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- Rich McLaren Vale Shiraz from RedHeads – made in homage to aspirational cellar hands everywhere£14.99 per bottle
- Italy’s much prized, top Valpolicella red – powerful dark fruit, black pepper, liquorice and tobacco£35.00 per bottle
- Special micro-cuvée from Château La Clarière – superb Right Bank claret but not as you know it!£50.00 per bottle
- From the very first winery of Ribera del Duero, a fine, barrel-matured, old-vine red£30.00 per bottle
- A rich, velvety, elegant Bordeaux-style blend from South Africa’s cool coastal Stellenbosch vineyard£21.00 per bottle
- Triple-Gold claret from Tony Laithwaite's leading Castillon estate in a showstopping double magnum£120.00 per bottle
- A true ‘Grand Cru Classé’ of the Languedoc, blended from the finest cuvées of the region’s crus£20.00 per bottle
- Fabulous 95-point Napa Cabernet from one of the pioneer cellars of California’s premium Napa Valley£120.00 per bottle
- The spicy, velvety fruit of southern Italy's prized Primitivo in this much-loved customer favourite£11.99 per bottle
- Our No.1 bestseller – a red charged with big, spicy Durif and Shiraz, and packed with velvet fruit£11.99 per bottle
- Portugal’s pride and joy grape, barrel-aged to smooth perfection in this luscious big red£12.99 per bottle
- Once a crazy idea, now a 5-star favourite. a rich, velvety Portuguese red from a top winemaker£11.99 per bottle
- Rich, velvety red, brimful of luscious black fruit – a Portuguese triumph, always impressive valuefrom £7.99 per bottlewhen you add 12+SAVE UP TO £60.00
- Meet our No.1 bestselling Rioja of all time, brimming with fruit and layered with toasty vanilla oak£11.99 per bottle
- Weighty Aussie red, charged with fruit in this spice-packed Durif Shiraz. Lipsmackingly tasty£12.49 per bottle
- Meet Rocksand, our rich, punchy Shiraz from Portugal, full of big, spicy black fruit£12.99 per bottle
- From a master winemaker, this is a full-flavoured Aussie red, packed with spice and ripe fruit£11.99 per bottle
- Ripe and juicy, this spicy black fruit Portuguese red is a luscious blend of native grapes and Syrah£12.99 per bottle
- Legendary BIG red from sun-filled Cariñena, with velvet richness and fruit-forward flavour£11.99 per bottle
- Seven Golds and 97 points for the latest Altos Pigeage from Jean-Marc’s superb, high-altitude Rioja£27.00 per bottle
- Seven Golds and 97 Points for Altos Pigeage 2019 from Jean-Marc’s superb, high-altitude Rioja estate£27.00 per bottle
- Three Golds and 95 Points for Altos Pigeage 2020 from Jean-Marc’s superb, high-altitude Rioja estate£27.00 per bottle
- Eight Golds and many high scores for the latest Altos Pigeage from this fine high-altitude Rioja est£27.00 per bottle
- Sumptuous Reserva edition of this velvety, oak-aged, much-loved red from a trail-blazing cellar£15.99 per bottle
Wine FAQs
What red wine is full bodied?
You’ll be able to spot a full-bodied red wine by its darker colour in the glass, higher alcohol content and richer mouthfeel. Many regions throughout the world produce full-bodied reds. But typically, warmer climates produce riper grapes – and these result in bigger, richer reds. Some grapes are better suited to warmer climates, too. Grenache, for example, thrives in the sun-drenched vineyards of southern France, while Primitivo flourishes in Italy’s deep south. Some of the best examples of full-bodied reds include:
- Grenache – the signature grape of Southern France produces rich reds with bags of juicy bramble fruit and spice. Cabalié, or No.1 most-reordered red, is a prime example.
- Cabernet Sauvignon – one of the great grapes of Bordeaux, Cabernet is now grown throughout the world. It thrives in the vineyards of Australia, South Africa and California, and produces very full-bodied reds with intense blackcurrant flavours.
- Shiraz – originally from France (where it is known as Syrah) Shiraz has become the signature grape of Australia. It produces big spicy reds with lush blackberry flavours – often with notes of black pepper.
- Primitivo – the sun-loving grape behind many of southern Italy’s big hearty reds. Expect rich plummy fruit with smoky notes. It is also grown in California, where it is known as Zinfandel and makes some of the biggest reds you’ll taste.
- Touriga Nacional – the grape behind Portugal’s famous dessert wine, Port, also produces impressively rich reds. It’s grown all over Portugal, but you’ll find some of the best value examples around Lisboa and Setúbal. Its wines offer intense blackcurrant flavours, with aromas of star anise and Turkish delight.
They say there are exceptions to every rule – and, in fact, it is possible to produce rich reds in cool climates too. Winemakers in northern Italy add partially dried grapes to the vat to increase concentration in some of their wines. The result is Amarone – a modern Italian classic, and one of the world’s richest and most sought-after reds.
Learn more in our beginner's guide to full-bodied red wine.
Which is the most full-bodied wine?
There’s no definitive answer to this question – though Amarone della Valpolicella Classico and Californian Zinfandel would be serious contenders.
- Amarone is a famously rich red from the Veneto region in the north of Italy. Though the climate is cool, winemakers create formidably powerful reds by airdrying the grapes. As a result, the juice is more concentrated – giving the wines an irresistible, chocolatey, dense cherry richness.
- Zinfandel is in fact the same grape as southern Italy’s Primitivo, but it has been adopted by the Americans – and is the fourth most-planted in California. Its wines are so rich and intense that they have a cult following in the US.
Both of these wines can be pretty pricey – but don’t worry. If you’re looking for full-bodied reds that delivers BIG on satisfaction and won’t break the bank – we’ve got you covered. Two of the biggest reds in our cellars are The Black Stump, from South Eastern Australia, and Cabalié, from Southern France. Both are so dark and rich, we call them Black Reds. They are also our two biggest selling reds.
Is Merlot or Cabernet more full-bodied?
Are full-bodied reds sweet or dry?
Most, if not all of the full-bodied reds in our cellars would classify as dry. However, with riper fruit you do naturally get more sugar – and full-bodied reds may have more residual sugar to balance the intense fruit flavours.
What foods pair well with full-bodied reds?
As you might expect, full bodied reds pair well with equally hearty dishes. Their dark fruit and warming alcohol will easily stand up to rich meat dishes such as steak and kidney pie, toad in the hole, or a Sunday roast.
Full-bodied reds also go well with comfort food such as sausages and mash, a pizza with your favourite topping, or burger and chips.
How to serve full-bodied reds?
Full-bodied reds are best enjoyed at room temperature, between 15 and 18°C, so you can really appreciate their warming flavours.
For best results, open the bottle half an hour or so before drinking and serve in large glasses, to set those lovely rich red fruit aromas free.