Food On A Plate



The place to find great deals on Wine and Champagne










Red Wine between £5.00 and £8.00 per bottle


Don Cayetano Carmenere 2007
Don Cayetano Carmenere 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The abundance of sunshine in Chile's Colchagua Valley allows the grape to thrive ... combined with the expertise of Luis Felipe Edwards and his team at Don Cayetano - ''one of Colchagua Valley's strongest projects (Wine International) - the resulting wines are deliciously full yet soft, bursting with ripe, dark fruit flavours. And 2007 is being described as the best vintage yet! This Carmenere is even richer than normal, with huge amounts of ripe plum and damson fruit. Rich and smooth, with plenty of red and blackberry fruit flavours which linger on and on ... finishing with a hint of spice, this great value red is a winner with garlic-roasted lamb, spicy empanadas (a Chilean version of pasty) ... or simply enjoy on its own!

Domain Saint Orban Merlot 2006
Domain Saint Orban Merlot 2006 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This sumptuous red is named in honour of Saint Orban - a pope who was martyred in AD 230 and is the patron saint of vine growers, protecting the fruit from frost. And he certainly seems to have been looking particularly favourably on this vintage! In 2006, a late, sun-soaked Summer and early Autumn provided perfect conditions for grapes to flourish. The cellar, built in 1820, proves with this flavour-packed gem that Hungary (so long an insider's tip) is producing serious reds that exhibit a claret-like elegance, but for a fraction of the price! Aromatic and concentrated with bags of lovely bright red fruit flavours and sumptuous, sweet tannins. Delicious with lamb chops and rosemary. Comes with our highest recommendation!

Grand Gaillard Merlot 2007
Grand Gaillard Merlot 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Nestled in a quiet corner of the Dordogne - right next door to Bordeaux's illustrious Saint Emilion region - Grand Gaillard has, for many years, offered reliability and superb value for money. Hence why it's the bestselling Merlot in our history! This spectacular 2007 vintage is the tastiest yet - and with hot new winemaker Lionel Condeau at the helm, it's no wonder! His enthusiasm and commitment to quality deserves mention - like green harvesting, which removes all but the healthiest fruit weeks before harvesting ... leaving vines to focus on fewer grapes. Yields down ... but quality sky-high! Seductively rich with aromas of plums, damsons and redcurrants. The fleshy richness and succulence that claret lovers adore, and a long, fruit-filled finish. A superb value alternative to Bordeaux!

The Barbarian Shiraz Barbera 2007
The Barbarian Shiraz Barbera 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
A mouthfilling combination of spicy Shiraz and a dash of cherry-scented Barbera - this blockbusting red is the latest arrival from Bob Berton's boutique winery. Originally from Italy, Barbera is a deliciously juicy grape that flourishes in the sun-soaked vineyards of Australia. Despite this, it's still extremely rare and Bob remains one of the leading pioneers of the variety! Deep crimson in colour, with a full and fragrant nose invoking wild blackberry, forest fruits, exotic spices and Turkish coffee aromas. The palate is a hedonist's delight with full black damson and kirsch flavours. Drink with pan-fried venison, cottage pie and a slow-cooked lamb or beef stew.

Las Casas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Las Casas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Located high in the hills of Chile's sun-soaked Maule valley, where huge day and night temperature variations (some 20 degrees celsius!) give grapes a superb intensity of fruit flavours and crisp acidity, unique to Chilean Cabernet. And 2007 is one of Chile's best vintages yet - ''the quality is great'' says Wine Spectator - and the wines from this stunning year are hallmarked by concentration and elegance ... qualities which you'll soon taste in this indulgently rich Cabernet. Smooth and juicy with plenty of fresh black and red currant fruit flavour, laden with toasty spice and mint. Superb as a mouthfilling glass on its own, or with an assortment of roasted meats.

Palacio del Conde Gran Reserva 2001
Palacio del Conde Gran Reserva 2001 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
No time to lose! We've an exciting discovery to share with you ... a small parcel of beautifully mature, 2001 Gran Reserva. Palacio del Conde is 100% Tempranillo, from prized 50-year-old vines, patiently aged for three years in fine French oak and four in bottle. Its silky, irresistible flavours have notched up yet another Gold medal for this award-winning winery ... found tucked away in Valencia - a thriving region praised as ''Spain's undiscovered Mediterranean'' (Wine Spectator). Take a look in Spain's leading Pe?in wine guide and you'll find regular mention of this award-winning cellar. What's more 2001 is a real collector's vintage too - officially declared ''excellent'' in Valencia (and 5-stars in Rioja, where you pay double for Gran Reserva of this quality and maturity). Deep cherry red with deliciously complex aromas of forest fruits and vanilla. Mouthcoatingly rich, brimful of ripe, spicy strawberry and mellow, creamy oak. Lovely long finish too. Perfect with a hunk of mature cheese.

