Wines of the week: Chile's Carménère is the perfect wine to warm us against February chills
Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy
Sunday lunch
Casa Silva Los Lingues Carménère 2012
A fantastic blend of elegance and power from the best vineyard of one of Chile's best Carménère producers, located in Colchagua in the shadow of the Andes. This is smooth and silky but retains the distinctive coffee and plum-fruit flavours of the grape, with some light oak touches. Ideal with roast lamb or beef. £13.95, caviste.co.uk
Midweek meal
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Fairtrade Carménère 2012
Another fine bottle from the TtD range. Also a plus point is that this is Fairtrade. But the best reason for drinking this is that it is characteristically Carménère: juicy, vibrant and very moreish. Try with meatballs or a pan-fried duck breast. £8, Sainsburys
Bargain basement
Torres Santa Digna Carménère 2012
Organic and also Fairtrade, this is made by Spain's extensive Torres company in Chile's Curico area. Soft and fresh, lots of black fruit flavours, some underlying vegetal and mint notes and an easygoing drinkability. Great with pasta dishes or tapas. £7.75 (normally £10.99), aitkenwines.com; £8.99, finewinesdirectuk.com
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