Red
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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Red
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Product Code: VIC316
Comtesse de Marion, Merlot, Pays d’Oc IGP, 2016
“The Vic family’s Merlot has won huge praise and many repeat orders from satisfied customers. It’s a wine which always shows attractive typicity:...”
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Product Code: GRV115
Château La Grave, Minervois Rouge, Tristan & Julien, 2015
“This, from halves of Syrah and Grenache, is even more of a bargain than usual, from a vintage hailed by the owners, the Orosquette family, as the...”
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Product Code: BEL313
Domaine Belles Pierres, Languedoc, Les Clauzes de Jo Rouge, 2013
“"Deep crimson. Ripe fruit but not overripe, dried fruits as well as fresh red fruit, fragrant and inviting on the nose. On the palate, rounded...”
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Product Code: ESZ116
Les Vignerons d’Estézargues, Cuvée des Galets, Côtes du Rhône, 2016
“Consistently one of our - and your - favourite wines, a southern Rhône ripe and juicy enough to serve at any time. Summer pudding aromas. So ripe...”
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Product Code: ESZ215
Les Vignerons d’Estezargues, Côtes du Rhône, Terra Vitis, 2015
“Terra Vitis is a sustainable, minimal intervention farming discipline, half way to organic viticulture, practiced by five members of this small...”
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Product Code: VEG215
Vega del Rayo, Rioja, Vendimia Seleccionada, 2015
“A blend of about 70% Tempranillo, 20% Mazuelo and 10% Graciano, which goes into American and Russian oak barrels, this is a cheerful, medium-bodied...”
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Product Code: BAJ114
Château Barrejat, Madiran, Tradition, 2014
“From 60% Tannat, with 20% Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, unoaked, this is an honest, mildly rustic wine, always a perfect foil for sausages,...”
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Product Code: BRE313
Walter Bressia, Monteagrelo Malbec, Mendoza, 2013
“Walter Bressia, now in his fifties, has experience as a winemaker and consultant oenologue for a number of Argentine estates. In 2003 he decided he...”
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Product Code: ESP213
Domaine des Espiers, Gigondas, Cuvée des Blaches, 2013
“Both the aromas and the palate indicate this appears less richly oaked than usual. Instead it’s all lush black fruit, very concentrated and ripe,...”
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Product Code: MOP514
Domaine Monier Perreol, Saint Joseph Rouge, 2014
“Restless experimentation and investment continues chez Monier. The latest toys in the pursuit of perfection are very expensive concrete eggs for the...”
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Product Code: MOP114
Domaine Monier Perreol, Saint Joseph, Terres Blanches, 2014
“Restless experimentation and investment continues chez Monier. The latest toys in the pursuit of perfection are very expensive concrete eggs for the...”
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Product Code: BOR315
Bodegas Borsao, Garnacha, Joven, Campo de Borja, 2015
“Borsao, based in Campo de Borja in the upper Ebro Valley, specialise in Grenache based wines. This offers such simple pleasure at a fair price....”
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Product Code: LAH114
El Lagar de Isilla, Ribera Del Duero, Roble, 2014
“"95% Tempranillo, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for four months in French and American oak. Bright deep crimson. Quite a bit of oak on the nose....”
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Product Code: LAH311
El Lagar de Isilla, Ribera Del Duero, Reserva, 2011
“100% Tempranillo, including some parcels 80-90 years old. As of November 2015 still youthful, showing generous mocha oak notes and a strong...”
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Product Code: BRE111
Walter Bressia, Profundo, Mendoza, 2011
“Walter Bressia, now in his fifties, has experience as winemaker and consultant oenologue for a number of Argentine estates. In 2003 he decided he...”
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Product Code: CAE509
Carinae, Prestige, Mendoza, 2009
“About 70% Malbec, with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, a selection of all the best parcels of the vintage, aged in new barrels for 18 months. Inky....”
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Product Code: FRY614
Fryer's Cove, Pinot Noir, Western Cape, 2014
“This cool-climate Pinot comes from a remarkable vineyard (see below) with a little bought in fruit, hence Western Cape on the label. It's always...”
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Product Code: RID213
Ridge, Lytton Springs, California, 2013
“74% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, 17% Carignan and 1% Mouvedre, based on very old vines, and all aged in exclusively US oak barrels, about 20% new....”
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Product Code: BAJ315
Château Barrejat, Madiran, Cuvée des Vieux Ceps, 2015
“Old vines indeed - over 80 years old: 80% Tannat plus the Cabernets, a splendid, traditionally framed and ageworthy example. Inky purple....”
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Product Code: VIB213
Vicien, Bonarda, Catamarca, 2013
“Bonarda is now identified as being genetically identical to Douce Noire, an obscure variety whose home is Savoie - and no relation to Bonarda...”
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Product Code: BAJ914
Château Barrejat, Madiran, Tradition, Magnum, 2013
“Magnum size of this ever popular red. From 60% Tannat, with 20% Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, unoaked, this is an honest, mildly rustic wine....”
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Product Code: CLB614
Denis Clair, Hautes Côtes de Beaune Rouge, 2014
“From 35 year old vines above Maranges, unoaked, a crisp and pure wine for lovers of old-fashioned fresh Burgundy. Crunchy red cherry and blueberry,...”
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Product Code: PON615
Ca’ di Ponti, Nero d’Avola, IGT Sicilia, 2015
“A characterful blend of Nero d’Avola from Sicily - including some concentrated old vine fruit - vinified at a co-operative in Piedmont. We...”
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Product Code: CAE212
Carinae, Malbec, Harmonie, Mendoza, 2012
“"Lifted, sweet, wild, dark-red fruit and a hint of violets. But this is complex because it is also spicy and a touch meaty. Rich and thickly...”
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Product Code: BEG616
Domaine Begude, Pinot Noir, IGP Haute Vallée de l’Aude, 2016
“We always like this wine, but it really is superb this year: it compares favourably with many, more expensive, 2015 Bourgogne Pinot Noirs. A pretty...”
