Eight warming budget reds to keep out the January chills

So, January and the new year then. Welcome to 2021. And, no, I don’t know what happens next to the state of the nation. What I do know is that in any January we need comfort and consolation to deal with the weather and to cope with the effect on bank balances from festive indulgences. At this particular time, and facing perhaps another few grim months, we need it more than ever.

For wine lovers, that can only mean one thing: we need some cheap and comforting red wines that will warm our bodies, soothe our souls and still not break the bank. Here then are some medium- and full-bodied reds that deliver excellent value at relatively modest prices, ideally to match some winter foods, starting with what Aldi are calling a “super-Tuscan” in reference to the expensive, non-chianti type blends from Tuscany that can attract exorbitant prices