Red

South Africa`s signature grape, (derived by crossing Cinsault and Pinot Noir), has now created an international following. When carefully grown with limited yields, it produces an appealing red fruit aroma, a soft palate with ripe mulberry, sweet strawberry and a touch of herbs.

The Gran Sasso wines are from Ortona in the Abruzzi, home to Valentino Sciotti who is also closely involved in the Vesevo, Primo and Farnese ranges. Marco Flacco is the winemaker here and has made a range which has a freshness and vivacity often lacking in wines from this area.

Aromas begin with crushed berries, black cherries and spices followed by a light floral note. The exuberant palate is full and rich and finishes long.

Nice little juicy Organic Corbieres. Robust with pepper to the fore, good character for the price. Mostly Carignan and Grenache. Since 1771 the Fabre family have been owners of Château Fabre in the heart of the Corbières region of the Languedoc.

Bright, vibrant ruby in colour with purple tints. On the nose this wine is highly perfumed and fresh with plenty of juicy red fruit character, plums, raspberries and cherries. A touch of spice from the subtle use of oak gives extra depth on the palate. An elegant and balanced wine with a fresh, fruity finsh.

One of our biggest selling reds, the Meerlust Red is made from the fruit that`s not quite good enough for the celebrated Rubicon, but is still an excellent expression of the style. This wine has an intense, opaque deep ruby colour, bright and vivacious in the glass, very youthful.

Great value blend of Syrah Grenache Tempranillo and Mourvedre from the Barossa. Deep red, with aromas of cherry and spice. Fruity, earthy and a little spicey. Perfect with red meats, barbeque and cheese. All that for pocket change !

Clos Combe Long is a a vibrant, fruit forward Corbieres. Made from old vine Carignan and Grenache. the wine is bursting with ripe red berry fruit and subtle sweet spice. Delicious.

This Gamay represents a single tank (my favourite in the cellar) and subsequently a Gold Medal winner at the Macon show. It is very much a reflection of the volcanic soils on which the grapes were grown. Almost smoky, there is a gravelly texture about it that reminds me of the structure and masculinity of cru Beaujolais; specifically a Morgon.

German Pinot, fun, fruity , tastes like Pinot ! for not much money ! Pale cherry red colour. There’s an attractive herby, savoury, minerally character to the nose which shows some lightly aromatic red cherry fruit.

An intense, perfumed Rioja Crianza from the excellent Azabache estate. The wine shows notes of toast, spice and balsamic from the oak influence. The palate is very complex with a finish that goes on and on!

A fresh and fruity Bardolino made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. The wine is medium bodied with notes of sour cherries, blackcurrants and a hint of black pepper. Soft and supple in the mouth, this wine has a long and fruity finish.

Brilliant value French Pinot Noir that runs rings around most Burgundy costing 2/3 times as much. From the obscure Auvergne region in central France offering great purity of fruit and freshness. Brought to our attention by the Liberator/Cape Crusader himself Richard Kelley MW.

This certified, organic wine by Vivir Sin Dormir, has bright plum and cherry fruit on the nose. The palate is full of ripe red and black fruits and a hint of spice. It is a big wine, which is what you would expect from a Monastrell (mouverdre), it`s powerful and well-structured, with silky smooth tannins.

This deeply coloured barrel aged Languedoc blend is perfumed with dark cherries, black pepper and vanilla spice. Hints of wild herbs and minerals add to a rich palate of dense dark fruits and subtle oak. It is medium bodied yet well structured with a good backbone of fine tannins and restrained acidity providing an excellent, long finish.

Pungent aromas of raspberry and red plums are tempered by the deft use of French oak. The palate is redolent with succulent, sweet fruit aromas and finely coated in ripe mouth filling tannins. Smokey and savoury oak characters provide a subtle background to this complex and well balanced wine.

Chapoutier continues to produce wines of unbelievable value and this one is no exception. It has a gorgeous garnet red colour with red fruit aromas, mainly Morello cherries. Well-structured, with sustained tannins - medium bodied reds don`t get much better than this!

This soft and rounded wine is a modern style of Chianti from the south of Tuscany, made to emphasise its ripe and vibrant fruit. It is blended from Sangiovese and Canaiolo vine to give a medium body with fresh red fruits, a touch of oak from a brief maturation in barrel and a typical bittersweet finish.

A strong, spicy Shiraz from South Australia which is well balanced with complex rich, expressive leathery palate and a hint of smoky American oak. Soft tannins and intense red berry fruit continue on the long finish with intense flavours of dark chocolate and spice. A great pairing for red meat dishes.

Gamay and Pinot Noir are the two permitted varieties of the Auvergne appellation. They are blended together to produce a distinctive wine typical of the region. This tank fermented light red wine, full of bright soft red fruits, is juicy and has a streak of minerality. Ideally served lightly chilled.

An intense claret coloured Malbec from Argentina with a complex nose with a combination of red fruits such as cherries and a hint of violets. Smooth mouth feel, this is a fresh and fruit wine that carries vanilla and caramel notes from ageing in small oak barrels. A well defined structure and drinking beautifully now.

Attractive red colour with violet hues and aromas of intense ripe fruit, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and fresh plums, combined with spicy and floral hints. In the mouth the sweet and round tannins increase its fruit sensation and balance. A wine of good intensity, concentration and long after taste.

This Argentinian Cabernet Sauvignon is bright ruby red wit fresh fruit aromas, like plums, berries and cherries, combined with spicy notes of pepper, green pepper and eucalyptus. The French oak provides smooth notes of vanilla, chocolate and cinammon. Juicy on the palate, with notes of cherries, plums and berries. Nice acidity and a long finish.

Great value,this fantastic Chartreuse property is among the best of the appellation, producing firm, rich wine from predominately Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. Tanesse has classic structure, and in this great vintage it has extra depth of soft fruit with subtle oak, ripe tannins, and an excellent balance.

This is a serious wine with aromatics of dark plum, cherry, spice and earthy undertones. The palate is generous and rich and does not disappoint with these characters shining through, coupled with dark berries. A long tannin structure integrated with new and older French oak make this wine one that will age very well.