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

Le Petit Pont Rouge, IGP Pays d'Oc, 2023

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Save £16.20

Le Petit Pont Rouge, IGP Pays d'Oc, 2023
Le Petit Pont Rouge, IGP Pays d'Oc, 2023

Generously fruited red based on Grenache with some Cinsault for fruit and Cabernet for...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodePEP623

GrapeGrenache, Cinsault & Cabernet Sauvignon

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La Salette, IGP Côtes de Gascogne Rouge, 2023

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Save £13.50

La Salette, IGP Côtes de Gascogne Rouge, 2023

This is a light red which one could easily serve slightly chilled with lunch (at just 12.5%) or...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionSouth-West

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeSAL623

GrapeTannat, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

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La Salette, IGP Côtes de Gascogne Rouge, 2022

This is a light red which one could easily serve slightly chilled with lunch (at just 12.5%) or...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionSouth-West

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeSAL622

GrapeTannat, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

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Les Pradelles, IGP Herault, 2023

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Save £14.04

Les Pradelles, IGP Herault, 2023

Light-Medium Bodied

Les Pradelles, IGP Herault, 2023
Les Pradelles, IGP Herault, 2023

Bottled at a smart new co-op at Cébazan in St.-Chinian, this is an easy-drinking blend of...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodePRD123

GrapeCarignan & Grenache

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La Combe Saint Paul, Gres Rouges, La Clape, 2022

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La Combe Saint Paul, Gres Rouges, La Clape, 2022
La Combe Saint Paul, Gres Rouges, La Clape, 2022

Named after the vineyard soils derived from grés rouges (red sandstone); 60% Syrah with 20%...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeCSP622

GrapeSyrah, Grenache & Mourvedre

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Domaine du Grand Arc, Cuvee des Quarante, Corbieres, 2022

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Domaine du Grand Arc, Cuvee des Quarante, Corbieres, 2022
Domaine du Grand Arc, Cuvee des Quarante, Corbieres, 2022

Deeply coloured, properly extracted red, burly but also lightfooted: the dense, brambly fruit...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeDGA322

GrapeCarignan, Grenache & Syrah

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Chateau Marzy, Pomerol, Grand Enclos de Riffat, 2020

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Chateau Marzy, Pomerol, Grand Enclos de Riffat, 2020

From the Maison family on the plateau of Pomerol, a well-oaked example already showing...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeMAZ120

GrapeMerlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc

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La Combe Saint Paul, L'Insoupconne, Languedoc-La Clape, 2021

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La Combe Saint Paul, L'Insoupconne, Languedoc-La Clape, 2021
La Combe Saint Paul, L'Insoupconne, Languedoc-La Clape, 2021

Grown on clay-limestone soils in La Clape (a “heap of pepples” in the Occitan language, the...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeCSP721

GrapeSyrah & Mourvedre

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MAGNUM Mas des Brousses, Terrasses du Larzac, 2022

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MAGNUM Mas des Brousses, Terrasses du Larzac, 2022
MAGNUM Mas des Brousses, Terrasses du Larzac, 2022

An absolute gem of a wine. This quality from Rhone or Bordeaux would be double the price. 50%...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Magnum150cl

CodeMAB922

GrapeMourvedre, Syrah & Grenache

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Mas des Brousses, Terrasses du Larzac, 2022

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Save £35.93

Mas des Brousses, Terrasses du Larzac, 2022
Mas des Brousses, Terrasses du Larzac, 2022

An absolute gem of a wine. This quality from Rhone or Bordeaux would be double the price. 50%...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeMAB222

GrapeMourvedre, Syrah & Grenache

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Mas des Brousses, Cleo, Terasses de Larzac, 2023

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Save £28.08

Decanter
Mas des Brousses, Cleo, Terasses de Larzac, 2023
Mas des Brousses, Cleo, Terasses de Larzac, 2023

"Incredible purity of squashed strawberries and red plum. Fresh acidity meets silky, fine...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeMAB323

GrapeMourvedre, Syrah & Grenache

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Gravieres de la Brandille, Ame, Bordeaux Superieur, 2016

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Save £21.00

Gravieres de la Brandille, Ame, Bordeaux Superieur, 2016

From 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a selection of older vines on prime gravel and...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeGRC016

GrapeMerlot & Cabernet Sauvignon

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