Reds

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.

Ruby red in colour with flecks of garnet. Aromas of sweet spice: cinnamon, black pepper and cloves, supported by a ripe red fruit, black cherry and plum fruit. Complex, concentrated, yet elegant tannins, with a fresh minerality.  

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Struma Valley

Grapes: Early Melnik

ABV: 14%

Food Match: Roasts, game, saddle of venison, intense mature cheeses. 

Le Colombier is the flagship red blend from Massaya made from Grenache Noir, Cinsault and Tempranillo sourced from around 40 year old hillside vineyards in the Bekaa Valley. The grapes are hand picked, fermented in stainless steel and then aged for a year in large vats. A bright, juicy red with hints of spice and pepper.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Bekaa Valley

Grapes: Grenache Noir, Cinsault and Tempranillo

ABV: 14.5%

Food match: Roast lamb or lamb tagine with Mediterranean grilled vegetables

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.

Wonderfully light, full of wild strawberry, bitter red cherry and raspberry aromas and flavours.

Country: Germany

Region: Kaiserstuhl, Baden

Grapes: Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)

ABV: 13%

Perfect with roast pork loin stuffed with garlic, onions and sage.

Located between the Rhine River and the Black Forest, Burkheim produces lush and minerally wines that are ideal companions to a wide range of modern cuisine. Bercher produces Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weisburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris). All the wines go through extended lees-aging and have a wonderful aging potential.

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%

Blue and black fruits, with meaty, spice notes and smoky oak complexity. Intense, savoury wine, with a dense ferrous palate, and sustained finish. Drink now or keep for up to 20 years.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Touriga Franca (99%)
Tinta Roriz (1%)

ABV: 14.5%

Quinta da Pedra Alta 'Rio' Tinto is an intense, savoury Douro red, made from parcels from the Quinta's lowest elevations close to the river (Rio).

Inky, dark purple in colour. The nose is pure and concentrated with aromas ripe dark fruit, violets and blackberry. Very well balanced palate with fresh acidity, ripe and supple tannin,  dark stone fruits, juicy yet concentrated with a very long finish. This wine will age well for 5-10 years if you can keep it that long!

Country: Argentina

Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza 

Vegan/Vegetarian

Grapes:   Malbec

ABV: 13.5% 

Patricio Pereyra Pato is the owner and visionary of Bodegas Don Rosendo, Lujan de Cuyo A small estate with organic vineyards in some of the best sub-regions of Mendoza (including La Consulta and Agrelo) and with the superb Gabriela Zavala leading the winemaking, the quality is astonishingly high.

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

Red berry fruit, full of spice, white pepper and floral notes. Supple, intense palate with fine tannin matched by plenty of fruit.

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Syrah

Food match

Braised lamb and blue cheese, pecorino with rosemary and sundried tomato gremolada!

At 420m above sea-level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley Andrew Gunn founded Iona. It is here overlooking the Atlantic ocean that he has secured some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape.

Ruby red in colour and surprisingly fresh and fruity on the nose and palate for it's age. Velvety tannins and a long mulberry finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Dão

Grapes: Jaen, Alfrocheiro

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Lamb tagine

A fruit-driven red wine, a great balance of acidity and juiciness. Notes one can taste: red fruit, pepper, liquorice, cinnamon, vanilla, tobacco, chocolate.

Grape: Carignan

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

ABV: 15%

Food pairing: beef, lamb, game, mushrooms

Vegan

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 

Garnet red in colour. Perfumed notes of sweet spices, undergrowth, game, dried fruit and leather.
Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

13.5% ABV

Grape: Nebbiolo

Food match: game, red meats, cheeses and cured meats

Service temperature: 18 ° 

This wine has the ability to evolve over 15 + years

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.

An elegant Grenache from the Piekenierskloof hills showing aromas of raspberry,plumb, white pepper and red berries. The restrained use of oak holds the juicy ripe fruit flavours and powdery tannins together in a gentle and sumptuous glass of wine

Country: South Africa

Region: Piekenierskloof

Grapes: Grenache

ABV: 13.5%

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
Grapes: Perricone
ABV: 13.5%

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

Oaked red wine, quite fruity. A mix of red and dark fruit on the nose. The palate is smooth and structured with a lingering finish. 

Grape: Pinot Noir

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

ABV: 14,5%

Vegan

Aromas of red fruits and berries with a hint of vanilla and sweet spice. Velvety and soft on the palate with a natural sweetness on the finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Racha, Khvanchkara 

Grapes: Aleksandrouli and Mudjuretuli

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Cheese board

Giuaani Winery is located in the historic village of Manavi, the heartland of Georgian wine producing region, Kakheti. The Manavi village, cradled by the southern slopes of the minor Caucasus, is a home to one of the 29 PDOs (Protected Denomination of Origin) of Georgia. Its unique soil composition and microclimate provides perfect conditions for vine cultivation, especially for Kakhuri Mtsvane grape variety, and for the production of Manavi PDO white dry wines.

Wine from one of Australia's oldest vineyards dating back to 1839.

An elegant, cool-climate Pinot Noir with a perfume of spiced red berries, a pure core of cherry fruit and subtle savoury characters interwoven with red fruits through to a silky finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Victoria

Sub Region: Yarra Valley

ABV: 13 %

Grape: 100% Pinot noir 

Despite the threat of Phyllloxera and the property narrowly avoiding grubbing up to be used as a permanent dairy farm, the vineyard ultimately prevailed. Rated a 5 star producer by James Halliday, Yering Station create beautiful cool climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and expands our Australian selection to include one of the best vineyards in Yarra Valley.

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.

Country: Spain

Region: Jumilla

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Monastrell

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 pale ruby colour. On the nose aromas of Dão field blend and its terroir, with notes of
cherries and red fruit, floral nuances and hints of fresh herbs. Light and clean, with plenty of freshness as well as beautiful acidity and spice on the finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Dão

Grapes: Jaen, Tinta Pinheira, Alfrocheiro, Baga and Touriga Nacional

ABV: 12.5%

Dark, concentrated blackberry and cassis fruit. Cocoa and chocolate notes on the nose, supple tannins, long black berry finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13,5%

Vegan

Food pairing: lamb, veal, deer, venison, mushrooms, mature and hard cheese

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

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