Reds

Juicy, crunchy and fresh red fruit. Soft tannins. Very easy drinking. Biodynamic. 

This wine is playful in its aromas with pronounced cassis tones. Furthermore, a combination of blackcurrant, candied orange zest, violets and spices can be appreciated on the nose. In the mouth cassis fruit dominates with some spiciness to it, which is complemented by soft tannins that develop effortlessly.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV:12.5%

Grapes: Cinsault

Waterkloof Wine

Cinsault vines have been grown for centuries in Southern France. In the Rhône and Languedoc regions it is primarily used as a supporting agent in red blends, especially Châteauneuf-du- Pape, to add spice and aromatics whilst mellowing out harsh tannins.

But perhaps its most important role in wine history took place in South Africa, where in 1925 it was crossed with Pinot Noir by Stellenbosch University Professor A.I. Perold in an attempt to create a unique South African varietal. Today this proudly South African varietal is known as Pinotage.

Seriously Cool Cinsault is produced from more than 40 year old bush vines on the cool slopes of the Helderberg region. Older vines are known to have reached optimal balance in growth and production through time. This allows for low yields and ripe fruit with intense flavours. The soils are of decomposed granite origin with medium-sized stones, helping with drainage and moisture retention. Production was approximately 4t/ha.

Wonderfully well balanced, pure, juicy and ripe Montepulciano.

Ruby red in colour with a strong fruity scent, containing hints of spices, cherry plum and jam. Well balanced and plenty of length. This is a rich, deeply savoury, complex version of that old Italian classic.

Country: Italy

Region: Abruzzo

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Montepulciano

Certified Organic

An intense ruby red wine. Very fresh and full bodied, lovely finish. Perfect with game or aged cheeses.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Cabernet Franc

ABV: 12.5%

Aromatic, medium to full bodied and powerful, with good extraction of the sweet flavours of black ripe fruits. Elegant with good texture and firm tannins, giving wine great ageing potential. A touch of mint, with lavender notes. Firm, well balanced oak and long finish with fresh, spicy, integrated mouthfeel.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

ABV: 14%

Grape: Shiraz

Andreas Wine

Andreas only produce this wine - and they are good at it. The wine is aged for 18 months in French and American oak and bottle matured for another year. Winemaker Shaun Meyeridricks' first first vintage was in 2018, since joining Andreas from Boekenhoutskloof where he was previously making exemplary Shiraz.

Full and Ripe with loads of cassis and blueberry aromas and flavours.

Country: USA

Region: California

Grapes: Zinfandel

Vegan/Vegetarian

From the Sacramento and Lodi areas at the northern end of California’s San Joaquin Valley.

An elegant rendition of this normally unruly varietal. Features raspberry, dark fruit and herbal notes whilst an almost meaty, wild aroma can be detected on the nose. Typical vigour expected from this varietal, with a high concentration of fine tannin and a surprising lightness of touch helped by the lower alcohol.

Country : South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grape: Mourvèdre

ABV: 13.5%

Waterkloof Wine

Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including: soil, aspect, altitude and vintage. The Mourvedre is from a single, windswept, south-facing (less sun exposure) block 250-300m above and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes and wines with a true sense of place. Production was a miserly 4 tons per hectare. Mourvedre is one of the few varietals with enough wind-resistance to plant as bush-vine on Waterkloof. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar by horses for hand-sorting. Bunches are sorted and whole-bunch fermentation happens spontaneously with wild yeast in large, open-top wooden fermenters. Manual punch-downs or foot-pressing take place 1-2 times per day and the wine is left on skins for 30 days before going through malolactic fermentation in old 600 litre barrels then ageing for 16 months in the same vessels. No fining, just a light filtration. No additions other than sulphur. Vegan friendly, biodynamic wine. 6 barrels made.

Such a treat to drink Saperavi, Georgia's flagship, indigenous red grape variety with a bit of age. Eight years of barrel and bottle age has softened the tannins of this rich, meaty red. It is extremely silky and well balanced, but still has lovely ripe mulberry, blueberry and cassis aromas and flavours.

Country: Georgia

Region: Mukhrani

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 12.5%

Food matches: red meat or game grilled or in rich stews go very well with this wine.

Located between the Trialeti Mountains and the Caucasus, the beautiful Château Mukhrani is just 35km from Georgia's capital, Tbilisi. Definitely worth a visit if you are travelling to this historic winemaking country.

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

Notes of plums, dark chocolate and raspberries. Yum!

Country: Portugal

Region: Lisbon

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 14.5%

Ruby red in colour with concentrated red berry and fruit aromas, with hints of sweet spice, cherry, plum and blackcurrant jam on the palate. Juicy and moreish...

