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

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

Discover More
Felton Road, Calvert Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2021
Jancis Robinson

Calvert was planted in 2001 with three clones of Pinot on deep silt loams.  Lowish altitude...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionOtago

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET821

GrapePinot Noir

Discover More
Felton Road, Calvert Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2023
Jancis Robinson

Calvert was planted in 2001 with three clones of Pinot on deep silt loams.  Lowish altitude...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionOtago

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET823

GrapePinot Noir

Discover More
Felton Road, Calvert Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2022
Jancis Robinson

Calvert was planted in 2001 with three clones of Pinot on deep silt loams.  Lowish altitude...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionOtago

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET822

GrapePinot Noir

Discover More
Talosa, Rosso di Montepulciano, 2022

Buy 12
Save £19.80

Talosa, Rosso di Montepulciano, 2022

85% Sangiovese, with 15% shared between Merlot and Canaiolo, given eight months in old...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionTuscany

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeTAK122

GrapeSangiovese, Merlot & Canaiolo

Discover More
Fiorano, Ser Balduzio, IGT Marche Rosso, 2018

Buy 12
Save £33.00

Fiorano, Ser Balduzio, IGT Marche Rosso, 2018

From a special selection of late-picked Montepulciano grapes, aged in Slavonian oak barrels,...

Style

Light > Full

OriginItaly

RegionMarche

ColourRed

ABV15%

Bottle75cl

CodeFIO418

GrapeMontepulciano

Discover More
JEROBOAM Château Barrejat, Madiran 2021
Jancis Robinson

This jeroboam is huge, holding six and two thirds bottles of wine, and as such these...

Style

Light > Full

OriginFrance

RegionMadiran

ColourRed

ABV12.5%

Jeroboam500cl

CodeBAJ521

GrapeTannat, Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon

Discover More
Felton Road, Block 5 Pinot Noir, 2021
Decanter Jancis Robinson
Felton Road, Block 5 Pinot Noir, 2021

Block 5 is situated on a gentle north facing slope in the heart of The Elms vineyard, planted...

Style

Light > Full

OriginNew Zealand

RegionCentral Otago

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeFET521

GrapePinot Noir

Discover More

We use cookies. By using the website you agree with our use of cookies. For more information, please read our privacy policy.

Okay, got it!