With thousands of years of history, red wine has transcended time and boundaries to become a beloved emblem of celebration, culture, and passion. The dark-skinned grapes used in the manufacture of red wine give it its attractive colour and character. These grapes, meticulously farmed in vineyards around the world, go through a transformational journey from vine to bottle, driven by winemakers’ experience and passion. As a result, there is a wide range of red wines, each with its own distinct personality that reflects the terroir, climate, and traditions of its origin.
The fascination of red wine extends beyond the glass, permeating cultures, cuisines, and social events all around the world. It has been immortalised in literature, honoured in art, and treasured in happy and reflective moments. As we delve into this intriguing realm, we will discover the secrets behind Malaysia’s finest red wines. Raise your glass and join us on a journey through vineyards, terroirs and tasting notes. Here are the 10 best red wines in Malaysia.
What Are The Key Factors That Influence The Taste Of Red Wine?
The taste of red wine is influenced by several key factors, including the grape variety used, the specific terroir (which encompasses climate, soil, and geography) where the grapes are grown, the winemaking process (including fermentation techniques and ageing), and the type of oak barrels or tanks used for maturation. Each of these elements contributes to the wine’s flavour profile, determining factors such as fruitiness, tannin levels, acidity, and complexity.
What Is The Best Way To Pair Red Wine?
The best way to pair red wine is to consider the wine’s characteristics and match them with complementary flavours in food. Lighter red wines, such as Pinot Noir, pair well with delicate dishes like roast chicken or salmon, while medium-bodied reds like Merlot can complement a wide range of dishes, including pasta with tomato-based sauces or grilled vegetables. Fuller-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon are excellent partners for hearty meats like steak or lamb. The key is to balance the wine’s acidity, tannins, and flavour profile with the flavours and textures of the food, enhancing both the wine and the dining experience.
How Should You Store Red Wine?
Red wine should be stored horizontally in a cool, dark place with a consistent temperature, ideally between 55-60°F (13-15°C). Humidity levels should be maintained to prevent cork drying. Avoid exposing the wine to direct sunlight or temperature fluctuations, which can spoil the wine.
Discover chillers and storage spaces for your wine:
10 Best Red Wines in Malaysia 2023
1. Two Oceans Cabernet Merlot
Two Oceans Cabernet Merlot is a delightful ruby-red wine with a soft and approachable character. Its ripe plum and red fruit notes are vibrant and inviting. This wine is perfect for casual enjoyment with a gathering of friends, especially when paired with a hearty meal like succulent lamb and tender potatoes cooked in a potjie pot. It’s a pairing that encapsulates the essence of togetherness and culinary delight, making every sip an experience to savour and cherish.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%) Grapes
- Alcohol content: 13-14%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: South African
Pros:
✅Pairs perfectly with any meal
✅Lovely ripe plum and red fruit flavours
✅A symphony of flavours
Price: RM69.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
2. Marquis de Beychac Pays d’Oc Cab Sau Cabernet Sauvignon
Marquis de Beychac Pays d’Oc Cab Sau Cabernet Sauvignon is truly a wine of distinction. Its deep ruby hue, reminiscent of a velvety twilight, sets the stage for a sensory journey. With every sip, this wine reveals its masterful craftsmanship, boasting a well-balanced and softly rounded body. What makes it particularly intriguing is its ability to walk the delicate tightrope between strength and fruitiness. It exudes a robust character that imparts a sense of power, yet it does so with finesse, ensuring that the fruitiness remains an integral part of its personality.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Cabernet Sauvignon grape
- Alcohol content: 12%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: France
Pros:
✅Fruity and finely oaked on the palate
✅Pairs beautifully with grilled red meats
✅Rich flavours of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes
Price: RM99.00 (2 bottles)
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
3. Chateau Du Lort Bordeaux Superieur – Red Wine
Chateau Du Lort Bordeaux Superieur Red Wine is an exquisite blend, primarily composed of 65% Merlot, with 26% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc. When it comes to tasting notes, this wine embodies succulence and juiciness, offering a supple and rich mineral character that adds depth. What truly defines this wine is its harmonious composition, expertly balancing oaky undertones with the sun-ripened essence of the grapes.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 26%, Cabernet Franc 9%
- Alcohol content: 13.5%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: France
Pros:
✅Supple and rich mineral edge
✅Well crafted balance of oaky flavours and sun-ripped food
✅Silky smooth tannic structure
Price: RM98.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
4. George Wyndham Bin 999 Merlot Australia Red Wine
George Wyndham Bin 999 Merlot Australia Red Wine entices the palate with its luscious dark red cherries, enhanced by modest traces of spice and licorice, all harmoniously tempered by the impact of nutty wood, resulting in a soft and velvety finish. Its flavour profile emerges with rich flavours of luscious cherry and plums, complemented by moderate spice, and nutty oak undertones add to its velvety texture. The aroma is a delectable blend of dark cherry and plum aromas, with hints of cedar wood.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Merlot
- Alcohol content: 14.6%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: Australia
Pros:
✅Dark cherry and plum with subtle nuances of cedary oak
✅Bright crimson with vibrant purple hues colour
✅Pairs well with poultry & beef
Price: RM216.00 (2 bottles)
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
5. Rawsons Retreat Shiraz Cabernet Red Wine
Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet Red Wine offers a palate rich in flavours, showcasing ripe, freshly picked raspberries, blueberries, and blackcurrants, evoking memories of Christmas pudding. The wine achieves a harmonious balance with its soft and rounded tannins, complemented by the infusion of fresh coffee bean notes and a medley of spices imparted by oak ageing. It culminates in a medium-length finish that lingers, delivering a delightful tasting experience.
