A CHILEAN wine this week which has a deep ruby red colour and a bouquet of cassis fruit.

On the palate it's mostly blackcurrant and blackberry. It's been made for young drinking so there's no evidence of oak ageing.

It's medium-bodied with 131/2 per cent alcohol and balanced acidity.

It's ready for drinking now , as most wines are on the shelves of supermarkets, also it's best drunk within a year of purchase. If you don't consume it all in one go then put it in the fridge where it should be good for a couple of days. It is best served with grilled meats, especially lamb chops.

Casa Leona is from the Rapel Valley region two hours drive south of Santiago. This is part of the Central Valley that runs longitudinally between the Andes and the coastal range. It's divided into two further valleys - this wine comes from the northernmost, the Cachapoal valley.

The Rapel has just over a quarter of Chile's vineyards with 27,000 hectares. Most wine produced here is red with Bordeaux styles dominating. Grapes ripen easily here as the coastal mountain range blocks the cooling influence of the Pacific, helping maintain the Mediterranean climate.

The wine is made from 100 per cent cabernet sauvignon, of which there are 5,000 ha in the Cachapoal valley - far more than any other variety. It's a grape that's suited to the climate and the soil here. Also, clear skies and solar radiation in the Valley during the summer produce large variations in temperature which favour the concentration of colour, aroma and flavour. This is wine of the month in Marks & Spencer and at £4.99 is a bargain.