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From Australia’s iconic Jim Barry cellar, McRae Wood is a stellar Shiraz with 8 years’ age
AustraliaShiraz£35.00 per bottle
Superb 95pt Pinot Noir from top spot Central Otago, making wines to challenge those of Burgundy
New ZealandPinot Noir£47.00 per bottle
Top-vintage Morgon, one of Beaujolais' finest crus, from the 16th-century Piron estate
FranceGamay£25.00 per bottle- Only 64 left
from £27.00 per bottle 
This rule-breaking Piedmont red introduces you to the brilliance of Barolo producer Paolo Monti
ItalyCabernet-based blend£27.00 per bottle
94-point Brunello from the legendary Antinori estateItalySangiovesefrom £65.00 per bottle
Rich and complex 92-point Taurasi– the superstar red of Campania – from one of its top producersItalyAglianico£25.00 per bottle
from £355.00 per bottle- Only 38 left
Superb, elegant, 94-point Vino Nobile Riserva from Antinori’s estate in southern TuscanyItalySangiovesefrom £38.00 per bottleSAVE UP TO £12.00 - Only 67 left
Lavish, rich Chianti Classico Riserva from iconic Tuscan estate, Tignanello. Elegant, longItalySangiovesefrom £45.00 per bottleSAVE UP TO £18.00 - Only 7 left
from £30.00 per bottle 
Impressive 95 points for this classic Pauillac, with brooding intensity and the structure to ageFranceCabernet-based blendfrom £35.20 per bottleSAVE UP TO £57.60- Only 75 left
A classically styled Saint-Julien with great depthFranceCabernet-based blendfrom £44.00 per bottle - Only 50 left
£95.00 per bottle - Only 29 left
from £55.00 per bottleSAVE UP TO £10.00 - Only 2 left
Seductive red Burgundy from a sixth-generation family estate and a fine, classic vintageFrancePinot Noirfrom £29.00 per bottle 
from £65.00 per bottleSAVE UP TO £25.00
Outstanding, rich, velvety Châteauneuf-du-Pape from an 18th-century family estate with many awardsFranceGrenache-based blend£24.00 per bottleSAVE £4.00
from £60.00 per bottle
from £110.00 per bottleSAVE UP TO £15.00- Only 54 left
Remarkably dense, iconic California Syrah Cabernet with 96 points from The Wine Advocate
United StatesRed blendfrom £85.00 per bottleSAVE UP TO £25.00 - Only 48 left
Impressive Chambolle-Musigny Pinot Noir from a small domaine and a lovely vintage. Superbly nuancedFrancePinot Noir£50.00 per bottle - Only 7 left
With 98 Wine Advocate points, one of the top wines of the vintage, far exceeding its 5th GrowthFranceCabernet-based blend£160.00 per bottle - Only 24 left
£75.00 per bottleSAVE £5.00
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.
