£10, Tesco
I hadn’t planned to recommend this juicy, round, oak-matured red this week, although it’s a perennial favourite, but the latest vintage, 2012, has just arrived and the price, far from increasing, has dropped £2. It’s mainly Grenache, which gives the easygoing spicy raspberry succulence, but don’t underestimate it: it has some backbone, so if you have somewhere cool and dark you could lay it down for four or five years. The name Fergus comes from Fergus Mahon, the owner of the vineyard which supplied the Grenache for the first vintage in 1993 and which is still the source of many of the grapes. There are plenty of good food partners, including duck, cassoulet and similar dishes, slow roast lamb or pork, or pork with fruit such as prunes or apricots. It’s also a great barbecue all rounder.
Tim Adams The Fergus 2012, Clare Valley, South Australia
£10, Tesco, tesco.com/wine