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French Red Wines
We don't place an emphasis on France (unlike many retailers) as we source our wines primarily on their own merits before appellation or region. The best French red wines tend to be expensive as there is plenty of demand from traditional retailers. But there are plenty of good French red wines at reasonable prices, particularly from the former Vin de Pays regions along the South coast.
The majority of our French offerings are natural, sulphite free wines from the Rhone and Languedoc regions.
When it comes to Bordeaux I personally prefer a good Bordeaux blend from warmer more reliable climates outside France. In fact a "Bordeaux blend" is my favourite wine so I'm always keen to find good ones. We have some great examples from Argentina, South Africa and Italy. Give them a go - you would have to spend a lot more money to find anything anywhere near their equivalent from France!
- Cave de Cairanne Organic Metamorphosis AC Cotes Du Rhone Villages
A fantastic new organic wine from this excellent co-operative. The renowned Rhone trio of grape varieties "GSM" (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre).
This wine is superb for the money.
Organic: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£11.99 - Domaine Mayrac Organic Savoir Etre Rouge
A new wine recently released. Tasting notes to follow but I expect it to be very good.
Awarded Silver at both Milesime Bio 2019 and IWSC 2019
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£13.49Out of stock - Le Quai à Raisins Lopin sulphite free wine
A new red from Robin Althof from Costes Cirgues and his wife Imogen.
Free sulphur: <5
Organic: Yes
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£23.50 - Cave de Cairanne Organic L'Insouciante AC Cotes Du Rhone
A very pleasant warming red. At first it's a little tight with earthy aromas. Give it a bit of time to open up and it becomes very moreish in a natural style.
Free sulphur: 15
Organic: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£11.99 - Le Quai à Raisins Garmatcha sulphite free wine
A new wine from a new venture! Robin Althof from Costes Cirgues and his wife Imogen are making small batches of their own excellent wines from different parcels of grapes from friends' vineyards. Obviously they are organically farmed and sulphite free of course.
100% Grenache aged in oak for 12 months.
Free sulphur: <5
Organic: Yes
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
No wood used: No
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£28.50 - Cave de Cairanne Organic Elegante Cairanne
An excellent organic Rhone blend. Again sweet fruit on entry, good mouthfeel with full body, smooth and round with just a hint of oak.
Free sulphur: 14
Organic: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£12.49 - Cave de Cairanne AC Cairanne Sans Soufre
Another sulphite free Rhone blend, this time from the Cairanne AOC. Full flavoured and fruity with medium body. Once again smooth with nicely balanced natural aciditiy. Like all Cave de Cairanne's reds it is made in a fruit forward style so is a little sweeter on the palate than our other sulphite free reds.
Free sulphur: <7
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£13.00 - Cave de Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Rouge Sans Soufre
A good entry level Cotes Du Rhone without added sulphites. Great value.
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£10.99 - Cave de Cairanne Chateuneuf du Pape
Cave de Cairanne Chateauneuf du Pape . Big and powerful of course with noticeable oak, but Cairanne took great care to preserve the fruit and limit the tannins (by destemming the grapes before crushing). Super wine with a very long finish.
Sulphite level: Low
John's Rating:
£29.99 - Cave de Cairanne Gigondas
Gigondas had become known as "the poor man's Chateauneuf du Pape" a decade ago, although I think that is a bit tongue in cheek as the wines can still command a hefty price. The wines can be amazing and although this AC has developed a very strong reputation for high quality, they still tend to be a bit cheaper than equivalents from Chateauneuf.
This wine is superb. Big and powerful as you would expect, with full body. Super smooth with acidity and oak in perfect balance, and a very long lingering finish. Highly recommended. Cave de Cairanne make all their reds in a fruit forward style and minimise the tannins (by de-stemming etc) so the wine is ready to drink young. For this reason we recommend you drink within a couple of days once opened, but it is so delicious you will probably drink it within a couple of hours in reality!
