A selection of red wines from around the world that makes the perfect case for anyone who loves Cabernet Sauvignon and is looking to broaden their drinking horizons without having to take a blind punt. With the intense dark berry fruits, grippy tannins and complex flavours of leather and spice, there's plenty of scope here and some really great wines for pairing with food too.
Calappiano, Sangiovese Toscana. 2019
Tuscany's premier grape variety, Sangiovese is a great alternative for a really drinkable, crowd pleasing red. The Calappiano estate dates right the way back to the 1500's and is a natural heritage site filled with vineyards, olive groves and woodlands. Their flagship Sangiovese is full of crunchy, bramble fruit and blueberry pie. A great wine to pair with game dishes, Tuscan wild boar stew would work a treat.
Siegel Handpicked Merlor
Classic Chilean Merlot full of blackcurrants, blueberries and soft black cherries with smooth tannins and well balanced acidity. There's a bit of leather on the nose and a slight roast coffee note to the palate, but this is really all about the fruit.
Bardos, Romantica Crianza. 2018
This Tempranillo from the hot Spanish region of Ribera del Duero is a great alternative if you enjoy the smoky, leathery styles of Cab Sauv. Luscious dark, jammy fruits combine with big leathery, tobacco flavours and smooth tannins that coat your mouth and cry out to be paired with fatty pork dishes, pork sausage casserole would be a great choice on a cool autumnal afternoon by the fire.
Waterkloof, Circle Of Life Red 2017
A blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot and Merlot from the Western Cape of South Africa, this is a wine that really shows the potential of Cape blends. A mixture of traditional Rhone and Bordeaux varieties, here they work together to combine the spiceness of the Syrah, the crunchy fresh fruits of the Petit Verdot and the pure juiciness of the Merlot to create a perfectly balanced red with elegant tannins and bright acidity on the finish. A great wine to try if you usually like your Cabernet to have a good hit of spice and pairs well with braised red meats such as lamb shoulder.
Cabaret Frank No2, The Aviary, Cabernet Franc 2018
Ok we've cheated a little here, this Californian Cabernet Franc actually has a tiny portion of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in, but it's a belter for anyone who loves those really ripe blackberry flavours in a Cab Sauv. Made from vines ageing over 45 years, the intensity of fruit jumps out of the glass, ripe berries, juicy plums and dark cherries shine through. It's super smooth thanks to a spot of ageing in oak barrels but retains all of it's freshness with a classic leafy finish. This works really well with Aubergine and Courgette, combining the two in a veggie parmigiana would work a treat.
Les Volets Malbec 2020
Fantastic Malbec from the foothills of the Pyrenees around the Languedoc and Limoux. Cooled by the altitude and with the warming influence of the Mediterranean this long ripening season leads to a Malbec with lots of vibrant blueberries and creme de cassis with hints of mocha and more red berries on the palate. An ideal partner to a simply grilled Sirloin.
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