Fruity Reds

Pinot Noir is one of Romania’s greatest hidden secrets. Probably the only place in the world that can do this grape variety justice at such brilliant value.

Delicate aromas of blackberry and touches of violets. A juicy, light-bodied palate with black cherry flavour and fresh finish. Enjoy slightly chilled with rich, creamy fish dishes.

Country: Romania

Region: Recas and Minis

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

As you walk through the rolling vineyards of the 700 hectare Cramele Recas estate, two things are inescapable. The first is the scale of the transformation that Englishman Philip Cox and his wife Elvira have managed to achieve, replanting 700 hectares of decrepit vineyards and replacing them with immaculately tended sites the equal of anywhere else in the world. The second is that if you didn't know where you were, you'd be convinced you were in Tuscany or any other "Classic" wine producing region. And, to a certain extent you are, Romania has a history of winemaking stretching back millennia and it was this potential that has driven this dynamic duo to dedicate their lives to driving forward Romanian winemaking to it's current state of rude health. A 20 million euro investment in the vineyards and brand new winery.

A full and fruit-rich red from the South of France. The intense, dark berry fruit carries a touch of sweet spice and is balanced with structured tannins. An all round fantastic wine for the price!

Country: France

Region: Midi, Southern France

Grapes: Grenache Noir

ABV: 13.5%

A modern style Rioja Joven with juicy fruit driven characters of black cherry and raspberry combined with subtle sweet vanilla spice. Medium – bodied with a creamy smoothness leading into a fresh finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo

ABV: 13%

Luscious, medium bodied, super-easy drinking red with red berry fruit flavours and touch of sweet spice.

Country: France

Region: Vaucluse

Grapes: Grenache, Cinsault

ABV: 13%

Super great value for money red from the guys at Waterkloof.

Hints of dark fruits, chocolate and eucalyptus leading to a heady mix of fruit, rich chocolate and plums supported by soft tannins.

Country: South Africa

Region: Western Cape

Grapes: 100% Pinotage

ABV: 13.5%

False Bay Wine

Food match: Braaied meat!

Really bold, ripe and smokey Pinot Noir oozing loads of ripe cherries and mulberry characters. A Cellar Door Wines customer favourite!

Country: USA

Region: California

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13.5%

Good Côtes du Rhône that are worth their money are few and far between. We’ve kissed a lot of frogs to find this one!

Elegant bramble fruit aromas such as blackberry and raspberry, backed with a cedar and spice, lead into dark flavours and soft, supple tannins.

Country: France

Region: Rhone

ABV: 14%

Grapes:  80% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah

Food Match: Cold charcuterie platters or meaty stews

Great In Their Own Right:  For centuries Rhone reds were used to improve the colour of weedy Bordeaux and Burgundy wines. It became so common that Medoc wines that had been hermitage had the highest price. Today the practice is completely illegal and the finest Rhone wines are finally receiving the respect they deserve.

Fleurie is the most perfumed of the Beaujolais Cru wines, which this example shows so clearly with its floral aromas and flavours.

A heady perfume of freshly picked irises and peonies drift above the crushed, berry fruit nose. The fleshy, luscious, cherry flavours and hints of rose are typically vivacious, backed up with a good touch of spice and good depth.

Country: France

Region: Beaujolais

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Gamay

'Arenite' is the terroir of pinky, crumbly sandstone of the La Madone vineyards, rated as one of the best vineyards in Fleurie. The South­ East facing vineyards are steep in places, below the Chapel of the Madonna at the top of the hill.

Pretty and poised Pinot.

Classic cranberry and red current aromas giving us a wine with enough bite and texture to be foody but with enough generosity of fruit to be a delicious glass on its own. A touch of oak in the wine making lends a little soothing creaminess to the finish.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 13% 

Grape: Pinot Noir 100%

Deliciously rich and fruity with notes of blackberry, plum and black cherry. Malbec grapes come from carefully selected vineyards in Mendoza. Bonarda grapes and stainless steel vinification result in a fruiter and fresher wine. Deep, brooding and dark. Big fruit, big spice, big flavours.

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

Grapes: Malbec and Bonarda

ABV: 13.5%

Intense ruby-red, with a bouquet reminiscent of cherry, dried fruit, chocolate and prune; the palate is full-bodied, soft and round, with a spiciness and lingering finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Corvina, Merlot

ABV: 14.5%

Food matching ideas: This rich and fruity red works well with meaty pasta dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, beef lasagne or meatballs in a rich tomato sauce.

Dense, spiced nose with intense blackberry and blueberry aromatics. The ripe fruit is supported with cocoa and spiced oak notes; intense to the finish.

Grapes: Odesa Black

Country: Ukraine

Region: Odesa

ABV: 13%

Food pairing: Excellent with beef and other red meats, and also grilled vegetables and chicken. Also fabulous with 70% plus dark chocolate after a meal.

Serving temperature: 16-18°C

ABV: 13%

Villa Tinta has been a family estate winery since 1998 when the winery foundation was laid and 500 hectares of family-owned vines were planted. The winery is situated in the Bolgrad district where winemaking was the source of life centuries ago.

