Fruity Reds

Balanced red colour with ruby hues. Exceptionally elegant bouquet on the nose and strong personality (spicy fragrances with aroma of soft fruit). Dry, but rare and elegant on the palate (special white pepper flavour); rich nobility of character. 

Country: Italy

Region: Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Italy

Grapes: Schioppettino

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Barley minestrone traditional of the Friuli area; roasted white and red meats; meats with delicate sauces; poultry and small game; mushrooms dishes.

Ronchi di Cialla, a 28 hectare historical Friulian Estate, is a small, family run business. Established in the 1970s, they have established a reputation as one of the finest producers of age-worthy wines in Fruili.

‘Ronchi’, in Fruili’s dialect, means hills cultivated by vines; ‘Cialla’ is a small valley surrounded by woods with chestnut, oak, and wild cherry trees. Located in the Cialla valley, one of three sub-zones in Colli Orientali del Friuli, it is a picturesque area with perfect growing conditions for the indigenous grapes. The company philosophy has always been to work solely with indigenous varieties, such as, Ribolla, Refosco, Schioppettino, Verduzzo, and Picolit. In fact, the Rapuzzi Family restored and revitalized the Schioppettino grape from near extinction, defying the odds and local wine laws.

The signature red from legendary Northern Rhône producer Paul Jaboulet Aîné, this Côtes du Rhône is immensely pleasurable with notes of wild berries, white pepper, lavender and cherries.

Country: France

Region: Southern Rhone

Grapes: Grenache 53%, Syrah 37%, Mourvèdre 5%, Marselan 3%, Carignan 2%

ABV:14%

Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné was founded in 1834 and cultivates the iconic terroirs
from the northern Rhône Valley across seven appellations. Family owned by the Frey
family since 2006, talented winemaker Caroline Frey and her team implement heroic
viticulture techniques on the unique, heritage landscapes.

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

Concentrated, warming aromas and flavours of blackberries, blueberries and bitter cherry on the nose with a secondary layer of meatiness and stewed fruit. Earthy and minerally on the finish. This is the perfect treat for Sunday roast lunch.

Country: Georgia

Region:  Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Goes wonderfully with roast lamb or slow cooked pork dishes.

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

An extra degree of alcohol compared to it's younger sibling, and a bit richer too. Complex and ripe with a hint of carefully judged touch of new oak. Mineral soaked, thoroughly delicious and a properly serious red wine.

Country: Italy

Region: Valtellina, Lombardia

Grape: Nebbiolo

ABV: 13.5%

A silky and juicy red wine. An aroma of red berries with wild thyme that take you to notes of liquorice, raspberry leaf, cherry and herbs. 

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grape Variety: Corvina 30%, Corvinone 30%, Rondinella 30%

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: BBQ meats and antipasto

Full of finesse and elegance, this Cannonau offers intense aromas of ripe, red fruit with
subtle balsamic notes. Fresh and savoury, with fine tannins and a long, silky finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Sardegna

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Cannonau (Garnacha/ Grenache Noir)

With its refined plum colour, a blast of forest fruit aromas on the nose and clove notes on the back palate, this wine’s tannins are balanced with a lively acidity, medium body and a long finish. The Kalecik Karası grape feels right at home in the terroir of Çal and has adapted to it with ease. Described as “Turkey’s answer to Burgundy Reds” by wine critics, its fragrant elegance perfectly complements Mediterranean and Anatolian cuisines.

Country: Turkey

Region:   Çal, Aegean, Denizli

Vegan/Vegetarian

Grapes: Kalecik Karasi

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Lamb Kofta with roast Mediterranean vegetables

Aromas of plum, bramble leaf, and a hint of black pepper and spice. The palate is complex with ripe black fruits, prune, fig and an orange zest hint balanced by savoury characters of cloves and cedar. A rich wine with supple tannins and a graphite minerality, finishing long and elegant.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grape Variety: Corvina 30%, Corvinone 30%, Rondinella 30%

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: Sausages and rich stews

A brilliant ruby red colour, the aromas hinting at currants and cassis with notes of herbs and bitter cherry whilst the palate is elegantly structured, with characters of red currant, and ripe cherries. A long, sophisticated finish. This wine is drinking beautifully now, but will evolve nicely over the next 2-5 years. 

Country: Italy
Region: Marsala, Sicily
ABV: 13.5%
Grapes: Perricone

On the west side of Sicily close to Marsala, Caruso Minini have their 4th generation vineyards and winery. 

A bold and full-bodied red with notes of red and black berries - plum, blackcurrant. The secondary notes - vanilla, oak, chocolate. The tertiary notes - leather, earth, pencil.

