Reds

This extraordinary speciality red sparkling wine is based on a cool climate Cabernet Shiraz blend from vines situated on the Trillians Hills in Clare Valley. It is a deep ruby colour with a lively mousse yet the savoury and plum aromas and subtle tannins give a lasting impression of elegance and well balanced restraint. Can be enjoyed in two ways - a standalone drink with friends or a beautiful accompaniment to a meal.

Country: Australia

Region: Clare Valley

Grapes: Shiraz (86%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (14%)

ABV: 13.%

Food Matches: turkey, veal and duck, pates, barbecued meats and plum pudding. Dark chocolate pudding.

Rich, ripe, dense and complex. Notes of tobacco, dark chocolate and blackberries. Abundant flavours of dark berries are released alongside earthy and creamy notes that warm the mouth. Stunning wine.

Country: Spain

Region: Aragon

Grapes: Garnacha

ABV: 14%

Medium ruby red colour with a pure nose of ripe dark fruits, cherry, plum and sweet spices like ginger and aniseed supported with discreet oak. The palate is round and textured with a well balanced freshness, ending with a long and broad spicy finish.

Country: Italy

Region:  Puglia

Grapes: Primitivo 100%

ABV:  14.5 %

Oak Ageing  6 Months

Food Matching

A food-flexible wine, but pairs well with roast red meats, grills, pasta with ragu sauce.

Wonderfully balanced and rich concentrated notes of red cherry and cocoa. Silky tannins and a hint of liquorice on the finish. Named after the mulberry trees 'Les Amoriers' on the estate, historically cultivated to feed the silk worms.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac

Grapes: Mourvedre (36%); Grenache (30%); Syrah (19%); Carignan (15%)

ABV: 14%

Food match: slow roast leg of lamb.

Domaine Les Caizergues

You can't miss this bottle on the shelf with it's distinct tactile, voluptuous shape. Deep garnet ruby-red colour, it is a full and rich wine, the bouquet verges on dried fruit, violet, blackberry, raspberry with hints of spices coming form the barrels. Deep, dry and full bodied finish, long and lingering.

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 13.5%

Gattinara Riserva is a characterful red wine from Piedmont, a region in Northern Italy. With great ageing potential Gattinara rivals Barolo and Barbaresco. The Riserva Gattinara is made only in the best vintages. The wine spends at least three years in oak barrels and 1 year in the bottle.

This is a fruity, fresh and approachable Nebbiolo. The nose shows delicate mineral notes with hints of violet, rose and liquorice, while the on the palate the silky tannins and long, smooth finish make this a delightfully well-balanced wine.

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 13%

Food Match: perfect with pasta dishes, roast meat (particularly Duck) and cheeses.

"Fresh bright strawberries, violets and liquorice depth. The attack is
balanced, with supple fruit, a peppery character, a tight structure
and a medium to full body. A good, juicy, savoury finish with velvety tannins."
- 92 points, James Suckling

Wowzer! Very special wine this..

Beautiful red shades with purple accents, dark and lustrous. Expressive nose displaying blueberry, red plum, red and sour cherry. In the mouth, the delightful notes of cacao, plums, truffle, coconut and caramel, with a hint of toasted brioche make it very elegant. The palate is fleshy, with good entrance, balanced acidity, firm tannins and a lasting finish.

Country: Argentina

Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza 

Vegan/Vegetarian

Grapes:  100% Malbec

ABV: 15% 

After visiting Argentina in 1989, Californian trail-blazer Paul Hobbs became deeply interested in both the terroir and Argentine culture, noticing the unique potential for Malbec and other varietals in the region. After meeting two kindred spirits, Andrea Marchiori and Luis Barraud, they founded Viña Cobos in 1997 and since then there has been no looking back.

Ruby red velvet with earthy colour notes. Elegant and complex nose with a good concentration of black fruit, thyme and rosemary with secondary aromas of leather and tobacco leaves. Absolutely scrumptious!

Polished and rounded, pleasant and easy to drink. Fleshy with both elegance and power. Touches of black fruit jam and liquorice warm, with a long, delicious and persistent finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: 95% Tempranillo 5% Graciano

ABV:14.5%

Food Match: slow cooked lamb shanks, lamb chops, chorizo and potato stew, or any meat dish.

Tim Atkin Rioja Report 2023 92 Points
Like the bodega's Reserva, this Gran Reserva is a cuvée of Tempranillo and 5% Graciano, with maturation in mostly French and 30% American oak barrels. Using grapes from two parcels in Villabuena de Álava-Carraelciego and Carracastellano-this is savoury and sweet, with notes of red berry fruit, toast, tobacco leaf, leather and forest floor. 2024-30. 92 Points, TA, 2023.