Sulphite level: Low
John's Rating:
£23.95 - Cave de Cairanne Plan de Dieu La Reserve
Guide Hachette 2019 - 1 Star
Cave de Cairanne La Reserve Plan de Dieu (meaning the plan of God) is one of the 17 designated villages which make up the Rhone's Cotes du Rhone Villages. For this appellation the wine can come from one of four villages in the Vaucluse area. Due to the nature of the soils these wines tend to be dense and concentrated with vivid colour. The 2016 won Gold at the Orange Wine Fair 2017 and Silver at Decanter 2017.
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Sulphite level: Low
£11.50 - Cave de Cairanne Vacqueyras
Cave de Cairanne are very proud of this Vacqueyras. As an AOC the reputation of Vacqueyras has grown in recent years as it is catching up to it's more famous neighbours of Gigondas and Chateauneuf du Pape.
This is an excellent wine. Big and powerful yet well balanced. Good fruit with just the right amount of oak, very smooth and medium bodied with a long finish. This knocks the socks off any generic Chateaneuf du Pape. Highly recommended.
Free sulphur: 12
Organic: Yes
No wood used: No
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£18.95 - Cave de Cairanne Rasteau
Appellation Rasteau Controllee. Concentrated red and black fruits with some well integrated oak. Fairly light in body and silky smooth. This is a delicious wine, ideal with some good cheese.
No wood used: No
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£13.00 - Le Quai à Raisins Syrault sulphite free wine
A new wine from a new venture! Robin Althof from Costes Cirgues and his wife Imogen are making small batches of their own excellent wines from different parcels of grapes from friends' vineyards. Obviously they are organically farmed and sulphite free of course.
This first wine is a blend of Syrah and Cinsault - we have just moved onto their 2019.
Jane and I overnighted at the Chateau in September (2 years ago now) where we were treated to a full tasting of all their wines including some older vintages, prior to a wonderful meal out in the courtyard under the stars. All their wines are very good, but for some reason I was drawn back to this one repeatedly and it is the wine I chose to drink for the rest of the evening!
We have just received the new vintage and it is superb. A bit bigger than the previous one in my opinion. Very deep opaque ruby in colour, big full ripe fruit flavours with good acidity cutting through on the long finish.
This is very good wine and one of our biggest selling sulphite free reds. Highly recommended.
Free sulphur: <5
Organic: Yes
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£14.99Out of stock - Domaine Mayrac Organic Enigma
A superb single vineyard Syrah aged for 24 months in oak. Delicious! Big black cherry flavours with vanilla and a hint of white pepper. Perfectly balanced wine with good natural acidity. Superb.
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£25.00Out of stock - Domaine Mayrac Organic Diletante Syrah
Gold Medal - Milesime Bio
Domaine Myrac Diletante Rouge is a complex Syrah with flavours of dark chocolate followed by mint. Very smooth and balanced. Fully organic and very low in sulphur, this is a genuine artisan wine from this excellent organic family owned winery. This wine is lovely.
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£16.00 - Domaine Mayrac Organic Le Precieux Pinot Noir
A great organic Pinot Noir from this family owned winery.
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Very Low
John's Rating:
£11.99Out of stock - Chateau Costes Cirgues sulphite free wine
Chateau Costes Cirgues is the top wine from this superb tiny family winery. All their wines are sulphite free and organically certtified. It consists of 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache hand harvested into small trays from another tiny 1.6 hectare vineyard. Gravity fed, concrete fermented then aged in French oak for 15 months prior to blending. Black fruit from the Grenache with some pepper from the Syrah. Big, rich and opulent. This is a superb wine.
We have just received stock of the 2015.
Free sulphur: 0
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£24.95Out of stock - Costes Cirgues Bois du Roi sulphite free wine
Deep opaque purple in colour. This is a big wine and is best decanted as it really opens up given some time to breathe. Big black fruit flavours, velvet mouth feel and soft tannins. This vintage is excellent once again.
Free sulphur: 0
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£17.99Out of stock - Costes Cirgues Saint Cyr sulphite free wine
Deep opaque ruby in colour. Swirl it round in the glass and the nose really opens up. Big damson and plum flavours in the mouth. Very smooth and balanced.
