Pinot Noir 2021, Santa Macarena, Chile

£14.50

Santa Macarena is a wine rack hero. It’s the sort of Pinot that even lovers of richer reds like - so good to crack open when friends come over for a BBQ. It looks smart enough to take to someone’s house as a gift. And it’s just good to have to hand when you want a glass with your pasta, your curry or your cheese. This Pinot comes from a single vineyard, Santa Macarena, in the Leyda Valley - a few miles from the ocean. Grapes are handpicked, which is unusual in wine just under £12 due to cost. It spends six months in new oak (again, not usual at this price point) which adds a subtle toastiness. For a Pinot, you get a serious amount of bang for your buck here.