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

Six Hats, Pinotage, Western Cape, 2023

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Save £15.54

Six Hats, Pinotage, Western Cape, 2023

Tasting note to follow

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionWestern Cape

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeSIX623

GrapePinotage

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Six Hats, Cabernet Sauvignon, Western Cape, 2024

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Save £18.00

Six Hats, Cabernet Sauvignon, Western Cape, 2024
Six Hats, Cabernet Sauvignon, Western Cape, 2024

Piekenierskloof’s Six Hats is a new label for us. We’ve shipped it following a small...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionWestern Cape

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeSIX824

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon

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Piekenierskloof, Stonedance, Hutton Red, Swartland, 2021

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Piekenierskloof, Stonedance, Hutton Red, Swartland, 2021

A blend of 85% Shiraz and 15% Grenache, all in barrel, 20% new, named after a type of Cape...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionSwartland

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeSTO621

GrapeShiraz & Grenache

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Badenhorst, Secateurs Red, Swartland, 2024

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Save £18.60

Badenhorst, Secateurs Red, Swartland, 2024

For several years this wine was predominantly Shiraz with Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasting note to...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionSwartland

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeBAD624

GrapeShiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cinsault

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Domaine des Dieux, Josephine Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 2021

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Save £23.94

Domaine des Dieux, Josephine Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 2021

As the vines here age, this wine has become more refined: all into French oak, about a quarter...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionHemel-en-Aarde

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeDDD621

GrapePinot Noir

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Cederberg, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cederberg, 2021

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Save £31.80

Decanter
Cederberg, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cederberg, 2021

"Fynbos vibrancy with hedgerow berries and subtle oak aromatics. Rounded, succulent with...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionCederberg

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeCED721

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon

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Cederberg, V Generations Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021

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Save £45.00

Decanter
Cederberg, V Generations Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021

"Pure cassis and blueberry fruit to the fore with a judicious employment of French barrels...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionCederberg

ColourRed

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeCED921

GrapeCabernet Sauvignon

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Cederberg, Shiraz, 2020

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Save £33.00

Decanter

Cederberg, Shiraz, 2020

Medium Bodied

Cederberg, Shiraz, 2020

"Oozing charm and decadence, this supremely ripe and meaty Shiraz exudes ample blue and...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionCederberg

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeCED820

GrapeShiraz

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Piekenierskloof, Pinotage, 2023

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Save £22.20

Piekenierskloof, Pinotage, 2023

A clean and vibrant example of South Africa’s homegrown grape, developed by Abraham Perold...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionPiekenierskloof

ColourRed

ABV14.5%

Bottle75cl

CodePIK423

GrapePinotage

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Piekenierskloof, Pinotage, 2021

A clean and vibrant example of South Africa’s homegrown grape, developed by Abraham Perold...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionPiekenierskloof

ColourRed

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodePIK421

GrapePinotage

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Piekenierskloof, Grenache Noir, 2023

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Save £25.85

Decanter
Piekenierskloof, Grenache Noir, 2023
Piekenierskloof, Grenache Noir, 2023

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

CodePIK823

GrapeGrenache

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Piekenierskloof, Grenache Noir, 2021
Decanter

“A crowd-pulling Cape red…Jewel-like ruby colour matched by an ethereal, raspberry perfume...

Style

Light > Full

OriginSouth Africa

RegionPiekenierskloof

ColourRed

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodePIK821

GrapeGrenache

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