Red Wines

We offer more red wine than white on our website… Well, there is a view that a meal without red wine is like a day without sunshine…

As a general rule red grape varieties tend to perform at their best in warmer temperatures than white. So whilst one could argue that the very greatest reds of the world come from marginal zones where the local vines need to be coaxed to full ripeness - for example Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux, Pinot Noir in Burgundy and Syrah in the northern Rhône - there is abundant decent red wine available now from countries or regions enjoying a Mediterranean climate; in particular the south of France, Italy, Spain, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, California, etc.

While certain grape varieties are associated with particular countries or regions (for example Sangiovese with central Italy, Tempranillo with Spain, Malbec with Argentina, Carmenère with Chile, the home-grown Pinotage with South Africa, Zinfandel with California), it is the varieties best known for making top French wine - Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Syrah (Shiraz), Pinot Noir, and, to a lesser extent, Grenache and Mourvèdre - which have been widely planted all over the new world.

A word about ripeness, alcohol levels and climate change. Red wines, even more than white, are becoming more alcoholic. This is as a result of a number of different factors working together. First, consumers now seek riper wines - wines made from grapes which are picked properly ripe, with higher sugar levels which, once fermented out, become higher alcohol levels. (My theory as to why riper wines are so much more popular is related to us having become accustomed to higher sugar levels in a modern diet). Better management of the vines (in particular the "canopy" of the leaves) and more sophisticated weather forecasting has enabled growers to ripen their grapes better and pick at the right moment.

And on top of that is climate change. Thirty years ago reds from Bordeaux used to be bottled at 12-12.5%; since the hot 2009 vintage most examples show 13-14.5%, and some wines actually contain over 15% of alcohol.

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Wine Type

Style

Grape Variety

Country

Region

Grower

Dietary Requirement

Organic / Biodynamic

Vintage

Les Hauts de Smith, Pessac-Léognan, 2019

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Save £45.54

Decanter
Les Hauts de Smith, Pessac-Léognan, 2019

"Gorgeous freshly-picked strawberries and blackcurrants with liquorice and mint on the...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeHDS119

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

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Château Beausejour, Fronsac, 2020

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Save £18.30

Château Beausejour, Fronsac, 2020

The latest vintage of a long term value here.The Melet family has owned the Château in Fronsac...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeBEA120

GrapeMerlot & Cabernet Franc

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Begali, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2020

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Save £40.20

Begali, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2020

The Begali family is one of the founding members of Le Famiglie Storiche, the historic families...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionVeneto

ColourRed

ABV16.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBEF420

GrapeCorvina, Rondinella & Corvinone

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Begali, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Monte Ca' Bianca, 2015

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Save £31.77

Decanter
Begali, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Monte Ca' Bianca, 2015

From a small winery based in San Pietro in Cariano, this riserva is sourced from the Cengia and...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionVeneto

ColourRed

ABV16.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBEF515

GrapeCorvina, Corvinone & Rondinella

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Taliano, Barbera d'Alba, A Bon Rendre, 2022

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Save £18.60

Taliano, Barbera d'Alba, A Bon Rendre, 2022

A bon rendre - it delivers you goodness. About 1/3 of the wine is aged in old vats. Lovely...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeTAN122

GrapeBarbera

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Domaine de la Ribotte, Bandol Rouge, 2020

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Save £46.80

Domaine de la Ribotte, Bandol Rouge, 2020
Domaine de la Ribotte, Bandol Rouge, 2020

Mourvèdre par excellence. Savoury and spicy with deep, dark black fruit and robust tannins....

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBandol

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeRIB820

GrapeMourvedre & Monastrell

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Château Deyrem Valentin, Margaux, 2020

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Save £39.54

Decanter
Château Deyrem Valentin, Margaux, 2020

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot; 15 months in about half new barrels,...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeDEY120

GrapeMerlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot

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Fiorano, I Paoli Sangiovese, Marche IGT, 2023

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Save £19.14

Fiorano, I Paoli Sangiovese, Marche IGT, 2023

This is fast becoming one of our best-loved reds: light and fresh, but with plenty of ripe red...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionMarche

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeFIO123

GrapeSangiovese

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Azienda Agricola Boasso, Dolcetto D'Alba, 2022

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Save £19.14

Azienda Agricola Boasso, Dolcetto D'Alba, 2022

Dolcetto, of Piedmont origin, means "little sweet" but the grape is usually vinified...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeBOA122

GrapeDolcetto

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Talosa, Chianti Colli Senesi, 2022

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Save £16.74

Talosa, Chianti Colli Senesi, 2022

Talosa is principally a producer of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. This comes in part from the...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionTuscany

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeTAK322

GrapeSangiovese

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Col di Lamo, Rosso di Montalcino, 2022

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Save £29.94

Col di Lamo, Rosso di Montalcino, 2022

This wine sells out so quickly in Italy that we have missed the last vintages, but this has...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionTuscany

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeCDL122

GrapeSangiovese

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Domaine des Dieux, Syrah-Mourvèdre-Grenache, Walker Bay, 2018

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Save £22.50

Domaine des Dieux, Syrah-Mourvèdre-Grenache, Walker Bay, 2018

62% Syrah, 23% Mourvèdre and 15% Grenache, all aged for 10 months in older French oak...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionWalker Bay

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeDDD818

GrapeSyrah, Mourvedre & Grenache

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