JANUARY TOP REDS UNDER £15

From Decanter magazines top 50 reds under £15, I have selected five of the best which are widely available thorough supermarkets and major wine retailers. The reviews are a collection of experts and personal views and the prices quoted are currently available.

2011 Viña Mayu Syrah Reserva,  Elqui Valley, Chile - from £7.98

Decanter Magazine - Top 50 red 95/100 – 5 Stars
This is a stunning wine with genuine 'Rhône-style' characteristics, which has won a number of accolades and Mayu Syrah Reserva. It has been judged one of Chile's finest Syrah wines. It is an outstanding full-bodied red, matured in oak barrels, that displays intense ripe red fruit flavours with notes of juicy cassis, spice with a touch of vanilla, pepper and spice. This silky red with soft, ripe tannins and superb acidity  creates an elegant and rounded wine in the mouth. Recommended by Olly Smith for its spicy edge and oodles of velvety richness. Enjoy it over the next 2 years with a range of foods including grilled and roasted meats and vegetarian or Mediterranean dishes.
Available from Asda and Majestic

2011 Viña Mayu Sangiovese, Elqui Valley, Chile - from £4.98

Decanter Magazine - Top 50 red 93/100
The sangiovese grapes are hand-picked in small bins. The wine is partially aged in French and American oak barrels which gives it a lovely vanilla overtone. It has  black cherry aromas, gentle spicy flavours with a hint of dried chocolate. The full bodied red wine is velvety smooth with a mouth-filling finish. Mayu is the ancient Inca name for the Milky Way constellation. Crystal clear skies above the Elqui Valley, which has Chile's most northerly vineyards, are as perfect for growing fantastic vines as for stargazing. Drink this year
Available from Asda and Majestic

2009 Wirra Wirra Church Block McLaren Vale, Australia - from £9.99

Decanter Magazine Top 50 red 90/100 – Very highly recommended by James Haliday 91/100
This big Aussie blend of cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot has become a massive Australian favourite. This is a big wine with a spicy blackberry fragrance and opulent ripe berry fruit characters. The generous fruit is balanced with well integrated oak and soft tannins to produce a delicious wine with great length and style. The vigorous tannins will benefit from decanting and will drink well until 2016. Over four decades, the Church Block label, consistently offering a smooth, soft red wine that balances the complexity sought by aficionados, with the approachability desired by those seeking pure drinking pleasure.
Widely available at Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury, Co-op, and Majestic

 Brancott Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir, New Zealand - from £7.99

Decanter Magazine - Top 50 red 89/100
This is an excellent, medium bodied wine which is a consistent benchmark Pinot Noir. It has aromas of ripe, red cherry accentuated with savoury and spice highlights. With a sweet, velvet approach of ripe red summer fruits, it also displays subtle spice, silky tannins and good length providing a balance of structure and concentration. Drink 2013/14
Widely available at Tesco, Sainsbury, Co-op, and Majestic

 2010 De Bortoli Gulf Station Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Australia - £11.99

Decanter Magazine Top 50 red 90/100 - Highly recommended by James Haliday 88/100
The large Brookland Vineyard acquired by De Bortoli a few years ago supplies most of its grapes for this wine. Brightly coloured, it has a fresh and focused cherry and toast bouquet, showing spice and plenty of interest; the palate is vibrant, crunchy-fruited and refreshing on entry, with great energy and generosity to conclude. It will repay cellaring for 3-5 years.
Available from Sainsbury’s