Vega Robledo Tempranillo 2006
Vega Robledo Tempranillo 2006 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Fans of Rioja (and bargain lovers!) take note: this is an essential buy for anyone who likes their reds smooth and packed with ripe berry fruit. La Mancha is one of Spain's rising star regions, producing top value wines that are bursting with flavour. The vineyards here enjoy plenty of sunshine making the vines work hard for their moisture, producing richly concentrated fruit - so it's no wonder that Rioja's top producers are making a beeline for the region! Magnificently rich with bright red fruit aromas and silky raspberry, blackcurrant and blackberry flavours. Enjoy with roast lamb, tapas and pasta dishes

Don Elias Garnacha 2006
Don Elias Garnacha 2006 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Spain's most expensive reds come from Priorat - a remote region of steep, high altitude vineyards. Well, off the beaten track just outside Priorat we found an extraordinary red boasting much of the black, smoothly powerful, juicy flavours that see good Priorats selling out at #15 plus a bottle. The UK press dubbed Don Elias Gil ''a great alternative to ultra-fashionable Priorat'' (The Sunday Times) and, at a third of the price, ''marvellous value for money'' (Scotland on Sunday). The family have crafted reds here since 1842 - Senor Elias Gil had never left his region until 2004! ''Big, spicy, plummy'' wrote The Times of this rich, satisfying red ... mouthfilling, velvety, brimming with bramble, black cherry and ripe strawberry. A great year, too.

Croix des Cabustines 2006
Croix des Cabustines 2006 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Introducing a fabulous new release that showcases one of France's greatest styles - rich, dense, smoky Syrah. It's a natural with food - you rarely see the great grape of the Rhone in its pure form at such a low price. La Croix des Cabustines is crafted by Herve Sabadeil, a Syrah expert highly rated by US critic Robert Parker. It's made from premium old-vine AOC Roussillon fruit in a vintage of outstanding quality. 2006 was so good, in fact, that Herve decided to make this wine purely from Syrah (AOC rules dictate that it must be blended) - so Vins de Pays status and a great low price! Deep purple hue with enticing blackcurrant and wild herb aromas. Masses of peppery, dark fruit and a long, warming finish. Perfect with country pates and ripe cheeses.

Las Casas Malbec/Merlot 2007
Las Casas Malbec/Merlot 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This stunning red hails from the award-winning Donoso estate, one of the oldest in Chile's remote Maule Valley. High in the hills of this region, the pure sunshine, abundant water from mountain snowmelt and a cooling draught from the Andes give this wine superb purity of fruit. Malbec is the dark, bold and rich-fruited Bordeaux grape that has made a name for itself in South America. Donoso's gifted winemaker Alvaro Arriagada, one of Chile's rising stars, has crafted a superbly rich Malbec with a healthy splash of soft-berried Merlot to produce a wine that's luscious and wonderfully easy-drinking. ''A wealth of warming plum and damson notes with underlying hints of cinnamon and blackcurrant, make this great with wild mushroom risotto, venison sausages, grilled vegetables with couscous or tomato-based chicken dishes''

Casa del Rio Verde Merlot 2007
Casa del Rio Verde Merlot 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Teeming with generous wild berry aromas, this outstanding red really knocked our socks off when we first tried it! Handcrafted by Chile's 'Winemaker of the Year', Adolfo Hurtado, from small bunches of ripe Merlot grapes, it offers plenty of luscious fruit character at a very wallet-friendly price! Adolfo believes passionately in environmentally friendly methods to care for his vineyards and much of the winery's vines are certified organic. Any live pests that do appear are removed by cellar's flock of geese! Astonishingly intense with lashings of ripe plum-filled character and warming spice. Velvety-smooth mouthful with oodles of concentrated damson, blackberry and strawberry flavours. A perfect accompaniment to hearty lamb stew.

Fundo los Naranjos Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Fundo los Naranjos Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Handcrafted by Chilean wine genius, Adolfo Hurtado from premium Cabernet grapes, this super-smooth red is stacked with layers of berry-rich flavour! Despite only being 36, Adolfo has accumulated more Gold medals and trophies than we have room for here - including Chile's prestigious 'Winemaker of the Year' accolade. Made along the organic lines, this juicy red is overflowing with pure fruit character. Adolfo insists upon using as little mechanical intervention as possible in the estate - his winemaking team cycle to work every day and even use their bikes to ride around the vineyards, checking on the vines! Brilliant ruby red in colour, with generous aromas of plums, blackcurrant and fresh raspberry. A concentrated mouthful of ripe fruit, with lovely spice and chocolate hints ... effortlessly smooth, even for Chile!

