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- Dense, barrel aged, northern Rhône Syrah from the highly respected Cave de Tain£24.00 per bottleQty bottles:
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- Rich, mature Haut-Médoc claret of superior Cru Bourgeois status – makes delicious drinking now£16.99 per bottleQty bottles:
- Irresistible, stylishly oak aged Rioja Reserva from one of the region’s most revered names£17.99 per bottleQty bottles:
- Indulge yourself with this wonderfully mellow tawny port from the Andresen family lodge£30.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- £35.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- Rich Aussie Shiraz that’s so addictively smooth, rich and spicy, it should be outlawed!£9.49 per bottleQty bottles:
- A prime example of wonderful old-vine Priorat red in Northeast Spain – mineral edged and full-bodied£14.99 per bottleQty bottles:
- “Pure and polished” Hermitage from a breathtaking vintage – a real coup, exclusive to our customers£35.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- Silky smooth and gently spicy, barrel aged Rioja Crianza – the smart classification to go for£11.99 per bottleQty bottles:
- Gorgeously mouthfilling, 95-point McLaren Vale Shiraz from legendary winemaker Michael Fragos£22.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- Gorgeously mouthfilling and bold McLaren Vale Shiraz from legendary winemaker Michael Fragos£22.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- Gorgeously mouthfilling and bold McLaren Vale Shiraz from legendary winemaker Michael Fragos£22.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- £210.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- Rare Gran Reserva Carmenère from some of the world’s highest vineyards. Pour a glass of opulence£13.99 per bottleQty bottles:
- £90.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- Outstanding Single Vineyard Malbec from Argentina’s great Trapiche winery. Dense, velvety, complex£25.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- Sumptuous vintage port, once the sister house to Cockburn’s, now part of the great Symington empire£37.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- £90.00 per bottleQty bottles:
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- £55.00 per bottleQty bottles:
- Rich, juicy, steak friendly Malbec Cabernet crafted with Château Lafite expertise£16.99 per bottleQty bottles:
- Presenting the richest, most luscious Rustler ever, courtesy of the best vintage in living memory£9.49 per bottleQty bottles:
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 Malbec a full-bodied wine?
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.