

Red Grape Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon
Easy to cultivate. Full bodied, dry, high tannins in young wine becoming silken with age. Green pepper, blackcurrant, cassis, cedar, leather, tobacco. Bordeaux, Australia, Chile, USA, NZ, SA
Merlot
Smooth and mellow. Less tannic than Cab Sav. Red fruits, summer pudding, chocolate, baked figs, gentle spices. Bordeaux, Chile, Argentina, NZ, Australia, Ital
Pinot Noir
Tricky grape to cultivate, creates a delicate, light to mid body wine with great complexity and soft tannins. Hints of forest fruits, leaf mould, worn leather. Burgundy, Alsace, Italy, NZ, USA
Malbec
Inky dark with thin skin (soft tannins) and spice. Medium to full bodied, velvety soft, full flavour. Berries, brambles, old leather, smoke, cocoa. Cahors, Bordeaux, Loire, Argentina, Chile, USA
Grenache
Cultivated in hot, dry climates; a late ripener. Soft on the palate, high alcohol, low acidity. Warm, deep and complex. White pepper, herbs, spices, berries. CdP, Southern Rhone, Spain
Syrah/Shiraz
Dark and full bodied. Medium to high tannin. Punchy flavours and spicy finish. Black fruits, brambles, plums, spice, black pepper. Rhone, Languedoc, Australia, SA, Chile, Argentina
Sangiovese
A chameleon! Medium body, light colour, high acidity, moderate tannins and complex flavours. Herbal, plums, berries, sour cherry, vanilla spice. Italy (Chianti), Argentina, Australia, USA
Tempranillo
Medium to full bodied red with medium acidity. Red fruits, sweet coconut, vanilla, savoury vegetal and animal flavours. Often blended with Grenache. Spain (Rioja), Australia, USA, SA
Nebbiolo
Full bodied wine with high tannins, alcohol and acidity. Red fruit flavours accompanied by floral and earth elements, tobacco, mushroom,tar. Italy (Piemonte), USA, Australia.
Carmenere
Deep red, full bodied, was mistaken for Merlot in Chile for years. Gentler and softer tannins than Cab Sav. Berries, spices, green pepper, earthy, smoky. Medoc, Chile, Italy, USA, Australia, NZ.