Gaspard de Besse Merlot 2006
Gaspard de Besse Merlot 2006 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Handcrafted using the highest quality Merlot grapes, by a fantastic little estate that specialises in producing the premium wines that are helping this corner of Provence - better-known for its rose wines - to develop a real reputation for reds. Sun-soaked 2006 provided ideal conditions for grapes to flourish in this region, producing a wealth of fleshy, plum-filled Merlot berries - ''everything that makes the charm of Provence wines.'' (La Revue du Vin de France). Bright cherry-red in colour with ripe damson and plum flavours and a powerful, peppery nose. Rich and warming on the finish, it's ideal with the strong cheeses of the region.

La Manta Rayada Merlot 2007
La Manta Rayada Merlot 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This magnificent NEW discovery hails from Chile's prized vineyards, where hours of sunshine and cool, mountain-fresh breezes provide optimum conditions for Merlot grapes to flourish. 2007 is already being called ''one of the best vintages of all time'' by leading winemakers in Chile, so now's definitely the time to stock up! Bright ruby in colour with distinct aromas of redcurrant, cranberry and fig. Wonderfully smooth mouthfuls of juicy strawberry, plum and chocolate are harmonised by toasty vanilla oak. Marvellous on its own or even better with herby sausages and creamy mash!

Las Casas Carmenere 2007
Las Casas Carmenere 2007 - £6.29
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Try this! Las Casas is an intensely rich red from star winemaker, Alvaro Arriagada. Made from 100% hand-harvested Carmenere (a Chilean speciality) from high-altitude vineyards of the Donoso estate - every vintage has scooped first prize at some of the world's most illustrious wine competitions. And 2007 promises to be the best vintage yet! An extremely hot summer meant that grapes were ripened to perfection - ideal for producing rich, flavour-packed wines of incredible concentration. Deep purple colour and aromas of ripe plums and cinnamon. Spicy damson and blackberry flavour alongside earthy, savoury notes. Lovely Summer sipper that will stand up to all kinds of barbecued meats from sausages to steaks and lamb kebabs.

Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon
Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon - £37.96
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £6.33 per bottle. Price on 02-Dec-08 from Tesco.
Deep ruby colour, subtle blackcurrant leaf aroma, smooth and round with hints of cassis fruit supported by firm but ripe tannins and a hint of French oak.
Left Bank is the first single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon wine to be made in Bordeaux and with the help of one of the regions top producers - Yvon Mau it expresses all the wonderful characteristics of this classic Old World grape variety.

Chateau Yaldara Estate Tempranillo 2005
Chateau Yaldara Estate Tempranillo 2005 - £6.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Unique Tempranillo from Down Under - with a generous dash of Australia's signature Shiraz grape from the Barossa Valley (prime region) for top class reds and the awesomely good 2005 vintage. The excellent Yaldara Estate was founded by Hermann Thumm in 1947 with the aim of building a winery to rival a smart Bordeaux Cru Classe Medoc. With many Gold medals and Trophies over the years he did just that ... and the success continues now. Deep purple in colour. The berries and dark stone fruit aromas have a lovely, smokey bacon character too. Rich mouthfuls of ripe berry fruit and plum flavours. Soft velvety tannins, slighlty oaked and very well balanced ... a treat!

Campo Viejo Reserva 75cl
Campo Viejo Reserva 75cl - £38.48
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £6.41 per bottle. Price on 02-Dec-08 from Tesco.
On the palate it is smooth and balanced, with an elegant, full mouth feel and along, lingering finish in which you can find cocoa and coffee flavours.



Jacobs Creek Shiraz 75cl .
Jacobs Creek Shiraz 75cl . - £38.70
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £6.45 per bottle. Price on 02-Dec-08 from Tesco.
Generous aromas of pepper, liquorice and plum, leaving a soft textured finish on the palate.



Don Cayetano Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Don Cayetano Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - £6.49
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''Chile just creams the opposition'' (Oz Clarke) and the quality of this full, cassis-flavoured Cabernet from Chile's Colchagua Valley is enough to send a shiver down many a claret maker's spine! Luis Felipe Edwards is a family owned estate that has invested huge sums of money planting new vines and building one of the most beautiful (and opulent!) wineries imaginable - they even have chandeliers in the tank hall! With great enthusiasm and expertise they have crafted this stunning blackcurrant and black cherry Cabernet, with hints of paprika and toast. Superb with roast beef.