacco and spice. Great length, this wine makes you salivate with a lovely push of liquorice on the...(read more)

Lovely delicate floral and dusty, cherry, balsamic, chocolate notes. In the mouth there are lovely layered ripe red fruits, balsamic, leather, chocolate and fragrant herbs and flowers. Elegant and light on it's feet, but...(read more)

Up front there is the pure fresh-edged feel of blueberry flesh, but this dances across the palate with juicy brightness and a good depth of red and black berry fruit. A really attractive Tassinaia with such pure fruit ex...(read more)

Tasting great now, it has been drinking well for a couple of years - why wouldn't you want this with new season grouse? Grown in very hard-to-manage narrow terraces on a precipitous slope, with each vine on a pole, so ev...(read more)

Aromatic with notes of cherry, plum and a hint of tar/crayon. Richly structured, layered with a deep fruitiness, plums and cherries, chocolate and herbs. Quite round and easy going but still with enough tannic heft to dr...(read more)