As autumn and winter arrive, many of us start to look for bigger flavours and fuller wines. Big reds with structure and tannins, and some interesting spice and oak.
Dishes are richer at this time of year, so wines need to match bold, deep flavours. Some of the wines included in this article may be a little too rich and tannic alone, however, with a heavy stew or roasting joint they come into their own.
The best red wines have a long finish, where flavours linger for some time and those with good balance, nice aromas and good value for money scored best. I also tried to look at wines from around the world with differing styles. Fine wines, budget wine and natural wines are all included, to make sure there’s a diversity of choice to suit everyone.
Though wine prices have definitely risen and the mid-level may be where to find the best wines now, there is still good wine within the budget category. Like the brilliant budget wines under £10 from Aldi’s Cote du Rhone and the £12 Tblivino Saperavi, which is delicious and could easily have been a winner.
My favourite of the bunch is the 2017 Les Fiefs de Lagrange (£41, Davywine.co.uk) but there is a vast variety of decadent red wines available (across different price ranges) that also scored well. Keep scrolling to find out which vinos impressed.
The best red wines for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Château Lagrange 2017 Les Fiefs de Lagrange: £41.01, Davywine.co.uk
- Best budget option – Chassaux Et Fils Côtes du Rhône: £5.29, Aldi.co.uk
- Best natural red wine – Pim Pam Pum Quinta do Montalto Pim Pam Pum ‘Lagar’: £20.50, Shrinetothevine.co.uk
- Best red wine for Christmas – Tbilvino Saperavi Georgia 2023: £14, Majestic.co.uk
How I tested
Enjoyed over a two-week period, all the wines featured here were tasted a few minutes after opening and then again after the bottle had been open for about 45 minutes. All wines were tasted from the same glasses and at room temperature. You can find more about my testing criteria at the bottom of this article.
