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Other Red Varietals & Blends (including Mediterranean varieties)

Where do you stand on Japanese barrel-aged reds? It’s a serious question – and one that gets to the heart of what this part of SWA is all about.

All manner of grape varieties, countries and wine styles get scooped up in this catch-all category. We had everything from Touriga from Western Australia to Argentine Criolla; Pais to Petit Sirah, Tempranillo to Tannat. And don’t even get us started on the blends. They ranged from classic to unusual to borderline delusional.

This, in other words, is a fascinating place to come looking. It’s like spending an hour in a rickety second-hand bookshop, with everything from well-priced gems and surprise rare editions to utter tat.

The big question for our judges all the way through here was ‘do you like this wine enough to want to hand-sell it’? These wines aren’t going to fly off a list, so they needed to offer something interesting that the somm can get behind – and overdeliver for the price.

Well worth having an explore, in other words.

From The Tasting Teams

‘It’s interesting to taste a flight with so many stylistic differences, and overall the quality was good. Some were really distinctive and different, showing that New World winemakers are not afraid to do fresher styles.’ Charlie Young, team leader

‘Really interesting, unusual wines. For me the Chinese wine stood out, and tasting menus give the chance to throw in something odd and unexpected.’ Stephanie Robertson, RA Group

‘These are developing in quality and showing more value for money. We weren’t seeing excessive oak, but rather fresh styles, with more acidity. I thought the prices were really good too.’ Marco Marcuzzo, Zuma Rome

‘A fun flight to taste - super fun as an enthusiast. Commercially it’s difficult to know where these wines will sit and how they will sell. It might be a beautiful wine at £30, but will Janet from Leeds know what it is?’ Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK

‘There was a nice wine from Japan at £32. It was superb in terms of fruit character, like Beaujolais but with more complexity, light, refreshing. But how can you justify such a high price for a wine from a country without a well-established wine presence?’ Rémi Cousin, Le Gavroche

‘Some gems, but this was a difficult category. Many didn’t stand out, and I don’t know why I would pay for that.’ James Fryer, Woodhead 17

‘A very good flight, showing some good potential. The prices were good too.’ Elisa Soggia, Trivet

‘We were unanimous [on the Stargazer]. In a restaurant it would be £100 – but if people did order and pay for it they would think it is good value.’ Oliver Zelenczuk, London Shell Co

‘Some very good examples of modern winemaking here. There was good fruit and they weren’t too heavy, so could even work with fish dishes.’ Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine

Award winners

Found 51 wines

New World: Other red varietals & blends

Viña Requingua, Toro de Piedra, Carignan 2018, Maule Valley, Chile

'A very tasty wine for the price, with nice red and black fruits, and some green herbal notes too.' Tim Smith, Winesurfer Consulting. 'A rich, iron-filled nose with broody dark cherries, plums and some cocoa spice. A well-structured wine with good balance - a great by-the-glass option for restaurants, as it would work well with a lot of different foods.' Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards.

£9.52 Condor Wines

Ventisquero, Vertice 2017, Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile

'Typically Chilean, this is a big wine that's sweet, spicy and aromatic, with lots of generous primary fruit and some silky tannins. Good for grills, braises and strong cheeses.' Martin Lam, team leader. 'Spicy and meaty, with mushrooms and black figs, black fruit and a herbal hint.' Elisa Soggia, Trivet. 'A bright, enjoyable and quaffable wine with juicy tannins.' Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade.

£13.80 Kingsland

Casarena, Single Vineyard, Petit Verdot 2012, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Argentina

'This speaks loudly about its provenance and varietal character, with loads of green bell pepper and plenty of body, fruit extraction and sun, with some strong tannins too.' Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO. 'A succulent and meaty wine with good complexity, showing some raspberries, blackberries, black cherries and prunes, and a palate that's dry, with coffee and earthy notes and some high tannins.' Elisa Soggia, Trivet.

£16.65 Frederic Robinson

Mazza, Cinque 2010, Western Australia, Australia

'There's some maturity here, with ferrous notes and undergrowth together with a very spicy, herbal nose, all leading to a firm, savoury palate with dry tannins.' Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade. 'This is complex and round, with some red and black fruits notes, as well as an earthy and herbal element joined by some black pepper and a hint of dark chocolate.' Elisa Soggia, Trivet.

£15.60 Jeroboams

Flagstone, Dragon Tree, Cape Blend 2016, Western Cape, South Africa

'With rich bramble fruits, some smokiness and a touch of herbal complexity, at this price point this is a good full-bodied wine for a restaurant list.' Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards. 'A fun palate, alive with acidity, redcurrants and spice.' Harry Crowther, Grape Times UK. 'Earthy gravel character accompanied by some dark fruit and warm spice -definitely a barbecue wine.' Angela Reddin, team leader.