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country: South Africa

Region: Simonsberg

ABV: 14,5%

Food pairing: beef, lamb, poultry

Raspberry red in colour, this grape variety, Otskhanuri Sapere, gives enticing aromas of plums, ripe berries with herbal and floral notes and a hint of balsamic. Full bodied, with balancing fresh juiciness and a long, dry and slightly smoky, earthy finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Imereti

Grapes: Otskhanuri Sapere

ABV: 12.5%

The grapes were carefully sorted in the vineyard and then again upon arrival at the
winery, berry by berry to ensure only the healthy, undamaged and best quality fruit was
vinified. Skin-contact fermentation took place using the traditional Georgian method of
clay jars known as Qvevri. These vessels have been recognised by UNESCO as a
process of important cultural heritage. The Qvevri in the Vachnadziani winery have a
950-litre capacity. The alcoholic fermentation lasted for one week, followed by a
maturation period of five months without skin contact.

Food Match: red meat dishes, stews and casseroles or mature cheeses

Georgia is considered to be the ‘cradle of wine', as 8,000 year-old indigenous Rkatsiteli grape seeds have been found in clay vessels. Vachnadziani was established in 1953 and is one of the oldest wineries in Georgia. During the Soviet years the vineyard fell into disrepair, but now the vineyards and cellars have received considerable investment. The aim is to preserve their ancient wine culture while combining it with cutting edge technology. With over 1,000 hectares of vineyard, covering the Kakheti region in eastern Georgia and the Imereti, Racha and Lechkhumi regions in western Georgia, Vachnadziani cultivates 25 vine varieties - the majority of which are indigenous. Their exciting and dynamic range reveals all the charm of this historic winemaking land.

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

Sweet, but balanced, powerful, rich and full bodied with aromas and flavours of blackberries, baked plum and sweet spice. Concentrated, long finish with notes of cocoa and baking spice. 

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla a Mancha, Jumilla

ABV: 11.5%

Grapes: Monastrell

Food Match: Dark chocolate mousse or Christmas pudding

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.

Such an attractive, appealing nose of mixed red fruits, very bright and clean with floral hints. The palate is soft, supple and mouth-filling. Red fruits follow through with a touch of minerality. Great finesse, with a gentle and seamless finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmonte

Grapes: Nebbiolo: 90%
Cabernet Sauvignon: 5%
Vespolina: 5%

ABV: 13%

Food Match: A wonderfully versatile red that is great just with simple antipasti or with roast lamb with all of the trimmings.

Orbello is a small village very close to the Tenuta Sella vineyard where this wine is produced from. A traditional blend that Tenute Sella has been producing for more than 50 years. Nebbiolo, Vespolina and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, all the grapes are hand-harvested. Once picked a cold maceration is carried out. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations in stainless steel tank. Aging for 1 year in barriques, and 6 months refinement in bottle.

Super-premium Cabernet from one of the oldest and most highly regarded estates in Washington State. Classic aromas of dark cherries, cedar, and pipe tobacco. Smooth and refined. Rich in dark fruit notes of blackberry, and cassis, as well as hints of vanilla and toasted oak. This full-bodied and rich, it has a lovely velvety texture supported by firm, ripe tannins and a long, complex finish. 

Country: USA

Region: Washington State

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon

Rich, concentrated aromas of black, ripe fruit, candied peel, rose petals and sweet spice with a hint of tobacco leaf and menthol. The palate is complex with ripe plum, blackberry and black cherry, fine tannins and notes of black pepper. Elegant and long.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grape Variety: Corvina 35%, Corvinone 35%, Rondinella 25% 

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: Cumberland Sausage and mash or beef casserole

Twenty year old vines from their the Morandina vineyard near the Lessini mountains is at 450 metres altitude. Soils are limestone, calcareous and the site has a south-easterly exposure.It is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, plus a tiny bit of Oseleta, the vine shoots are cut allowing the grapes to dry for a month on the vine before harvesting. After fermentation the wine is aged for 18 months in barrel.

This is a vegan wine with a potential to bottle age. A ripe red wine with the notes of dried herbs, plums and cherry. The tannins are ripe with the flavour of liquorice. A long and complex finish that leads to the notes of orange peel and ripe red fruit.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grape Variety: Corvina 30%, Corvinone 30%, Rondinella 30%

ABV: 17%

Food Match: game, roast beef, mature cheeses

This wine is full of dark, sweet spice; with a distinct clove note. Bright, fresh, textured. Soft, fruity, moreish and foody.

Country: Australia

Region: Barossa

Grapes: Grenache 

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Slow cooked lamb shanks

Gorgeous, natural, silky red made from native Portuguese grapes, the nose could be mistaken for Pinot Noir with it's elegant floral perfumed notes with hints of herbs and ripe crushed strawberry.

Country: Portugal

Region: Bairrada

Grapes: Baga

ABV: 12%

This delicious blend of Shiraz and Malbec has a palate of ripe black and red berries, subtle spice, smooth tannins and a rich, long finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Western Cape

Grapes: Shiraz, Malbec

ABV: 11%

Food Pairing: Perfect served alongside slow cooked lamb shank, fillet steak or a rich tomato pasta.

Vegan/Vegetarian 

The bright notes of red fruit with a little bit of cocoa and earth. You will taste raspberries, spices and cranberries.

Grape: Pinot Noir

Country: USA

Region: Oregon

ABV: 13.1%

Food match: beef, veal, poultry, deer, venison

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.