Wine of the week: Monfil Garnacha 2020

I came across this exuberant garnacha when I was tasting wine at Lea & Sandeman in Notting Hill the other day and it struck me as the most incredible bargain at £8.95 (or £8.25 if you’re buying a case).

It’s packed with super-ripe black cherry fruit but not overjammy or alcoholic (garnacha - or grenache as it’s called in France and elsewhere - often tops 14.5% but this is only 13.5%). And it has a surprisingly dry finish.

It comes from the Cariñena region of Spain which is one of the country's oldest wine regions but is made very much in the modern Spanish style.

It would be brilliant with a barbecue, especially with pork ribs and also with chorizo - anything meaty, basically. I’d also be inclined to pop it in the fridge for half an hour before drinking it.

If you’re ordering from Lea & Sandeman you might also want to pick up a few bottles of their Felix Rosé (12.5%) which was flying off the shelves when I was in there. It’s less delicate, pale and creamy than Provence rosé but hugely drinkable and again great for a barbecue.