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