Licensed to chill

Think red wine in winter has to be heavy and oaky? Think again, says Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine’s Drinks Editor James Viner who picks out eight easy drinking bottles to try…

This season, lighten your red wine repertoire. I’ve selected eight vibrant, fruit-forward, mid-weight bottles – mostly unoaked or lightly barrel-aged – that sparkle with a slight chill. Aim for 14-16°C (30 minutes in the fridge or 10 minutes in an ice bucket).

Low-to-medium tannin, juicy fruit, and lively acidity make these wines versatile, elevating both weekday meals and special dinners. From crisp Beaujolais Gamay to refined Kentish Pinot Noir, a light chill isn’t just for summer – it’s a winter revelation.

1. 2024 Aldi Specially Selected Fleurie, Beaujolais, France (£8.99, Aldi, 12.5%)

From one of Beaujolais’ most charming crus, this spry, fragrant Gamay brims with succulent black cherry, strawberry, rose petal, and a hint of graphite. A gentle chill lifts its floral aromatics. Ideal alongside coq au vin or grilled salmon. At £8.99, it feels almost indecently good value.

2. 2023 Morandé Reserva One to One País, Maule Valley, Chile (£9.50 mix 6, Majestic, 14%)

Chile meets Beaujolais in this silky, vivid, unoaked red, made from 80-year-old País vines with 10% Cinsault (for a flirtatious twist). Crunchy cranberry and redcurrant notes mingle with subtle earthy tones, while low tannins and gentle acidity deliver a clean, satisfying finish. Enjoy lightly chilled with roasted meats, hearty stews, or simply on its own, with gusto.

3. 2023 Réserve des Vignerons Saumur Cabernet Franc, Loire Valley, France (£10 in-store price, £10.75 online at Co-op, 13%)

This ridiculously good-value, sappy, slightly peppery, unoaked Loire Cab Franc offers crunchy red cherry, forest berries and damson plum, supported by gentle tannins. Serve cellar-cool with soft cheeses. For the price, it punches comfortably above its weight. Bravo, Co-op (who have not changed in-store prices for this wine since the increase in UK alcohol duty on 1 February) – more of this please!

4. 2022 Lentsch Zweigelt, Neusiedlersee, Austria (£10.25, Waitrose, 12.5%)

Austria’s most-planted black grape variety remains an underrated hidden gem in UK wine shops, perfect for adventurous – even jaded – palates. This typically deeply coloured Zweigelt displays bramble fruit, cherry and a hint of earth and spice. Bright, juicy, and versatile, with supple tannins, it benefits from a brief stint in the fridge. Pour with schnitzel, cod and lentils, or tuna. Zum wohl!

5. 2024 Santa Tresa Organic ‘Rina Russa’ (‘red sand’) Frappato, Sicily, Italy (£10.95, The Wine Society, 13%)

The increasingly fêted low-tannin Frappato red grape variety produces delicate, fruity, floral reds in south-eastern Sicily. This organic example offers rosehip, wildflowers, white pepper, red cherry, and pomegranate. Be warned: it is seriously sapid. Pale, perky, refreshing and effortlessly food-friendly, it partners beautifully with meaty fish, veal parmigiana, or cured meats. Serve at 14-16°C.

6. 2024 Les Terrasses Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Cabernet Franc, Loire Valley, France (£12.50, Tesco, 12% – look out for the buy 6 and save 25% Clubcard offer)

From the coolish middle Loire, this tangy, brasserie-style Cabernet Franc (aka ‘Breton,’ one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon) reveals raspberry, redcurrant, red pepper, blackcurrant leaf, and mineral-tinged blueberry notes when lightly chilled. It finishes long with subtle spice and fine, granular tannins. It would not feel out of place in a bustling Parisian bistro. One for gammon, game, and goat’s cheese. Lip-smacking good.

7. 2024 Larry Cherubino Ad Hoc ‘Cruel Mistress’ Pinot Noir, Pemberton, Great Southern, Western Australia (£14.90-£17.95, Noble Green Wines, Vinvm, Hennings Wine)

This energetic Pinot – an indie favourite from Western Australia’s cool inland region of Pemberton (blanketed by gigantic karri trees) – bursts with wild berries, cherry, plum, and a suggestion of beetroot, perhaps even lipstick! Gentle tannins lend a soft, elegant texture. The restraint in ageing the wine in one- to three-year-old French oak for just six months has paid dividends, letting the fruit shine. Bonza! Pair slightly chilled with grilled tuna or roast chicken. Confident, polished, and utterly compelling.

8. 2024 Simpsons ‘Rabbit Hole’ Pinot Noir, Barham, Kent (£31.99-£32.99, Corkk, Grape Britannia, Simpsons, 13%)

In the glass, this delicious local, single-vineyard Pinot glides with silky tannins, spicy red fruits, and notes of sandalwood, mocha, vanilla, and cassis. Aged for nine months in mostly old oak, it’s fantastic with roast capon, venison, or guinea fowl. Quality nailed to the mast – take a bow, star winemaker Adrian Mohor. English still Pinot Noir has truly come of age, and this shining example is best served lightly chilled as a mid-winter treat.

Simpsons’ Wine Estate has partnered with the nearby Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, where this filigreed, tangy Pinot Noir is available by the glass. More details online here.

Follow James on Instagram@QuixoticWines