Spain

50% Tempranillo, 50% Cabernet and 12 months oak, this is a real steal, a VdT from just south of Ribera del Duero, and with all that regions body, structure, concentration and ageing potential

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Palacios (who also makes La Montesa Rioja) is the daddy in Priorat. This is his 'entry level' wine which is bright, earthy and rich yet well balanced. Will age well if you can wait, but I expect Derek will like it young!

Lovely fresh, young Rioja with an impressive amount of spice and structure for the price. One for a Tuesday night I think!

This Rioja, which is 100% Tempranillo, is aged in oak for 12 months for a rounded, rich effect to envelope the sweet red fruits and earthy spice of the grape.

Graciano is used in Rioja to beef up the body and spice content, so as you

Unusually for Rioja, this is a single vineyard wine. The Rioja Alta fruit gives extra weight and body to this smoky, spicy wine, which is ready to drink but should keep in your cellar a while if you like

1964 was an incredible vintage in Rioja, and this wine still tastes fresh nearly 50 years later. Incredibly, this will keep a bit if you want!

Absolutely classic example of the Reserva style, which sees at least 12 months in oak barrels. Spicy, full bodied and oaky, this is great with red meats

Made by Alvaros Palacios, this wine is just superb. Organically grown and aged a little longer in oak than standard, it's a concentrated, powerful delight. We've had this since we opened and we'll have it until Alvaros hangs up his pruning shears and sells all his grapes to Campo Viejo!

This is Montesa's baby brother, a 'joven' wine with a little oak. Exhuberant, fresh and fruity, this lively number has juicy cherry, currant and strawberry flavours

So good, they named it twice! Actually, this is back in favour at Reserve after a couple of lame vintages. It's firing on all cylinders now though with bags of punch (good for boxers then) and brilliant cassis fruit.

Bierzo is Spain's current buz* word, producing lighter, aromatic red wines in the cool Galician climate. This would be great with fish - perhaps wild salmon?
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* deliberate mis-spelling. I know it's not funny but I couldn't help myself

From the up-and-coming Utiel-Requena area of South East Spain comes this quirky blend which is like the best value Rioja you've ever had. Vanilla oak, blackberry and dark cherry fruit.

The icon Spanish wine, Vega Sicilia uses a unique and ridiculously complicated barrel ageing process to produce astounding wines. Although the wines are ready to drink on release, they age for years and years due to their power and poise.

Crianza riojas a minimum of 12 months oak ageing and 12 months in the bottle before release (although in practice the bottle age is usually a bit longer by the time it gets to you). Izadi's wine is a deliciously integrated example.