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.

Filter Wines

Wine Type

Style

Grape Variety

Country

Region

Grower

Dietary Requirement

Organic / Biodynamic

Vintage

Piekenierskloof, Grenache Noir, 2021
Decanter

Piekenierskloof has more Grenache planted than any other estate in the Cape – that’s why so...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionPiekenierskloof

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodePIK821

GrapeGrenache

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Il Traliccio, Sangiove Rubicone IGT, 2023

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Il Traliccio, Sangiove Rubicone IGT, 2023

Light, simple, juicy and cherry-accented. Certainly easy to drink on its own. A Sangiovese from...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionAbruzzo

ColourRed

ABV11%

Bottle75cl

CodeILT423

GrapeSangiovese

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Azienda Agricola Boasso, Barbera d'Alba Superiore, 2022

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Azienda Agricola Boasso, Barbera d'Alba Superiore, 2022

“Superiore” may be added if the wine is aged for a year prior to release, of which at least...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBOA622

GrapeBarbera

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Michele Biancardi, Uno Piu Uno, IGT Puglia, 2022

From halves of Nero di Troia and Primitivo. Because the grapes come from the very edge of their...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionTuscany

ColourRed

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBIA122

GrapeNero di Troia & Primitivo

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I Fabbri, Chianti Classico Riserva, 2019

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Jancis Robinson
I Fabbri, Chianti Classico Riserva, 2019
I Fabbri, Chianti Classico Riserva, 2019

"Mid ruby with orange tinges. Peppery, concentrated and a little brooding on the nose....

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionTuscany

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeIFA319

GrapeSangiovese

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I Fabbri, Chianti Classico, Lamole, 2021

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Jancis Robinson
I Fabbri, Chianti Classico, Lamole, 2021

Susanna Grassi’s Chiantis are so graceful. Her vineyards, in the Lamole subzone of Greve, are...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionTuscany

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeIFA121

GrapeSangiovese

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Michele Biancardi, Primitivo Puro, IGT Puglia, 2022

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Jancis Robinson
Michele Biancardi, Primitivo Puro, IGT Puglia, 2022

As the name implies, 100% Primitivo. Such a seductive wine – flamboyant colour; a flagrant...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionTuscany

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBIA322

GrapePrimitivo

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Château Les Cabannes, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 2022

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Château Les Cabannes, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 2022

Cabannes is a tiny seven hectare estate bought by Canadian Peter Kjeilberg in 1997. He...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeCAB222

GrapeMerlot

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Chateau Bellerive, Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, 2016

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Chateau Bellerive, Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, 2016

Cru Bourgeois in a top red Bordeaux vintage like 2016 almost always represents a good buy. From...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeBEL116

GrapeMerlot, Cabernet & Cabernet Franc

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Krohn, Vintage Port, Portugal, 2009

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Krohn, Vintage Port, Portugal, 2009

Drinking very well; dense, pruney with cooked red fruit. Now-2026

Style

Light > Full

OriginPortugal

RegionDouro

ColourRed

ABV20%

Bottle75cl

CodeKRO409

GrapeBlend

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Taliano, Roche dra Bossora, Roero Riserva, 2018

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Taliano, Roche dra Bossora, Roero Riserva, 2018

Named after large ravines which score the Roero hills (Roero lying just across the river Tanaro...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeTAN218

GrapeNebbiolo

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Taliano, Barbaresco, Montersino, Ad Altiora, 2020

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Taliano, Barbaresco, Montersino, Ad Altiora, 2020

Ad Altiora implies aiming higher. This is from 100% Nebbiolo grown in the calcareous Bris...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeTAN520

GrapeNebbiolo

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