This delicious wine has aromas and flavours of jammy red fruits, juicy red cherries, pomegranate juice, summer herbs, and a touch of violet. On the palate it is rich and refreshing.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Nerello Mascalese

This natural wine is chocca block packed full of bramble fruit notes with raspberry and blackberry dominating the aroma, smooth and juicy with complex notes of blueberry and moderate acidity and smooth tannins on the finish.

Country: Romania

Region: Panciu 

Grapes: Merlot, Pinot Noir 

ABV: 13.5%

Very intense and incredibly complex, this beautifully crafted wine has an aroma reminiscent of ripe cherry, plum, and blackberry, yet retains a delicate freshness and softness on the palate.

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grapes:  Primitivo 100%

ABV:  13.5%

Food Matching

Hearty and meaty pasta dishes with rich red sauces.

In the early 1990s, Magpie identified this special site - a single vineyard of Grenache and Mourvèdre. After an olympic blending exercise one night with the wine from here, they name the vineyard 'Clovella'. This wine is a heady embrace of dark spice; it's no coincidence that there’s a distinct clove note in this wine. Bright, fresh, textural in spite of 22 months ageing in older French oak. Soft, moreish and foody.

Country: Australia

Region: Barossa

Grapes: Grenache and Mourvedre

ABV: 14%

Food Match: Slow cooked lamb shanks or Fillet of Beef for a special occasion.

The label design inspiration is all about the meeting of mouths, that energy before lips meet, whether meeting a glass of wine or each other. Two varieties blending into one....

Summer pudding reaches from the glass, there is an abundance of blackberry and cassis fruit with a naughty creaminess of oak that marries on the palate for a bold pastiche of old vine Barossa Cabernet. It's a big glass of juicy theatre.

Country: Australia

Region: Barossa Valley

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: It’s lovely with steak tartare, seared tuna, roast Mediterranean veg and some crunchy, matured hard cheese.

Vibrant garnet red from Douro in Portugal displays plenty of black fruit and plump with the added elegance of delicate floral notes. 30 % of the wine is aged for 6 months in French oak which knits the wine together and provides a long finish.

Country: Portugal

Region:  Douro

Grapes: Touriga Nacional (35%), Tinta Roriz (35%) & Touriga Franca (30%)

ABV: 13%

Food matching ideas: Perfect with grilled sausages, mashed potato and gravy!

Soft and juicy, with appealing cherry, cranberry and damson fruit flavours. It’s an easy drinking style with soft tannins and light body.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Sangiovese

ABV: 11%

A super, easy drinking red wine. Very fresh and fruity, but full bodied with a juicy finish.. 

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Malbec

ABV: 12.5%

Food matching ideas: Perfect with game or aged cheeses.

Borga Wine

Deep, dark purple in colour and gorgeously full bodied and unctuous wine. Raspberries, mulberries and aromatic sweet spice jump out of the glass on the nose. Fine grained, grippy, tannins are in perfect balance with lots of concentrated, ripe black fruit character on the finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Tinta Barocca

ABV: 14.5%

Dornier is a family owned winery that is situated in the Golden Triangle area of the famous Upper Blaauwklippen Valley in Stellenbosch - their prestigious neighbours are
De Trafford, Keermont and Waterford, so they are in fine company. The property was home to one of the first wineries in Stellenbosch, having been completed in the late 1600s, as well as an historic Sir Herbert Baker home. 

The winemaking philosophy at Dornier is to produce premium quality wines, with minimal intervention in the winery, that are expressive of the unique terroir of the Golden Triangle and showcase the complexity and finesse of the noble grape varietals planted on the farm..

Medium to full bodied with a dark ruby colour and aromas of black cherries and berries, sweet spices and vanilla. The finish is soft and long with hints of black pepper and tobacco.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Struma Valley

Grapes: Melnik 55

ABV: 14%

Food Match: Red meat dishes especially roast lamb, charcuterie and hard cheeses.

 Wild yeast fermentation, low yields and ageing in large French oak foudre are what defines this savoury and appealing Syrah. Full yet elegant with bramble fruits and also some earth and meaty aromas. The palate is structured and elegant with fine tannins and a refreshing natural acidity. Ideal with spicy dishes, red meats and rich Mediterranean dishes.

Country: South Africa

Region: Western Cape

Grapes: Syrah/Shiraz

ABV: 13.5%

False Bay Wine 

Rich plum and dark berry-fruit flavours with a silky finish.

Country: New Zealand 

Region: Hawkes Bay

Grape: Merlot

ABV: 14%

Wonderful, ripe and warming wine, full of sunshine and brightness. Subtle hints of sweet spice, coffee grounds and milk chocolate on the finish. Yummy.

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grapes: Negroamaro

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: great with antipasto cured meats. 

Caiaffa are certified organic, they do not use insecticides or pesticides in order to encourage a balanced ecosystem.

https://www.caiaffavini.it/en/