Grapes:  Montepulciano

Region: Abruzzo

Country: Italy

ABV: 12.5%

Organic

Amoterra means to ‘love the land’, this is the vineyards ethos. 

Rustic in a pretty way; your classic rosy-cheeked farmer's daughter. Violets on the nose. Great structure, pure elegance.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Burgundy is renowned for a jigsaw of small plots, fitting side by across the rolling cotes and cru with many different owners - the result of equal inheritance. While some heirs want to make wine, others prefer to live their lives elsewhere, meaning their plots go unloved. Enter Patrice du Jeu, a Parisian restaurateur with the dynamism and energy to revive such plots. Together with family and friends, he managed to buy several parcels in excellent terroirs of the Côte de Beaune including Santenay, Chassagne Montrachet and Mercurey. Joining with white Burgundy expert Jean-Baptise Alinc the wines of these heirs - Les Héritiers - are both technically competent and beautifully crafted.

Fresh, but textured and full Douro blend. Aromas of coffee and vanilla with concentrated blueberry and black current. Ripe chewy tannin with a hint of star anise on the finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz 

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Hearty bean stew

The local grapes - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz - grow in fine soils with some schist in vineyards near Cambres, in the western part of the Douro valley and south of the river. The climate here is warm and dry, and some of the vines are over 50 years old. After harvesting fermentation takes place in stainless steel, with a small portion (around 10%) ageing for 4 months in 2nd year French oak barrels, before the final blending and bottling.

We love this Loire red! Rich aromas of stewed fruits and black berries. Fresh and well structured.

Country: France

Region: Loire Valley

Grapes: 100% Cabernet Franc

ABV: 13.5%

This domaine is run by Pascale Lavigne and her husband, Antoine Véron. Based in
Varrains in Saumur-Champigny, they own 38 hectares of vineyard (36 hectares of
Cabernet Franc and two of Chenin Blanc). They cultivate their land sustainably and
have a solid reputation for producing quality wines.

Rich in age, rich in flavour. Toasty, vanilla, raisins and dried plum.

Beautiful brick red colour, with a complex aroma of roasted coffee, spices, vanilla, ripe fruits raisins, caramel, and subtle bottle ageing notes of leather, tobacco. Silky smooth tannins, and velvety finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja Alavesa

Grapes: Tempranillo

ABV: 14%

Only made in the best vintages from the best grapes, this Rioja GR has gone through an ageing process of 30 months in new French (75%) & American (25%) oak barriques, followed by a further 3 years before it is released.

https://www.murielwines.com/en/our-brands/rioja-collection/vina-muriel

To learn more about the Rioja region and their different styles of wines read our blog here.

Delicious light to medium bodied juicy red. Loads of red and black berry fruit character with a touch of sweet spice and vanilla.

Country: France

Region: Hérault

Grapes: Carignan

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Great on its own as an everyday quaffer or match with steak, lamp chops or hard cheese.

Rich, ripe and fruity red with black plum and dark cherry fruit. Soft, silky tannic structure.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Bekaa Valley

Grapes: Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan

ABV: 14%

Food match

Mediterranean meat dishes with grilled vegetables

Supple and sumptuous, ripe and ridiculously moreish. It's ready to drink Barolo baby!

Awesome aromas of orange skin, ripe plums, and tobacco leaves. Vibrant tannin and acidity. Lovely!

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

14% ABV

Grape: Nebbiolo

Sangiovese grapes from Tuscany, this wine is colourful yet elegant - just like the art on the label. Notes of ripe cherry, raspberries and earthiness, all accompanied by delicious juicy acidity making the wine super easy drinking.

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Grapes: Sangiovese

ABV: 13% 

Elegant and complex nose with a good concentration of black fruit, thyme and rosemary with secondary aromas of leather and tobacco leaves. Hints of black fruit jam and liquorice warm, with a long, delicious and persistent finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14.5%

Dolomite wines express great purity of fruit and balanced elegance. The nose shows dark and red cherry. Dark berries, spiciness and herbs linger on the palate. The wine has great purity of fruit with a hint of wet-stone minerality and a velvet soft finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Cabernet Franc 90%
Malbec 10%

Concentrated, complex and rich, oak matured Douro red, made from a blend of selected parcels from the best vineyards on the estate.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: 74% Touriga Nacional, 13% Sousão, 12% Touriga Franca, 1% Fernão Pires

ABV: 13.5%

Rich, ripe, but savoury Pinot from Canterbury. We love this wine!

Country: New Zealand

Region: North Canterbury

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Deep, incredibly dark red colour. Aromas of wild spice, fynbos and cranberry. Medium bodied with good freshness and an array of complex, clean flavours. The oak is well integrated and the wine has a lingering, soft velvety finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Western Cape

Grapes: Pinotage

ABV: 14.5%

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..

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

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

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.