Excellent Bordeaux Blend from Bulgaria. Big and bold in flavour with richness and spice in equal measure but a lovely fine-grained tannic structure with good acidy, keeping it moreish and balanced.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Bessa Valley

Grapes: 52% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot  plus 8% Cab Sauv

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: Roast lamb with all the trimmings

Inspired by the Australian night, this is darkly appealing, chocolatey Malbec with an abundance of crisp, minerally fruit.

Country: Australia

Region: Victoria

Grape: Malbec 100%

ABV: 14%

Food Match: Great with rich and hearty food. Try me with a rich casserole or roasted Mediterranean vegetables.

Gaglioppo...no, we didn't know that grape variety either. Now its one we'll never forget. 

Tawny-brick red colour, powerful and persistent fragrance. Well-balanced, leathery palate with a back bone of black fruit and grippy, but supple tannins, making this a very versatile wine with meat dishes ranging from game birds to pork and lamb.

Country: Italy

Region:Cirò, Calabria

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Gaglioppo

Food match: rich roast pork dishes, pheasant or slow roast lamb.

The wine has a garnet colour that is the typical color of Gaglioppo. The nose shows dark fruit aromas, dried herbs and dried flowers, and intense earthy notes. The tertiary aromas of mushrooms and leather are also evident and well interwoven with the dark fruit notes. On the palate the dark fruit flavours follow through; blueberries, black cherries, and blackcurrants. Smooth and silky in texture. The wine is juicy, and it shows elegance and good integration of all the elements. This wine is the quintessential example of a true Gaglioppo grape!

The wines are made in Calabria in the toe of Italy’s boot, where native varieties reign supreme – Magliocco, Nerello, Mantonico, Greco and the region’s star grape, Gaglioppo.

The Cirò DOC is a picturesque corner of the Mediterranean, along the Ionian coast, in the eastern foothills of the Calabria region, a large peninsula that forms the toe to Italy’s boot. The Parrilla family, who own and run Tenuta del Conte, have been making wine here for four generations, the latest of which to take over the estate are Mariangela, Giuseppe, and Caterina.

In 2011 Mariangela Parrilla took over as winemaker. Mariangela takes a philosophical approach to winemaking, with the aim to let these traditional indigenous grape varieties speak for themselves and their terroir. Her wines are all organic, no herbicides or chemicals are used at any stage of the production process, she opts for spontaneous fermentations using indigenous yeasts, no filtration, and solely stainless-steel and bottle aging. Taking each wine vintage by vintage she lets them evolve and age “according to their own natural rhythm”, making each wine unique. This could be just one year in bottle before release or over 10 years. Not only does she capture the unique character of the grape variety but that of the vintage it's from too.

Together with a handful of other wineries in the area, Mariangela is part of “The Cirò Revolution”, a group formed to promote and protect their territory’s identity. They are dedicated to organic viticulture and minimal intervention winemaking, they make traditional wines, in homage to their ancestors, from native grape varieties.

In addition to the black and red fruits also found on the nose there is a complex flavour of sweet spice and minerality followed by a fresh finish.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac

Grapes: Carignan, Mourvèdre,  Grenache Noir, Syrah

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: Great with grilled meats and tomato based pasta dishes

Domaine Les Caizergues 

Carefully selected estate grown grapes are aged for 24 months in French and American oak barrels to create this silky smooth reserva.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo and Graciano

ABV: 14%

This is a traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape serious and brooding and benefits from a little time to breath and open up. The palate is complex with herby, tapenade flavours and ripe textured tannins balancing the significant 15% alcohol which is expertly managed and integrated.

Country: France

Region: Châteauneuf - du-Pape

ABV: 15%

Grapes: Grenache 65%, Syrah 20%, Mourvedre 10%

Generous, ripe and medium bodied red cherry and raspberry fruit with a hint of liquorice. Cool climate red from the beautiful terraced slopes of Wachau, Austria.

Country: Austria

Region: Wachau

Grapes: Blauer Zweilgt

ABV: 13%

Aroma begins with a concise array of fragrances that encapsulate the essence of the Japanese term Akemi. Showcasing an elegant profile adorned with delightful floral accents. A velvety smooth texture, and lingering mineral nuances that gracefully persist through its extended and delicate finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano

ABV: 14%

This Rioja winery, Ontañón, has called the wine "Kaori" (meaning "aroma" in Japanese) and is known for its Viura and Tempranillo blends, which are well-suited to Japanese cuisine, especially sushi and sashimi. 

