Reds

This is a big and powerful red wine, very dark red in colour. The nose has plenty of dark fruit aromas, plums, black cherries, chocolate, dried fruit and slight herbaceous notes. The palate is full, dense and rich with intense and sweet, ripe fruit.  The finish is has a touch of residual sugar, giving some natural sweetness, and is full, rich and lingering. 

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 13.5 %

Grape: Primitivo

Full of zest and forward fruity flavours, typical of the Sauvignon grape. Bursting with exotic tropical fruit.

Country: Chile

Region: Central Valley

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13%

Completely untainted example of Nero D'Avola - just as nature intended!

The wine has a deep purple-red colour & intense aromas of blackberries & blueberries. The palate is soft & silky, bursting with spicy flavours of black pepper, dark chocolate, wild berries & vanilla.  The tannins are elegant yet persistent.  The finish is long & lingering and offers a burst of wild cherries at the end.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

ABV: 13.5 %

Grape: Nero D'Avola

Fun Fact: Zensa in Italian means “without” referring to the absence of any chemicals or pesticides in the winemaking process. 

Exceptional value right-bank Bordeaux from the village of St Emilion.

Rich plummy fruit throughout, this is a medium-bodied, food-friendly Bordeaux with an earthy, cocoa-dusted finish.

Country: France

Region: St Emilion

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: 100% Merlot

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%

Rich, intense and packed with dark red fruits. With Morello cherry and a touch of sweet spice on the nose, ripe berry, liquorice, chocolate, summer pudding and a hint of cinnamon spice on the palate, this wine is full flavoured and smooth with supple tannins. Brilliant! Perfect for Chateauneuf lovers.

Country: France

Region: Rhone Valley

Grapes: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Carignan

ABV: 14%

This wine has a natural affinity with herby lamb dishes, but would be superb with most grilled meats and roasted vegetables.

Very few places are capable of making high quality Pinot Noir. This one is exceptional.

Bitter dark cherry and ripe mulberry on the nose. Juicy red fruit and red plum skin flavours on the palate, super soft tannins. Light and easy drinking, perfect summer red for sipping on the verandah. 

Country: Austria

Region: Ried Windleutehn, Niederosterreich

ABV: 12%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Food Match: Will match well with just about anything because of soft tannins and fruitiness, even slightly spicy dishes.

Mittelbach Gottfried

Meet Cabaret Frank & his Fabulous Facial Furniture! A 'proper' wine that, for the money, is generous on all fronts. 

Made predominantly from Old Vine Cabernet Franc, the balance of Cabernet Sauvignon brings out even more of the finesse to this wine. Full, rich and dark with cherry fruits and a smoky twist.

Country: USA

Region: Lodi, California

ABV: 14%

Grapes: 85% Cabernet Franc 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

In The Vineyard:  The Cabernet Franc grapes are harvested from 'old vines' (35 years) sourced from the world's largest grower of this varietal, which is located in Lodi, Central California

Argentina's famous Malbec, blended with the lesser known Bonarda grape variety, giving this wine a delightful twist of individuality compared to other Malbec wines.

Dark, damson and savoury overtones on the palate with a smoothly rounded finish – a delightful expression of a huge, brambly Malbec

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: 60% Malbec 40% Bonarda

Malbec needs no introduction, and has become as closely associated with Argentinian wine as Pepperoni is to Pizza! - well in my mind (and stomach) it is……! Bonarda on the other hand is a lesser known ‘ingredient’ of Argentina’s wines. More often thought of as a grape variety originating in the Piemonte region of Italy, however arguments abound about whether this grape variety in Argentina is actually the same as the Italian one. Who cares, unless you are studying for a doctorate in Ampelography (the study of grape vine identification). All we care about is that it makes delicious wines and when combined with Malbec it offers a uniquely Argentine experience.

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

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grapes: Primitivo

ABV: 14.5%

Gorgeous, dark garnet colour with a bright ruby edge. Aromas of black cherry, plum and peppery notes with a subtle hint of liquorice. The palate shows dark fruit and sweet spice supported by fine, supple tannins and a fresh finish. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14.5%

Neil Ellis Wine

A superb, modern style Pinotage with an abundance of blackcurrants and plums, and hints of fruit cake and cloves on the nose. Intense concentration on the palate shows sweet fruit and well-integrated oak. The silky-smooth tannins contribute to the wine’s juicy, round and seamless finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Pinotage

ABV: 14.5%

KWV The Mentors Wine

Food match: Great with braaied red meat and boerewors, but also amazing for just sipping in front of the fireplace on a cold wintery evening.

From the true masters of Cape Cabernet - the benchmark Stellenbosch Cab. 2015 was the winner of platter 5* best Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa.

This is the only red wine produced by Le Riche that is not 100% Cabernet. A reincarnation of Le Riche's classic Cab Merlot blend, this is an exceptionally lovely, classically Bordelaise blend. Restrained but appealing on the nose with typical red fruit aromas of plum, cherries and milled pepper are balanced by an aroma of finely ground graphite found in Left Bank Bordeaux. The palate is a masterpiece of blending - hugely appealing with juicy mouth-filling flavours of red berries, plums and smoky hints balanced with a fine, soft tannic structure and rounded finish. Finely structured and phenomenally fine, Christo Le Riche has more than stepped into his father’s shoes!

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Petit Verdot

Le Riche Wine

The backbone of the range, it’s a phenomenal expression of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon when it’s allowed a maritime influence, and it is this that sets it apart and marks it as truly Bordelaise. With carefully selected fruit from the cool gravelly slopes facing False Bay to the rich red granitic soils around Stellenbosch, the wine gains its complexity by expertly blending fruit from 4 specifically diverse terroirs. 

