Filter by
- A rich Prestige cuvée of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the southern Rhône’s most sought-after red wine£28.00 per bottleSAVE £1.00
- Magnificent 96-point superstar red from Campania's great Taurasi region; a Riserva with 7 years' age£34.00 per bottle
- This is a very special, one-off parcel of supreme Aussie Shiraz from a top 5-Star Barossa winery£25.00 per bottle
- Powerful, rich, dark, barrel-matured red from Stellenbosch and the revered Boschendal estate£25.00 per bottle
- Stunning, 95-point, 12-year-old Reserva masterpiece from a proudly traditional Rioja iconfrom £38.00 per bottleSAVE UP TO £18.00
- Top Argentina Malbec from 'Grand Cru' Gualtallary and the Bordeaux-born, Trophy-winning Hervé Fabre£30.00 per bottle
- £30.00 per bottle
- Barolo ‘King of Reds’ from a standout vintage, named after the founder of this great Bussia estate£34.00 per bottle
- Stellar, 5-star 2019 vintage Brunello from an acclaimed small, family estatefrom £30.00 per bottle
- Fine, elegant and complex Crozes-Hermitage, crafted by dynamic young gun Yann Chave£25.00 per bottle
- Fine, elegant, silky-fruit Margaux from a very small family estate, teeming with biodiversity£35.00 per bottle
- Top winemaker Duncan Savage only does cool – hence the pristine, elegant fruit of this Cape Syrah£28.00 per bottle
- The flagship, barrel-aged Shiraz from this leading, sustainable cellar in Australia's Barossa Valley£28.00 per bottle
- Seven Golds and 97 points for the latest Altos Pigeage from Jean-Marc’s superb, high-altitude Rioja£27.00 per bottle
- Rich, darkly spiced Garnacha from ancient vines in remote Calatayud, made by Norrel Robertson MW£27.00 per bottle
- Sumptuous Châteauneuf from a Parker-rated family cellar and a difficult, yet high-quality vintage£27.00 per bottle
- Outstanding vintage, Gold-medal claret from the Laithwaite family's Castillon estate. Silky and rich£30.00 per bottle
- 95 points for the this legendary Rioja Reserva, Viña Ardanza, one of the very best wines of Spain£32.00 per bottle
- A fabulous, elite, barrel-aged red from Spain’s fine wine Priorat region and a highly awarded winery£30.00 per bottle
- Flagship Rioja from one of Spain’s leading winemakers, Telmo Rodriguez. A magnificent Reserva£38.99 per bottle
- Deliciously rich, powerful Amarone from Italy's 2016 Winery of the Year – intense and luscious£26.00 per bottle
- Slinky, seductive, fruit-filled Pinot Noir from a great cellar in Oregon's 5-star Willamette Valley£30.00 per bottle
- from £70.00 per bottle
- from £29.00 per bottle
Wine FAQs
What defines a fine red wine?
The truth is there is no official definition of fine wine. And you’ll find many different answers if you have a quick search online. To some people, fine wine is defined by price. For others, it’s about a wine’s rarity or reputation. You can read our take in our article on What is fine wine?
Ultimately it comes down to taste. A fine wine should have balance (where the acidity, tannin, sweetness, body and alcohol are all in harmony), complexity (the wine reveals many different layers of aromas and flavours), length (the flavours should last in the mouth) and elegance. It should reflect the unique terroir in which it was grown. And above all, a fine red wine should be a pleasure to drink!
Where do fine red wines come from?
Fine red wines can come from any wine region in the world. Traditionally, the best fine red wines came from Europe, especially the classic French wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. But these days, you’ll find fine red wines made all over the world, from Brunello di Montalcino to Barossa.
That doesn’t mean that provenance doesn’t matter. Only the best vineyard sites can produce truly ‘fine wine’ and an important characteristic of fine wine is that it has a ‘sense of place’.
Do fine red wines age well?
Yes, fine red wines have better ageing potential than regular wines. Fine red wines are more complex and will usually (not always) evolve with age. But there are lots of factors that affect age-worthiness … grape variety, how the wine has been made, and where it’s from. Each wine is different so it’s difficult to make generalisations, but if you’re looking for a fine red wine for ageing, the reds of Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône, Piedmont and Tuscany are a good place to start.
The easiest way to tell whether the wine you choose ages well is to look at the ‘Drink by’ dates on our website. It’s not the same as an expiry date but rather when we think the wines will be drinking at their best.
How do you store fine red wines?
To maintain the quality of your wines as they age, make sure you store them in ideal conditions. Wines should be aged horizontally, out of direct sunlight and with a constant cool temperature. 10-15 degrees is considered the optimum temperature for red wines.
Naturally, a cellar is perfect but not everyone has one! Other options include a temperature-controlled ‘wine fridge’, an outbuilding or garage, or in a storage cabinet kept in a cool place.
Take a look at our 5 tips and tricks for storing wine at home to find out more.
And if you’re looking for long-term storage of fine wine, we recommend you take advantage of our customer storage facility in Gloucester.
Storage is available for any wine you buy from us in our state-of-the-art warehouse. Temperature and humidity are not only monitored in various parts of the warehouse, they’re also actively controlled. Visit our fine wine hub to find out more or call our fine wine team on 03330 148 202.
What is considered the finest red wine?
That depends on who you ask! In terms of what is the most expensive, Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Burgundy still holds the record for the most expensive fine red wine sold at auction.
If you’re looking to get your hands on the world’s most sought-after bottles, from First-Growth Bordeaux to the top Super Tuscans and Grand Cru Burgundy, get in touch with our fine wine team by emailing finewine@laithwaiteswine.com or call 03330 148 202. They’ll be able to offer advice on the best fine red wines to choose and can also help you buy your wines En Primeur, essentially a way of buying wines before they’ve been bottled. You can find out more on our fine wine hub.