Free sulphur: 0
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£16.99Out of stock - Costes Cirgues Montplaisir sulphite free wine
Montplaisir from Costes Cirgues is one of our best value sulphite free red wines. It's made in a fresh and fruity style to be enjoyed young. Merlot adds ripe red fruits and the Carignan was fermented under carbonic maceration where the grapes are not pressed but simply crushed by their own weight, which extracts only the free run juice and avoids extracting the tannins.
Excellent this year, in my opinion David's best vintage yet. Full flavoured with good mouthfeel, super smooth and rounded. Great balance and a long finish.
Free sulphur: <5
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£14.99Out of stock - Domaine D'Anglas Esprit de la Garrigues sulphite free wine
Esprit de la Garrigues is a big, powerful wine which benefits from decanting. Handpicked grapes from a 2 hectare vineyard from vines between 15-25 years old. Consisting of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache, fermented in stainless steel then aged in a combination of stainless steel and oak.
A great wine in it's own right, being sulphite free is a bonus! We have just received the 2019 into stock.
Free sulphur: <5
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£16.99Out of stock - Domaine D'Anglas Le Petit Roy sulphite free wine
A very good wine and one of our most popular sulphite free reds. Not too heavy as the grapes are lightly pressed to avoid too much tannin, so this will go well with virtually any food from roast chicken to pizza to a BBQ. It's soft, smooth and mellow with gentle acidity.
We have maintained our old prices for D'Anglas despite currency pressure and a winery price increase, so this is great value.
Free sulphur: <5
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£13.00Out of stock - Domaine D'Anglas Chemin Des Moutons sulphite free wine
Chemin des Moutons Organic Domaine D'Anglas is a beautiful big sulphite free syrah grenache blend. It is the flagship wine from Roger and is superb! Just received the 2018.
Free sulphur: <5
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£24.95Out of stock - Domaine Mayrac Esprit Nature Red sulphite free wine
Another soft and smooth sulphite free red for every day drinking
Free sulphur: <5
Organic: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Vegan: No
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£12.49Out of stock - Domaine Viret Emergence sulphite free wine
A big powerful blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan aged in barriques for 24 months.
Free sulphur: <5mg/l
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Dry farmed: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£28.00 - Domaine Viret Les Colonnades sulphite free wine
A big powerful blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Carignan aged in barriques for 24 months.
Free sulphur: <5mg/l
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Dry farmed: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£22.99 - Domaine Viret Mareotis sulphite free wine
A big powerful blend of Grenache and Syrah aged in barriques for 24 months.
Free sulphur: <5mg/l
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Dry farmed: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£22.99 - Domaine Viret Sylibre sulphite free wine
A one off Cuvee from Philippe. This is a parcel of Syrah that he aged in vat for several years before bottling. It's a big powerful wine.
Free sulphur: <5mg/l
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Dry farmed: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£19.99 - Domaine Viret Renaissance sulphite free wine
Perhaps Philippe's most successful wine. A beautiful, powerful blend aged only in concrete to preserve the natural fruit flavours. Nothing added and nothing taken away.
Free sulphur: <5mg/l
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Dry farmed: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£16.99Out of stock - Domaine Viret Energie sulphite free wine
This year Philippe has only made the one "Energie" wine. Previously there was Energie Yin and Energie Yang, but no longer. The wine is better than ever, this time being 100% Syrah fermented and aged in concrete tanks to retain all the fruit purity. Obviously the wine has Philippe's trademark natural style. Thoroughly delicious!
Free sulphur: <5mg/l
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Dry farmed: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
No wood used: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£13.99 - Domaine Viret Solstice sulphite free wine
A great introduction to Viret wines. Fruity, earthy, very natural in style. No added acid (or anything else) of course so it harmonises with the body and quickly becomes really "moreish"!
Free sulphur: <5mg/l
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Dry farmed: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£13.99 - Domaine Viret MPN sulphite free wine
This is Philippe's lightest wine. A soft, light blend which can be drunk chilled if required.
Free sulphur: <5mg/l
Grapes Own Yeast: Yes
Sustainable farming: Yes
Dry farmed: Yes
Gluten free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Sulphite level: Sulphite Free
John's Rating:
£14.99