A vibrant red wine with aromas of tobacco, dark cherry, rich red forest fruits and floral notes of lavender and violet. The palate has hints of white truffle, hazelnut, and warm spices with glimpses of anise and clove, rounded off with herbaceous undertones. The finish is gripping, velvety and lingering.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Mount Lebanon and Bekaa Valley

Grapes: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache & Mourvèdre

ABV: 13.5%

Produced at the historic Monastery of St Jean, whose building dates back to 1696. 75% of the grapes are from the Monastery’s own vineyards in Khenshara & Ajaltoun at 1000m altitude on the Maritime side of Mount Lebanon. The remaining 25% is Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bekaa Valley.

Food match: Moroccan lamb tagine

A deep dense blockbuster from 40+ year old vines. 

This Malbec is possibly even juicier, fresher and tastier still!. Bright on the nose with ripe blackberry plum fruit and sweet spice. The palate is silky and warming with more black fruit and cherries. The wine is vibrant with an alluring blend of fruit along with clove, pepper and cinnamon spice finished off with well-structured integrated tannins. A great wine with structure balance and elegance.

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Malbec

Saperavi is tipped to be the 'new Malbec' by a few well known wine critics. This ripe, Georgian red is full of red cherry and mulberry aromas and flavours, with layers of vanilla. Wonderful, soft rounded tannins with a long, juicy finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13%

Food Matches: Red meat dishes, stews and casseroles, roast lamb or mature hard cheeses.

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

George Margvelashvili is the founder at Tbilvino Wines - where this delicious wine is made. Established 60 years ago, and over this period Tbilvino have become one of Georgia’s pioneering producers. Almost dormant at the end of the Soviet era, the winery was acquired by the Margvelashvili brothers, who set out to restore the facilities, and moved away from quantity to quality production.

A scrumptiously soft, juicy Shiraz simply oozing spicy bramble fruit. Supple and silky on the palate with a bright, red berry finish.

Country : South Africa

Region: Western Cape,  Paarl 

Grape: Shiraz

ABV : 14.50% 

The iconic Aloe Tree image is sure to be familiar to anyone who has travelled widely through the Cape and is an important part of the biodiversity which South Africa is famous for.

The characteristic silhouette provides a backdrop to one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world where wines grow in harmony with the thousands of plant species that make up the Cape Floral Kingdom

Deep ruby in colour, this Chilean Merlot encompasses aromas of rich black cherry and plum, displaying further complexity on the palate with hints of cedar and dark chocolate.

Country: Chile 

Region: Central Valley

ABV: 11%

Grapes:  Merlot

From estate owned vineyards in Victoria, Australia; the Heilan Coo is a silky Shiraz based blend with a touch of spicy Mataro, finished with a (cow) lick of toasty oak.

Country: Australia

Region: Victoria

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Shiraz, Mataro

This wine represents phenomenally good value for money! Soft, red berry fruit and silky tannins, very moreish.

Country: France

Region: Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 12.5%

Jaffelin Wine

This is essentially a baby Super Tuscan! An intense ruby red colour with hints of garnet. Combining strength, intensity and elegance, with soft tannins to give it a roundness in the mouth. Fruity nose with a sweet spiciness. Lively and balanced.

A collaboration between the people behind iconic Tuscan winery
Castellare di Castellina and leading French wine brand Domaines Barons
de Rothschild-Lafite.

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Grapes: Sangiovese, Ruby Cabernet, Merlot

ABV: 13.5%

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%

Luminous Red with purple reflections, this elegant and finely textured wine displays aromas of dark fresh plum, cinnamon, exotic spices, black pepper and tobacco. The firm yet gentle tannins add complexity and a long and lingering finish. 

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grape: Nero di Troia

ABV: 13 %

A top Malbec from one of Argentina’s most respected wineries. Full-bodied and richly flavoured Malbec at its best!

Full bodied with great concentration of vanilla, mocha, blackberries, sweet spices & cloves. The palate is rich and warming with notes of vanilla, black fruit, plums & cherries, as well as hints of leather. Enjoy with a juicy steak - just as they would in Argentina!

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

ABV: 14%

Grapes:  Malbec

Nieto Senetiner has grown to become one of the leading stars of Mendoza. The vineyards and winery were developed in 1969 and continue to be extended and updated. Nieto have vineyards in virtually all of the best sub districts of Mendoza from which they produce typical and classic wines, characterised by the uniquely appealing balance of power and finesse that defines the best wines of Mendoza. The top wines come from very old vineyards in the famed subdistrict of Agrelo and are fully deserving of their iconic status

One of the top 10 most sought after Tuscan wines.

An intense red - floral and dark fruit notes, well-balanced with a ripe and explosive finish. Stunning. 

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

The winemaker from Baron Rothschild-Lafite, Christian Le Somme, visits once a month and, by working closely with Alessandro Cellai (from Castellare di Castellina) they are able to maintain the essential Italian character of Tuscany, through the plantings of Sangiovese combined with the power and mid-palate weight of Cabernet and Merlot.

Situated between Gavorrano and Ribolla in the rossetto province in Maremma, the soils have similar characteristics to those of Chianti and Montalcino, but with slightly higher temperatures, so are able to reach maturation earlier compared to those territories further north. The winery was designed by the Shard's architect, Renzo Piano, one of the most admired architects in the world, and named in Time Magazine’s Top 10 most influential people working in the Arts.

It has the biggest barrel room in the world, with only 20% of the winery above ground. The winery runs completely on environmental principles: electricity powered by solar panels and gravity-led production, and the underground barrel cellar allows natural air conditioning and saves energy.