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

Château Beauregard Ducasse, Cuvée Albert Duran, Graves, 2020

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Château Beauregard Ducasse, Cuvée Albert Duran, Graves, 2020

The top red from a 7th generation estate in the south of the Graves region – and the best...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeBDU620

GrapeMerlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot

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Château La Plaige, Bordeaux Supérieur, 2023

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Château La Plaige, Bordeaux Supérieur, 2023

Made by Frédéric and Lise Naud from vineyards near the Dordogne river. This is the 16th...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodePLA123

GrapeMerlot & Cabernet Sauvignon

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Chateau Les Gravieres de la Brandille, Bordeaux Superieur, 2020

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Save £16.50

Chateau Les Gravieres de la Brandille, Bordeaux Superieur, 2020

Frédéric Borderie's principal wine, 65% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15%...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeGRC120

GrapeMerlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc

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Domaine Fontanel, Maury Grenat, 2021

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Domaine Fontanel, Maury Grenat, 2021
Domaine Fontanel, Maury Grenat, 2021

Made from a single parcel of 70 year-old Grenache vines, aged in barrel for 18 months, it...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionRoussillon

ColourRed

ABV17%

Bottle75cl

CodeFON621

GrapeGrenache

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Domaine Fontanel, Maury Sec, Arrels 2022

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Jancis Robinson
Domaine Fontanel, Maury Sec, Arrels 2022
Domaine Fontanel, Maury Sec, Arrels 2022

Arrels means “Roots” in the Catalan language. This is Elodie and Matthieu’s love letter...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionRoussillon

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFON522

GrapeGrenache & Mourvedre

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Domaine Fontanel, Maury Grenat, 2019

From one plot of 75 year old vines of Grenache Noir. This style is well-known for matching...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionRoussillon

ColourRed

ABV16%

Bottle75cl

CodeFON619

GrapeGrenache

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Murphy Vineyards, Big Rivers Shiraz, Australia, 2022

Brambly Aussie Shiraz; fruity, friendly and warming. Now-2026 The Murphy family arrived in...

Style

Light > Full

OriginAustralia

RegionNSW

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeMUR122

GrapeSyrah/Shiraz

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Segares, Rioja Crianza, 2016

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Segares, Rioja Crianza, 2016

Excellent pure Tempranillo Rioja, all cooked strawberries and spice, attractively mellow and...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSpain

RegionRioja

ColourRed

ABV13.50%

Bottle75cl

CodeNES316

GrapeTempranillo

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Segares, Rioja Reserva, 2010

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Segares, Rioja Reserva, 2010

The Reserva goes into 40% new French barrels, 60% in older American oak. It's wonderful to...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSpain

RegionRioja

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeNES410

GrapeTempranillo

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Errazuriz, Pinot Noir, Aconcagua Costa, 2022

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Decanter
Errazuriz, Pinot Noir, Aconcagua Costa, 2022

Again, a brilliant example from vineyards on schist at Manzanar, just 12 kilometres from the...

Style

Light > Full

OriginChile

RegionAconcagua

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeERR922

GrapePinot Noir

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Felton Road, Cornish Point Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2020

Cornish Point is a vineyard almost surrounded by water, on high calcium loess soils over...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionCentral Otago

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET720

GrapePinot Noir

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Domaine Fontanel, Côtes du Roussillon  Villages Tautavel, Cistes, 2021

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Domaine Fontanel, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Cistes, 2021
Domaine Fontanel, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Cistes, 2021

Cistes takes its name from the rock rose that grows around the vineyards. 60% Syrah and 40%...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionRoussillon

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFON221

GrapeGrenache & Syrah

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