Fruity Reds

The nose has rich plum and blackcurrant pastille characters, with delicate vanilla, spice and cedars. The palate is ripe, smooth and opulent with layers of pure blackcurrant, juicy blackberry, lush spicy plum and cherry fruit, minerality and complex, fine tannins on the finish.

For those of you who remember we used to stock Juan Gil a few years ago, the winery has definitely moved towards a fresher style, but this is still very much an unapologetic rich and velvety red wine though which we are sure you will love.

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla a Mancha, Jumilla

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Monastrell

 Food Match: Barbequed lamb with rosemary

The Gil family have been major wine producers in Jumilla since the early 20th Century. Bodegas Juan Gil is dedicated to producing powerful, yet approachable and modern wines, mainly based on Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) which is grown on about 80% of the vineyard.

The winery has invested heavily in its Organic and Sustainability programmes in recent years.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: 

ABV: 

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..

Bright, lifted, fresh aromas of red and dark fruits. On the palate it is slightly creamy yet very fresh with a hint of spice on the finish. Lovely balance, very bright and easy. 

Grape: Primitivo 

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 14%

Wild fermented Merlot and Syrah - beautiful medium intensive red colour with brick nuaces. Lovely bouquet of fruit and spicy aromas dominated by plum, cherry, a touch of cardamon and nutmeg. Fruity, juicy and elegant body with good structure. Leather and loquoric notes, finishing with fine and intriguing aftertaste of blackcurrant and tobacco leaves.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: South Sakar

Grapes: Merlot & Syrah 

ABV: 14,5%

Nero D' Avola from Ausralia? The bright cherry and raspberry fruits of this sit deliciously beside a savoury and herbaceous spiciness. The wine at the moment is very youthful, mid weight, with nice fresh, berry fruit on the nose and subtle French oak characters.

Country: Australia

Region: Victoria

Grapes: Nero D'Avola

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Wood fire pizza, tomato based pasta and charcuterie

Vivid and hazy ruby colour. Aromas of red fuits, forest berries and spices. Youthful and Pure. Fresh and delicate on the palate with a long and pleasant finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Lisbon

Grapes:  Tinta Roriz

ABV:12.5%

Coming from Puglia’s cooler northern shores, Caiaffa's Nero di Troia has notes of red and dark fruits; blackberries, and dark cherry, with a smoky undertone. The palate is medium-bodied and bright with an almost creamy, velvet-like texture. This is a real easy-drinker, ever so moreish!

Grape: Nero di Troia

Counrty: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 13%

Soft, lively and fresh cranberry aromas and flavours - this is a wonderful introduction to the world of Piedmont reds and the Nebbiolo grape specifically.

Country: Italy

Region: Alto Piedmonte

Grapes: Nebbiolo 50%, Croatina 40%, Vespolina 10% 

ABV: 13%

Grapes for this wine are grown in Monte vineyard in Lessona and also in Brusnengo, from the "Mesola" area, which has an altitude 350 - 400 meters above sea level. The 'Rossonoah' is made up of 50% young Nebbiolo vines, 40% old Croatina vines and 10% Vespolina. 5 day maceration period for the Nebbiolo. Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel and Malolactic fermentation. Aging for a further 6 months in stainless steel.

Vibrant aromatic of blueberries and black plums with a hint of toasty oak. The generous, rich palate is packed full of juicy red and black fruits and underpinned by a fine tannin profile. A balanced wine with a persistent fruit finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Red meat dishes, Stews and casseroles or mature cheese.

Georgia is considered to be the ‘cradle of wine', as 8,000 year-old indigenous Rkatsiteli grape seeds have been found in clay vessels.

Long skin maceration, giving concentration and complexity. Finally, 18 months in French and American oak, which adds volume and polish.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo, Graciano

ABV: 14,5%

Organic

Stylish nose with lovely dark cherries and complex tobacco aromas with hints of savoury notes. Velvety textured tannins and lingering finish.

Grape: Nero di Troia

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 14%

Food pairing: red meats, stews, and aged cheeses.

Quinta da Pedra Alta 'Alto' Tinto is a perfumed, hedonistic Douro red, made from parcels from our highest (Alto) elevations on the Quinta.

Aromas of red and blue fruits, with lifted bergamot and exotic spice notes. This is a rich, hedonistic wine, with an Indian ink mid-palate, and an Earl Grey finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Touriga Nacional (92%), Sousão (7%), Fernão Pires (1%)

ABV: 15%

A luminous and lifted red blend from Mr Badenhorst. Predominantly Shiraz, with Grenache, Tinta Barocca and some Cinsault from mostly old bushvines growing in the decomposed granite soils of the Paardeberg mountain. Very youthful, with a kaleidoscope of aromas - cherries, blackberries and redcurrant coulis, and multi-layered floral aromas-roses, lavender, pink peppercorns and violets.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Tinta Barocca

ABV: 14.5%

Adi Badenhorst is DEFINATELY one the most exciting winemakers in South Africa - part of the Swartland revolution movement...