Dark cherry coloured wine. The nose shows fruity aromas, blackberries, cherries and a touch of spice. In the mouth it is fresh, fruity and with a balanced
sweetness.

Country: Spain

Grapes: Monastrell

ABV: 0.%

Food Match: Salads with a light dressing, appetizers, tapas, semi hard cheeses, pastas, mushrooms and charcuterie, roasted white and red meats.

Fermentation takes place over 6-8 days, without exceeding a temperature between 26/28°C. The wine macerates in contact with its skins for a period of 5-10 days. Subsequently, the wine undergoes an innovative dealcoholisation process that allows the
wine's organoleptic properties to be preserved.

Succulent black cherry aroma, bright but delicate and hints of forest floor, with underlying floral and spicy notes. On the palate, the wine is powerful, with silk-textured length.

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Food match

Beef Bourginon with mushroom or braised lamb shanks.

In early 1997, Andrew Gunn, an engineer by training was contemplating his next career move. Having always loved the outdoors, the prospect of farming appealed to him and feeling young and energetic enough to start a new career, left the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg to begin the search for the ‘perfect’ farm.

After months of searching and 40 farm visits later, Andrew and a very tired estate agent stumbled upon a solitary run down apple farm on a mountain top overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The prospect of a suitable farm in Elgin intrigued Andrew and on driving through the valley, he became excited by the beauty of the area. Surrounded by the Kogelberg Biosphere and Forestry the property had no agricultural neighbours. The rolling hills and the drive up the mountain to where the farm was situated, 420 meters above sea level, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was love at first sight.

As he drove in and stopped in front of a rather run down Herbert Baker homestead, he felt, “this is where I would like to live”, and the view from the front of the house overlooking the Elgin Valley below, made up his mind.

This accessible Super Tuscan has an elegant bouquet of leather, black cherries, liquorice and plums leading to a medium to full-bodied palate where ripe red fruit show off the goût de terroir in addition to subtle notes of vanilla and violets, which harmonise and linger, interlacing with the soft tannins and gorgeous silky texture. A firm backbone with perfect integration of acidity and fruit.

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Grapes: Sangiovese 85%
Cabernet Sauvignon 10%
Merlot 5%

ABV: 13%

Food matches: An extremely versatile and food- friendly wine, serve with classic Italian dishes of pasta, risotto, flame-grilled meat, and hard cheeses.

Monte Antico was established in the early 1970s and takes their name from the medieval town of the same name located in Maremma, just a short distance from Montalcino towards the sea.

Packed with dark pastille fruit, this classic Carmenère is aromatic of star anise, hoy sin and salt beef, over a palate that is dark and textural but always juicy. Hugely generous Carmenère that demands a second bottle.

Country: Chile

Region: Wine of Chile

Grapes: Carmenère

ABV:13.5%

 Food match: Sticky BBQ Chinese ribs or chicken

Remember what a great warm summer 2022 was in England? Well, the lovely sunshine helped to perfectly ripen Bolney's Pinot Noir crop and the result is just wonderful. A red wine vintage for us to be proud of for sure, this Pinot shows ripe strawberry and crushed raspberry characters and has a long and pure finish.

Country: England

Region: Sussex with grapes from Essex too

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 11.5%

With the colour of arterial blood, the nose reveals wild berries, rhubarb and custard. The palate is dense, concentrated and brooding opening to a rich mid-palate with cherry-stone fruit and bitter plum and a long finish with a gentle brick-like texture.

Country: Australia

Region: Adelaide Hills

Grape: Barbera

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: Gamey meats or delicious on its own.

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%

Aromatic intensity, with ageing notes (vanilla, roast, spices), very ripe fruit, caramel and subtle hints of leather and fallen leaves, characteristic of a prolonged period in bottle. Long and silky on the palate.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja Alavesa

Grapes: Tempranillo

ABV: 14%

Tempranillo grapes grown in the Elciego area known for its poor clay-loam texture of calcerous soils. Aged for 24months in American and French barrels, then matured for 3 years in bottle

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

Ruby coloured with soft crimson nuances. Intense nose with ripe blackcurrants, plums and cherries. The palate is smooth and harmonious with soft long finish.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Thracian Valley

Grapes: 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Rubin

ABV: 13%

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

From the Yamantiev's Winery