Quintas Milu 'Milu' 2012, Ribera del Duero, Spain

This 100% Tempranillo (the fruit-driven, lightly oaked wine in the producer's portfolio) pours a vivid, opaque purple. This sort of colour is a low pH colour - a wine with a healthy amount of acid. A good omen for me.
It's a bit like jumping in a vat full of ripe squished blackcurrants and blackberries, although the tarry depth that lurks beneath the fruit (and the touch of charred bell pepper) marries with a gentle clove, menthol and allspice wamth to lend a feeling of seriousness too. It has such a vivid intensity to the palate, too; that thick-textured sense of overripe blackberry juice is kept keen by fabulous acidity and nervy tannins. Full of life and quite invigorating to drink.

El Maestro Sierra Fino, Jerez, Spain

Serious sherry is one of the bargains of the wine world. I love it. It is similar to champagne in that a lot of the interesting flavours come from the winemaking process rather than from the primary flavours of the grapes. Both wines offer flavour experiences you don't get any other way, and in both cases you have big houses producing dependable, consistent styles and smaller producers going their own way with exciting results.
This is quite extravagant on the nose for Fino, with seville orange and pithy lemon fruit, the lightness of meadow flowers, sea air and fragrant almonds/cashews all emerging from the quite deeply-coloured liquid. Real weight on the palate here, with fine ripe citrus acidity and intense, savoury grip coupled with floral dimension and the tang of salty cured meat on the finish. Long, ripe, bold Fino, and much more than an aperitif - this is serious food wine. Think pot-roast chicken with honey, saffron, pimenton (and sherry of course, but I'd get something a bit humbler for the cooking....)

Colosia Fino, Jerez, Spain

I love fino. I think sherry is slowly winning the battle against the Harvery's-Bristol-Cream-sipping granny image it needs to shake off in the UK, but there's still a way to go before it gets on the radar of most shoppers looking for something to go with dinner. This is beautiful and complex on the nose, with aromas of sweet fennel seed and pine, fresh seville oranges, almonds oyster. That 'seaside' element is quite strong here, like wet pebbles on the beach. There's real savoury intensity on the palate, with more of that sweet and salty oyster flavour, finishing with almonds and a gentle floral lift. Just love it

Raso del Cruz Tinto 2010, Cariñena, Spain

This little gem from M&S offers up lush, fragrant raspberry coulis from its syrah fruit as well as some curranty and prune notes and a touch of milk chocolate. With the savoury, slightly meaty garnacha and sweeter, violet-tinged syrah in lovely balance it is quite a simple but elegant drop, particularly when chilled down a little. Pleasingly crunchy, fresh tannins and bright acidity complete a bargain bottle at £6.99. Lovely

Emlio Valerio Laderas de Montejurra 2010, Navarra, Spain

This is a cracking wine for around £10. Big nose of crushed blackberries and blueberries - it's savoury and meaty too, and just seems very alive (this is certainly well along the 'natural' spectrum, with biodynamic viticulture and minimal SO2 usage). The berry fruit is really buzzing on the palate too, but it's far from sweet or OTT; the combination of savoury, almost beefy flavours and keen acidity right through the finish really balance the fruit out, all three dimensions of flavour working together. Moreish. Drink it young.

El Castro de Valtuille Mencia Joven 2009, Bierzo, Spain

This really jumps out at you with its fresh, layered nose of raspberry bushes, sweet black cherries and a little burnt sugar and medicinal herbs. It's not unlike a good northern italian red with sweet/savoury/herbal combination. There's a pleasing intensity to the palate, which is berry fruit driven yet nicely sappy and refreshing. It's not very long or fantastically complex, but it has real flavour and style. Another winner in the category of £10-15 reds from Spain and Portugal, where I'm having a lot of luck with at the moment!