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ArgentinaRed blendRich 93pt Malbec Cabernet from a joint project of Château Lafite and Argentina’s Nicolás Catena£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
SpainTempranillo-based blend95-Points for Viña Ardanza Rioja Reserva, one of the very best wines of Spain, from a 5-star vintage£29.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£34.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
ItalyNero di TroiaRelish the might of this thoroughbred version of Puglia’s dark horse, Corsiero Nero£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
GeorgiaSaperaviFrom the original cradle of wine and an IWC Trophy winner, a superb silky red made in clay amphorae£11.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
South AfricaPinotageA classic Cape Pinotage with velvety black fruit from a historic estate in prestigious Stellenbosch£16.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£18.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
ItalyRed blendLuxury Super Tuscan style red, traditionally crafted with dried grapes for extra intensity£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£22.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
FranceCabernet-based blendHush-hush, very well-priced, insider-deal Margaux from a very famous château we’re forbidden to name£31.50 per bottle when you mix 6+£38.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
SpainGracianoSeven Golds and 95 Suckling points for this rare, pure Graciano Rioja from a leading boutique estate£25.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£32.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
New ZealandPinot NoirVoluptuous black cherry Pinot Noir from New Zealand’s hallowed area for this grape, Central Otago£15.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£23.50 per bottleQty bottles:OR
AustraliaShirazThe flagship, barrel-aged Shiraz from this leading, sustainable cellar in Australia's Barossa Valley£24.30 per bottle when you mix 6+£27.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
ItalyRed blendDense, cherry-rich Amarone from Italy’s ‘Winery of the Year’ in 2016. Deep velvety smooth£23.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£26.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
PortugalTouriga Nacional-based blendIntense, rich Grande Reserva from the Douro and a 15th-generation family. Packed with flavour£27.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£30.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
ArgentinaMalbecImpressively rich, elegant and satin-smooth, a Malbec masterclass from very beautiful Patagonia£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
SpainTempranilloSeven Golds and 97 points for the latest Altos Pigeage from Jean-Marc’s superb, high-altitude Rioja£23.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£26.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
ItalyNebbioloWell-priced Barolo, Piedmont's top wine, from a 5-Star classic vintage that will age well£26.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£29.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
ItalyNerello Mascalese-based blendFrom the prized soils of Mount Etna's slopes, this is an exceptional, elegant, mineral-laced red£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£21.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
FranceGrenache-based blendOutstanding, rich, velvety Châteauneuf-du-Pape from an 18th-century family estate with many awards£25.20 per bottle when you mix 6+£28.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
SpainTempranilloA smooth, mellow Rioja Reserva with all the elegance you’d expect from this family estate£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
FranceCabernet-based blendWith 95 points, this is "a terrific Siran". "Very classy and polished" Margaux from a great vintage£32.00 per bottleQty bottles:£333.60 £384.001 case (12 bottles) - £27.80 per bottleSave £50.40Qty cases:
FranceMerlot-based blendFrom the owners of Château Haut-Brion, this is a superb 93pt Saint-Émilion with 5-Star pedigree£23.00 per bottle when you mix 6+£25.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
FranceMerlot-based blendOutstanding vintage, five-Golds claret from the Laithwaite family's Castillon estate. Velvety rich£24.30 per bottle when you mix 6+£27.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
New ZealandPinot NoirFrom one of the finest region's in the world for Pinot Noir, a glorious, fragrant, silky red£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£23.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
FranceMerlot-based blendFrom the owners of Château Haut-Brion, this is a 91-point, top-vintage Bordeaux with 5-Star pedigree£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
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.