£10.57 Matthew Clark

Durigutti , Las Compuertas, Criolla 2019, Mendoza, Argentina

'A wine for a cool bar, that leaves you refreshed and happy. There's a savoury element here, with a touch of floral aromatics, leading to a juicy palate with piles of redcurrants and cherries, some light tannins and bags of character.' Charlie Young, team leader. 'Bright, fleshy red fruit laced with some leather notes and vibrant acidity, with approachable tannins adding extra texture.' Mattia Mazzi, Cornerstone.

£14.38 Bibendum

Stargazer, Rada, Pinot Meunier/Pinot Noir 2018, Tasmania, Australia

'Unique and well-made, this is fresh, crisp and juicy, with some lovely fruit. Easy-drinking.' Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader. 'Leathery, earthy and rustic, with some precise cranberry fruit, spice, and a very elegant feel overall, with a silky texture.' Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade. 'A very pretty petal nose gives way to a gravelly finish, with crunchy fruit in-between.' Oliver Zelenczuk, London Shell Co.

£26.45 Enotria&Coe

Santolin, Cosa Nostra, Pinot Noir/Syrah 2018, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia

'Balanced and fresh, with a good savoury element, this has complexity and interest.' Martin Lam, team leader. 'Savoury and earthy, with truffle-like mushroom notes.' Cinthia Lozano, The Winery Honduras. 'Red forest fruit and cherries, with earthiness and smoke, as well as peppery and mineral notes.' Markus Dilger, Dilger Sommelier Selection.

£17.00 Oddbins

Trimboli, Salvatore, Malbec/Shiraz/Durif 2019, Riverina, New South Wales, Australia

'A meaty wine with some good black fruit character and nice structure, with notes of cinnamon, black pepper and blackberries, as well as a grassy, herbal component.' Elisa Soggia, Trivet. 'Bright and fresh wild blackberry, with some spice and flower notes, all complemented by a toastiness and some cooking spices.' Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO.

£6.32 Laithwaite's Wine

Via Wines, Oveja Negra, The Lost Barrel 2016, Maule Valley, Chile

'This has an enticing nose of dark fruit encased in shortcrust pastry, with a dollop of custard, leading to a fresh palate that has good balance and a pleasant finish.' Michael Fiducia, Royal Automobile Club. 'Notes of dark fruit, some sweet spices and a floral element too.' Lionel Periner, team leader.

£12.97 Viña San Rafael S.A

Angels & Cowboys, Proprietary Red 2017, Sonoma County, California, USA

'This is really autumnal - there's a poached plum nose with a dollop of framboise and some deep, rich cloves, leading to sinewy tannins and a touch of herbs, with a warm finish. A complex food wine.' Angela Reddin, team leader. 'Black cherries, dill and some American oak on the nose and palate, joined by some savoury basil herb notes, and some cassis on the finish.' Claire Love, Loves Consultancy.

£17.59 Enotria&Coe

Heirloom, Anevo, Grenache/Touriga/Tempranillo 2018, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

'Elegant tannins and excellent structure here, with vibrant spices and minerality, great presence of French oak, and velvety tannins.' Cinthia Lozano, The Winery Honduras. 'A beautifully refined style of wine, with intense and vibrant red cherry and perfume intensity, as well as some spice and elegance.' Claire Love, Loves Consultancy.

£71.57 Heirloom Vineyards

Mazza, Touriga Nacional 2016, Western Australia, Australia

'There's good complexity here, with jam and dried red berries and blackberries, with a hint of cinnamon and herbal notes, as well as a mushroom note, joined by some chocolate and orange marmalade.' Elisa Soggia, Trivet. 'This has black cherry notes mixed with tobacco and a leafiness.' Nelio Pinto, Candlesticks.

£19.55 Jeroboams

Flagstone, Longitude, Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec 2018, Western Cape, South Africa

'This opens with a fresh and clean nose of wild berries and red flowers, as well as a hint of meat, leading to a palate that's fresh, agile and vibrant, with a good, crunchy and fruity aftertaste. I'd match this with roasted guinea fowl.' Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£8.20 Matthew Clark

Some Young Punks, The Squid's Fist, Sangiovese/Shiraz 2017, Clare Valley, Australia

'A dry wine with soft, plush red fruits and light Christmas spices, supple tannins and a lush fruity finish.' Andres Ituarte, team leader. 'Some great fruit content here, with juicy red berries and some herbal spice that's well-integrated, with good balance on the palate. An interesting by-the-glass option for a wine bar.' Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards.

£13.50 Bibendum

Garzón, Single Vineyard, Tannat 2018, Maldonado, Uruguay

'This is showing some clean and complex dark fruit, with oak integrated well, leading to a silky palate.' Gaetano Giangaspero, C&C. 'There’s a lot of concentration here, and structure, but with balance to make it approachable. Pair with venison, perhaps with a thick chocolate jus.' Mattia Mazzi, Cornerstone.