Sarah Jane Evans MW: Gloriously mature fruit profile, giving a fine autumnal feeling, with neat darts of acidity. Red fruits, vanilla and cumin, and a long, elegant finish. Made for enjoyment over many years.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo (80%), Mazuelo (15%) and Graciano (5%).

Food Match:

Great on it's own everyday drinking or with grilled red meats and hearty sausage or lentil casseroles.

The 2004 vintage, classified as “Excellent” by the Regulatory Council of the Rioja
denomination of origin, was one of the Rioja’s historic vintages.

The abundant rainfall, snow and absence of frost during the winter allowed for a good
fruit set. The weather was ideal along the entire vegetative cycle of the vine, especially
from mid-September on through to the end of the harvest.

The wines obtained of this vintage have offered the best quality parameters in recent
years.

Made with destemmed grapes following a long maceration. In 2004, the wine making
incorporated micro-oxygenation processes with which from the very first phases of the
winemaking it was possible to improve the work of the yeasts, avoid reductions and
stabilize the colour. Micro-oxygenation was also used between alcoholic and malolatic
fermentations in order to stabilize the colour. Aged for 36 months in second-use
American oak barrels and further 36 months in the bottle prior to market release.

This cool climate Aussie Pinot punches above its weight.

Surprisingly restrained and elegant for what was a warm ripening season. There are layers of complexity here. Lifted aromatics of tart cherry, fresh tobacco leaves and candied ginger, the palate is supported by a fine acidity, gentle tannins & alluring savoury characteristics of dried red earth, leather and pencil shavings.

Country: Australia

Region: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir

ABV: 13%

A unique red blend living up to its name! The Shiraz offers a tight, fresh structure with aromatic and peppered undertones. The Petit Verdot gives a rich, red and black berry character, and the Sangiovese, in a true Italian style, adds fruity, cherry flavours within the palate. The result is a bold, charming and elegant wine.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: 66% Shiraz, 33% Petit Verdot, 1% Sangiovese

ABV: 13.5

Eikendal Vineyards sit between the foothills of the Helderberg and the edge of Stellenbosch Mountains.

A heady mix of Barbera and Bonarda grapes combine to produce a delicious and aromatic wine full of ripe plums and cherries that is really brought to life by a hint of anise and bright juicy acidity.

Country: Italy

Region: Emilia Romagna

Grapes: Barbera and Bonarda

ABV: 14%

This ruby red wine is juicy, fresh and floral on the palate with delicate cherry aromas.  Forest fruit on nose, blueberry, round tannins, full bodied with a long finish of saltiness
and minerality.

Country: Slovenia

Region: Štajerska

Grapes: 50% Pinot noir,
50% Blaufrankisch

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Charcuterie and hard cheeses.

Delicious, semi-sweet red from Georgia's largest wine region, Kakheti. The wine is supple and very easy drinking with lots of red berry, cranberry and black cherry aromas and flavours.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kindzmarauli, Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 12%

Food Match: Goes perfectly with a cheese board full of hard, soft, fresh and aged cheeses accompanied by fruit preserves as well as dried and fresh fruits such as dried apricots and fresh green grapes.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

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. The nose is full of summer fruit aroma’s, strawberry, blueberry, and the palate is light and crisp and refreshing with notes of raspberry and cranberry. Serve well chilled at a summer bbq.

Country: Romania

Region: Recas and Minis

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Food match: Greek salad, grilled fish, potato salad

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 wine making stretching back millennia and it was this potential that has driven this dynamic duo to dedicate their lives to driving forward Romanian wine making to it's current state of rude health. A 20 million euro investment in the vineyards and brand new winery.

Powerful, rich and full bodied with aromas and flavours of blackberries, baked plum and sweet spice. Concentrated, long finish. 

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla a Mancha, Jumilla

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Monastrell

Food Match: Barbequed lamb with rosemary

The Gil family have been major wine producers in Jumilla since the early 20th Century. Bodegas Juan Gil is dedicated to producing powerful, yet approachable and modern wines, mainly based on Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) which is grown on about 80% of the vineyard.

The winery has invested heavily in its Organic and Sustainability programmes in recent years.

The notes of dark fruit and spices on the nose. The tannins are firm and are carried by dark, inky fruit and fresh acidity. It would show best after some time in bottle and being decanted.

Country: South Africa

Region: Western Cape - Durbanville / Stanford

Grapes: 100% Pinotage

ABV: 12%

Gorgeous cherry red in colour. Aromas of ripe summer fruits with a hint of flint. Full-bodied with a silky balance, fruity with hints of sweet spice.

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Sangiovese

A lovely dark plum red colour, the ripe concentrated fruit aromas have a mineral touch, spice and notes of forest fruit preserve wrapped in tones of butterscotch. Concentrated and buttery, well-balanced with fine tannins and well balanced acidity. A long and expressive finish leaving a clear impression of the mineral character of the terroir.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo, Graciano, Viura

ABV: 14.5%

Food match: red meat (particularly lamb) and hard cheeses

Rich, concentrated and ripe with aromas of black berries with a hint of tobacco, full-bodied with a wonderfully rich finish of ripe red fruits, vanilla and chocolate. A super Super Tuscan made with 100% Malbec.

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Malbec