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

Buy 12
Save £58.20

Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien, 2020
Medium Bodied
"Tobacco, dark chocolate and scented flowers on the nose - beautiful aromatic display....
OriginFrance
RegionBordeaux
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeGLO120
GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Buy 12
Save £40.20

Chateau du Glana, Saint-Julien, 2019
Medium Bodied
Glana is beautifully sited - between the illustrious names of Beychevelle and Ducru...
OriginFrance
RegionBordeaux
ColourRed
ABV14.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeGLA119
GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Buy 6
Save £43.20

MAGNUM Chateau Bellegrave, Pauillac, 2019
Medium Bodied
"This is an excellent one to take note of for medium-term drinking - loaded up with...
OriginFrance
RegionPauillac
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Magnum1.5l
CodeBLL919
GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Buy 12
Save £42.00

Chateau Bellegrave, Pauillac, 2020
Full Bodied
"This is an excellent one to take note of for medium-term drinking - loaded up with...
OriginFrance
RegionBordeaux
ColourRed
ABV15%
Bottle75cl
CodeBLL120
GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Buy 12
Save £11.40
Bajel Pirata, Monastrell, Alicante, 2023
Medium Bodied
We have been selling this for a few years and we don’t think we have given it enough credit....
OriginSpain
RegionAlicante
ColourRed
ABV13%
Bottle75cl
CodePIR123
GrapeMonastrell

Buy 6
Save £17.37
Domaine des Espiers, Gigondas, Les Grames, 2022
Full Bodied
Philppe Cartoux at Espiers makes an enviable range of svelte, organic southern Rhônes. This is...
OriginFrance
RegionRhone
ColourRed
ABV14.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeESP322
GrapeGrenache & Syrah

Buy 12
Save £25.20
‘Nostre Mescladis' translates as 'our blend' and this is made from all the red...
OriginFrance
RegionLanguedoc
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeAGA321
GrapeGrenache, Syrah & Mourvedre

Buy 12
Save £15.90
The “secret garden” is the label for Valle Frio’s superior wines. Whilst labelled as...
OriginChile
RegionCentral Valley
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeJAR121
GrapeCabernet Sauvignon

Buy 12
Save £15.54
Chilean red blends mystifyingly sell less well than wines labelled as single varieties – even...
OriginChile
RegionCentral Valley
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeJAR321
GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Carmenere

Buy 12
Save £22.74
80% Montepulciano and 20% Sangiovese, aged in old French oak barrels. By far the best vintage...
OriginItaly
RegionMarche
ColourRed
ABV14.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeFIO320
GrapeMontepulciano & Sangiovese

Buy 12
Save £23.94
Begali, Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Siora, 2021
Medium-Bodied
From local grape varieties, about 30% of the bunches dried for twenty days, so halfway to an...
OriginItaly
RegionVeneto
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeBEF721
GrapeCorvina, Corvinone & Rondinella

Buy 12
Save £21.54

Piekenierskloof, Cinsault, 2021
Medium Bodied
Glorious translucent ruby in the glass. Crushed strawberry and raspberry mix together to create...
OriginSouth Africa
RegionPiekenierskloof
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodePIK621
GrapeCinsault