£22.00 Liberty Wines

Luis Felipe Edwards, Appassito, Red Blend 2017, Maule Valley, Chile

'An ethereal wine that's showing some development, with notes of soy alongside some red berries, and a palate that's showing sweet fruit, good concentration and extraction.' Carolina W Seibel, Comptoir Cafe and Wine. 'This has creamy and savoury notes, with soft tannins and some blackberry fruit, with additional mint on the palate, vibrant acidity and integrated alcohol.' Marco Marcuzzo, Zuma Rome.

£7.38 Matthew Clark

Bodegas Vinecol, Santa Irene, Bonarda 2019, Mendoza, Argentina

'A meaty and succulent wine with red and black fruit notes like amarena cherries and cassis, as well as a woody note, and a bit farmy, with some wet hay on the nose.' Elisa Soggia, Trivet. 'Notes of cherries and red berries, as well as some plum and sweet spice, and an earthiness too.' Markus Dilger, Dilger Sommelier Selection.

£8.56 Jascots Wine Merchants

Mancura, Guardian, Carignan 2017, Maule Valley, Chile

'Dark fruit notes combine with Mediterranean herbs and a black olive note here, all leading to a dry palate with some cooked fruit.' Lionel Periner, team leader. 'Cassis aromatics are followed by some high acidity and fine tannins on a very fruity palate.' Carolina W Seibel, Comptoir Cafe and Wine.

£7.33 Morandé

Viña Requingua, Toro de Piedra, Petit Verdot 2018, Curicó Valley, Chile

'This has fresh strawberry notes with perfumed vanilla aromas, leading to cinnamon notes with fresh crushed red berries. This would be good by the glass in a brasserie.' Luís Martins, team leader. 'Some jube-like purple and black fruits and a touch of earthiness, and a fresh palate with some chocolate notes and a touch of menthol.' James Fryer, team leader.

£9.52 Condor Wines

Changyu, Noble Dragon, Dry Red Wine 2016, Shantong, China

'This has some pure and jammy dark fruit that's fresh and well-balanced - good value for money for a Chinese red wine.' Gaetano Giangaspero, C&C. 'With ripe, dry fruit, this could work on a tasting menu as a point of difference, and would match very well with food.' Stephanie Robertson, RA Group.

£7.02 Chateau Changyu-Moser

Heirloom, Touriga 2019, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

'This is complex on the nose and palate, with bags of ripe dark cherry and powerful tannins to complement the structure. A well-built wine with potential to age.' Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO. 'With its rich, spicy and juicy black fruit notes, this has good balance and length.' Vivienne Franks, Aspects of Wine.

£37.83 Heirloom Vineyards

Ironstone, Petite Sirah 2017, Lodi, California, USA

'This opens with ripe, dark red cherries with some Moroccan spices, leading to punchy red fruit with elegant freshness.' Luís Martins, team leader. 'This is super-typical, with some cinnamon and pepper notes joined by fig and coffee - smells like hot sun and dry earth.' James Fryer, team leader.

£10.56 Bibendum

Siegel , Unique Selection 2017, Colchagua Valley, Chile

'An intense, modern style, with dry cassis and pencil lead, with some violets too, and a well-balanced finish.' Claire Love, Loves Consultancy. 'Ripe cassis with gentle eucalyptus aromas leading to complex notes of red cherry and smoked cigar, as well as some sweet spices.' Luís Martins, team leader.

£23.58 VIÑA SIEGEL S.A.

Altos de Jose Ignacio, Reserve Tannat 2017, Maldonado, Uruguay

'A bold red with dried savoury notes and some fresh fruit to it too - well balanced.' Aurore Anguenot, Aviary. 'Full-bodied, spicy and concentrated, this is very intense, long and herbal.' Matthieu Longuère MS, team leader. 'Soft crushed berries on the palate, with soft bramble on the finish.' Nelio Pinto, Candlesticks.

£12.14 Bibendum

Altos de Jose Ignacio, Reserve Tannat 2018, Maldonado, Uruguay

'Dark and moody aromas of hedgerow leaves and fruit here, with big concentration and full yet ripe tannins, and sweet black fruit and structure on the finish, with enough acidity to stop it being jammy.' Charlie Young, team leader. 'Intense black fruit and violets, with a touch of bell pepper and leather, and good concentration and finish.' Savvas Symeonidis, Goodman Restaurant Mayfair.

£11.06 Bibendum

Waterkloof, Seriously Cool, Cinsault 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

'Light in style, but with lots of character, including some wild, funky red fruit aromas and some crunchy, sweet fruit on the palate.' Charlie Young, team leader. 'With strawberries and flowers on the nose, and a fresh, light mouthfeel, this is a great aperitif, and a very good option for tuna tartare or tuna ceviche.' Filippo Pastorini, consultant.

£9.60 Boutinot