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

Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien, 2020

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Save £58.20

Decanter
Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien, 2020

"Tobacco, dark chocolate and scented flowers on the nose - beautiful aromatic display....

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeGLO120

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

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Chateau du Glana, Saint-Julien, 2019

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Save £40.20

Decanter
Chateau du Glana, Saint-Julien, 2019

Glana is beautifully sited - between the illustrious names of Beychevelle and Ducru...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeGLA119

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

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MAGNUM Chateau Bellegrave, Pauillac, 2019

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Save £43.20

Decanter
MAGNUM Chateau Bellegrave, Pauillac, 2019

"This is an excellent one to take note of for medium-term drinking - loaded up with...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionPauillac

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Magnum1.5l

CodeBLL919

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

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Chateau Bellegrave, Pauillac, 2020

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Save £42.00

Decanter
Chateau Bellegrave, Pauillac, 2020

"This is an excellent one to take note of for medium-term drinking - loaded up with...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionBordeaux

ColourRed

ABV15%

Bottle75cl

CodeBLL120

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

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Bajel Pirata, Monastrell, Alicante, 2023

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Save £11.40

Bajel Pirata, Monastrell, Alicante, 2023

We have been selling this for a few years and we don’t think we have given it enough credit....

Style

Light > Full

OriginSpain

RegionAlicante

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodePIR123

GrapeMonastrell

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Domaine des Espiers, Gigondas, Les Grames, 2022

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Save £17.37

Domaine des Espiers, Gigondas, Les Grames, 2022

Philppe Cartoux at Espiers makes an enviable range of svelte, organic southern Rhônes. This is...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionRhone

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeESP322

GrapeGrenache & Syrah

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Mas d'Agamas, Terrasses du Larzac, Nostre Mescladis, 2021

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Save £25.20

Mas d'Agamas, Terrasses du Larzac, Nostre Mescladis, 2021
Mas d'Agamas, Terrasses du Larzac, Nostre Mescladis, 2021

‘Nostre Mescladis' translates as 'our blend' and this is made from all the red...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeAGA321

GrapeGrenache, Syrah & Mourvedre

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Jardin Privado, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley, 2021

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Save £15.90

Jardin Privado, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley, 2021
Jardin Privado, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley, 2021

The “secret garden” is the label for Valle Frio’s superior wines. Whilst labelled as...

Style

Light > Full

OriginChile

RegionCentral Valley

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeJAR121

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon

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Jardin Privado, Cabernet Sauvignon/ Carmenere, Central Valley, 2021

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Save £15.54

Jardin Privado, Cabernet Sauvignon/ Carmenere, Central Valley, 2021

Chilean red blends mystifyingly sell less well than wines labelled as single varieties – even...

Style

Light > Full

OriginChile

RegionCentral Valley

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeJAR321

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon & Carmenere

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Fiorano, Terre di Giobbe, Rosso Piceno Superiore, 2020

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Save £22.74

Fiorano, Terre di Giobbe, Rosso Piceno Superiore, 2020

80% Montepulciano and 20% Sangiovese, aged in old French oak barrels. By far the best vintage...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionMarche

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFIO320

GrapeMontepulciano & Sangiovese

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Begali, Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Siora, 2021

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Save £23.94

Begali, Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Siora, 2021

From local grape varieties, about 30% of the bunches dried for twenty days, so halfway to an...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionVeneto

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBEF721

GrapeCorvina, Corvinone & Rondinella

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Piekenierskloof, Cinsault, 2021

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Save £21.54

Jancis Robinson
Piekenierskloof, Cinsault, 2021
Piekenierskloof, Cinsault, 2021

Glorious translucent ruby in the glass. Crushed strawberry and raspberry mix together to create...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionPiekenierskloof

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodePIK621

GrapeCinsault

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