I'm going round to my son and daughter in laws for Christmas dinner this year and he mentioned today that he wouldn't mind a bottle of red wine, I was going to take a nice bottle of white - Touraines sauvignon blanc from Sainsbury's but he says he would prefer red, and since I don't really know much about red wines I wondered if someone could help me out.

Cotes de Rhone.

Not an easy question to ask as wine is subjective to taste, especially red! Personally, I like a nice Vintage 2004 Tempranillo, especially with meat.

You can't usually go wrong with Merlot, although avoid the cheaper bottles.

Agree with this although if you really want to push the boat out, then Barolo is your friend

Oh yes, not too pricey either. Good shout.

This should be ideal, not had it myself but reviews elsewhere are good!

(You don't have to buy it by the case, I'm sure you can get it by the bottle in stores.)

Agree with Merlot, or Crozes Hermitage, or Fleurie, but you do need to read up on them as they can vary year to year as with all wine.

Just as I was going to say avoid Merlot

I always find that a bit soapy tasting and would always go with Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon. One red wine that I've never known anyone to dislike is the Hardy's Stamp Series Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, although I haven't bought any recently.

Any of these are supposed to be exceptional value for money. http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/11136.htm

Thank you for that, I've just bought a bottle for our Christmas steaks.

If our Christmas is ruined because the wine is horrible, I shall hold you responsible.

I've just had some with a very superior ribeye, and it was superb. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

Nah, " The munksblood " where I come from always goes down a treat !

My husband being from Spain is a huge fan of Rioja wine. When I buy it for him I try to get a reserva which is an older wine (2007/2009/2010 kind of age).

How about "What's your favourite red wine, son?"

All taste exactly the same to me.

It's quite tricky with red wine, because most of the huge sellers from the big American wineries such as Gallo are detested by many people. One of the worst bottles of wine I've ever had was a very expensive bottle of French red that was given to my father by one of his clients. I still tend to avoid French wines and go for one of the New World varieties.

Nowt wrong with Blue Nun

Life Cry.

You know you're in for a good night when there's a picture of a polar bear bleeding on the label.

I've found a £4 bottle of red called Two Oceans in Morrison's which I like.
But then I've tasted a £120 red and thought it was awful.
Everyone has different tastes.

Many, many years ago I used to buy the Co-Op's own-brand Sicilian Table Wine, because it was so easy drinking that I could always get girls drunk on it. That was considered a perfectly reasonable and gentlemanly thing to do in those days.

Good call! Very pleasant; I'm towards the end of the bottle and feeling well-disposed to mankind.

Thanks for all the replies. I went with a Merlot in the end from Lidl. He hasn't tried it yet, he couldn't because he was driving me home so I'll find out what he thought of it on Sunday. Saying that, he's no more of an expert than I am, but as someone said, each to their own.

There is if it's red!

Blue Nun do a red wine. I imagine it's glorious, like a 1998 Chateaneuf du Pape.

or Liebfraumilch with cochineal added ?