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

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Dietary Requirement

Organic / Biodynamic

Vintage

Azienda Agricola Boasso, Barolo, Serralunga d'Alba 2020

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Save £39.00

Jancis Robinson
Azienda Agricola Boasso, Barolo, Serralunga d'Alba 2020

From several sites owned by the Boasso family in the commune of Serralunga, in the south of the...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBOA320

GrapeNebbiolo

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MAGNUM Azienda Agricola Boasso, Barolo, Serralunga d'Alba 2020

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Save £45.90

Jancis Robinson
MAGNUM Azienda Agricola Boasso, Barolo, Serralunga d'Alba 2020

From several sites owned by the Boasso family in the commune of Serralunga, in the south of the...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Magnum150cl

CodeBOA920

GrapeNebbiolo

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Boasso, Barolo, Lazzarito, 2020

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Save £46.74

Jancis Robinson
Boasso, Barolo, Lazzarito, 2020
Boasso, Barolo, Lazzarito, 2020

A single vineyard Barolo, on a west-facing slope, very close to the village of Serralunga...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBOA520

GrapeNebbiolo

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Azienda Agricola Boasso, Barolo Gabutti, 2020

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Save £46.74

Azienda Agricola Boasso, Barolo Gabutti, 2020

From the Gabutti vineyard below the cellar, a south-east facing site on calcareous marl at...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionPiedmont

ColourRed

ABV15%

Bottle75cl

CodeBOA420

GrapeNebbiolo

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Domaine des Espiers, Cotes du Rhone, 2023

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Save £20.70

Domaine des Espiers, Cotes du Rhone, 2023

60% Grenache with 20% of each of Mourvèdre and Syrah, all in concrete only. “Vin Biologique...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionRhone

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeESP123

GrapeGrenache Noir

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Chateau  Pey-Martin, Médoc, 2022

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Save £16.20

Chateau Pey-Martin, Médoc, 2022

From the northern part of the Médoc. The Franciso family - now with father and daughter...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodePEY122

GrapeCabernet/Merlot

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Amadieu, Cairanne, Vieilles Vignes, 2020
Jancis Robinson

From 60 year old vines of 40% Grenache with Syrah, Mouvedre & Carignan. Organic and...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionRhone

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeAMB320

GrapeGrenache blend

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Goedverwacht, Great Expectations Crane Red, Merlot, Robertson, 2022

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Save £13.50

Goedverwacht, Great Expectations Crane Red, Merlot, Robertson, 2022

From a vineyard with a high clay content which suits Merlot. It’s always made in a slightly...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionRobertson

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeGDV422

GrapeMerlot

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Felton Road, Bannockburn Pinot Noir, 2021
Jancis Robinson

Felton Road's Bannockburn Pinot Noir is blended from wines from the estate's four named...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionCentral Otago

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET621

GrapePinot Noir

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Felton Road, MacMuir Pinot Noir, 2023
Jancis Robinson

Nigel Greening bought the MacMuir vineyard - which lies between his own Elms and Calvert sites,...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionCentral Otago

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET423

GrapePinot Noir

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Felton Road, MacMuir Pinot Noir, 2022

Nigel Greening bought the MacMuir vineyard - which lies between his own Elms and Calvert sites,...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionCentral Otago

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET422

GrapePinot Noir

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Felton Road, Bannockburn Pinot Noir, 2022
Jancis Robinson

Felton Road's Bannockburn Pinot Noir is blended from wines from the estate's four named...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionCentral Otago

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET622

GrapePinot Noir

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