Red wine recommendations

[2something]

So the task has fallen to me to sort out wines for our wedding ... I am the first to admit that I'm not exactly a wine buff, so any advice is much appreciated.

The red is currently a Sunnycliff Shiraz to go with a rack of lamb main course, this seems like an o.k. choice to me - but if anyone has tasted the wine or has any recommendations in a similar price range, I'd be most grateful.

After looking at the white wine thread from earlier: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
I am happy with going for Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc for the white (having tasted numerous bottles in the past and liked it) instead of the Sutter Home Sauvignon Blanc, unless anyone has any views on this wine?

[neilsfishing]

This is my favorite all round red Cune its a Rioja
as described by Majestic
Rioja Crianza 2005 CVNE
The CVNE estate uses traditional wine making techniques to produce its first class wines. The grapes have been handpicked when ripe and delicately taken to the winery for fermentation. This wine has undergone a period of one year in oak giving beautiful hints of vanilla amongst fruity cherry notes. A real treat finishing long and elegantly.
Special Offer = £7.32
Buy any 2 Spanish still wines £4 - £20 Save 25% = £5.49

[smiller]

Seventh Moon Merlot.

IF you can find it.

Punches £20 above it's weight.

[Triumph Coupe]

Ooh! Reds, now we are talking! If you are catering for a wedding you will want nice but affordable I am guessing? You will probably want something that will please most people without being too heavy. Maybe a nice rioja or something?

A few that come to mind:

Castillo San Lorenzo Rioja Reserva (often on offer in Tesco and a nice drop at around £10 - £5-7 when on offer)
Baron de Ley Finca Monasterio Rioja (around £15 I think from memory and well rounded)
Terradavino Barolo (very dark and quite spicey - maybe too heavy for general wedding consumption but one to remember for house drinking!)
Torres Gran Sangre de Toro Reserva (can't go wrong)
Torres Sangre de Toro (if budget does not stretch to the Reserva above)
Vina Mara Reserva Rioja (selected for tesco and often on special and well worth the price)
Cosme Palacio Rioja (again another great rioja)
Les Gravieres Crozes Hermitage (a nice Syrah availible in Waitrose not too heavy and will please most people)
Marques de Murrueta Ygay Gran Reserva Rioja (around £18 so maybe a bit too much for the wedding masses to quaff but if budget allows....)

[Andeh]

Triumph Coupe said:

Vina Mara Reserva Rioja (selected for tesco and often on special and well worth the price)

+1

If you're feeling flush, i'd recommend Marques de Riscal. £16.50 a bottle but it's very very nice!

[Triumph Coupe]

Andeh said:

If you're feeling flush, i'd recommend Marques de Riscal. £16.50 a bottle but it's very very nice!

Agreed, I had a bottle of the Marques de Riscal Reserva 2003 the other day and enjoyed it. I don't remember it costing £16.50 mind. I picked it up in Sainsbunnies and thought it was about £8. I will stand corrected though.

[2something]

Thanks for all the recommendations, it looks like I have a lot of wine tasting to do . . .

Nick summed it up well with 'nice and affordable', that is definitely our aim!

[Triumph Coupe]

2something said:

Thanks for all the recommendations, it looks like I have a lot of wine tasting to do . . .

Nick summed it up well with 'nice and affordable', that is definitely our aim!

oh... the Castillo San Lorenzo Rioja (not the reserva but still very drinkable and I always have a case in the house) is on offer in Tesco now (offer until 7th Oct) for I think £4.99 from £9ish. For £4.99 it is great value. That is probably what I'd go and get a few cases of.

[Ciaran]

Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages 2006 - very light red, lovely. £7.99

Beauregard Fleurie Classic 05 - a bit more expensive £11.99 but fantastic.

Two of my favourites at the moment.

[TpdNotts]

M&S do two Californian reds which are excellent and reasonably priced:

Woodhaven Shiraz 2007 (£72 for 12 bottles) and
Clearlake Cabernet Sauvignon (£65 for 12 bottles)

Both excellent IMO

[havoc]

Kim Crawford Pinot Noir should go very well with lamb (it's an NZ wine), and be acceptable to most diners - it's medium bodied but has great depth and finish. Probably ~ £10 a bottle in a supermarket, so maybe £100 for a case. Best mainstream red wine I've drunk in a long while...

[FunkyGibbon]

havoc said:

Kim Crawford Pinot Noir should go very well with lamb (it's an NZ wine), and be acceptable to most diners - it's medium bodied but has great depth and finish. Probably ~ £10 a bottle in a supermarket, so maybe £100 for a case. Best mainstream red wine I've drunk in a long while...

top recommendation - and indeed that's what I had last night with some lamb.

it's available online from Noel Young

I've no connection with this place other than I spend far too much money there!