Specifications:
- Alcohol content: 13.5%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: Australia
Pros:
✅Dark cherry red with vibrant purple hues
✅Ideal to enjoy with pasta, lamb or beef
✅Classic single-varietal and varietal blends in a fresh-flavoured style
Price: RM59.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
6. Radal Cabernet Sauvignon – Red Wine
Radal Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine is an enthralling red wine with a deep, vivid ruby-violet tint. Its scent is complemented by succulent blackcurrants and luscious black cherries. It has a refined and harmonious character on the palate, with an excellent balance of flavours and texture. The wine’s delicate and well-matured tannins contribute to its overall elegance. Radal Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to the craft of winemaking, providing a delicious and well-balanced sensory experience that will please even the most discriminating palates.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Cabernet Sauvignon grape
- Alcohol content: 11.5%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: USA
Pros:
✅Rich and concentrated ruby-violet colour
✅Its tannins are soft and mature
✅Great choice to match with red meats
Price: RM59.90
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
7. Finca El Origen Varietals Malbec Argentinean Red Wine
Finca El Origen Varietals Malbec Argentinean Red Wine has a wonderful aromatic profile that includes rich red fruit notes, violet fragrance, undertones of vanilla, and a subtle undertone evocative of good tobacco. The wine has a symphony of flavours on the palate, with juicy blackberry and peppery notes taking centre stage. Its medium structure and silky tannins work in harmony with the lovely natural acidity to produce a lingering and satisfying finish.
Specifications:
- Alcohol content: 13.5%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: Argentina
Pros:
✅Outstanding notes of red fruits, floral aromas of violets, vanilla and cigar
✅Medium structure and silky tannins are perfectly balanced
✅Satisfying finish
Price: RM67.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
8. Navarro Correas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Red Wine
Navarro Correas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine, with its deep and vibrant ruby-red hue, presents a sensory journey filled with the essence of red currants, tobacco, and blackberries, accompanied by subtle hints of herbs and paprika. This wine boasts a well-defined structure, supported by tannins, a medium-to-full body, and a luxuriously smooth texture. It’s a compelling expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that promises a rich and satisfying tasting experience.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Cabernet Sauvignon grape
- Alcohol content: 14.5%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: Argentina
Pros:
✅Aromas and flavours evoking red currants, tobacco and blackberries
✅Herbal and paprika notes
✅Structured tannins, a medium-high body and a velvety texture
Price: RM95.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
9. Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Red Wine South Australia Wine
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Red Wine South Australia Wine is a full-bodied style made from Shiraz grapes collected from numerous premium wine regions across South Australia. It features the indulgence of big red berries, a generous flavour profile, and silky, mellow tannins. This wine has excellent structural integrity and a long finish. Although it is delicious now, it is expected to progress and improve in complexity over the next two to four years, making it a great choice for individuals who prefer wines that continue to mature and develop in character.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Shiraz grape
- Alcohol content: 14.5%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: Australia
Pros:
✅Excellent structure and length
✅Gain further complexity over the next two to four years
✅Plumper style with plush red-berried fruits
Price: RM100.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
10. Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet Australia Red Wine
Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet Australia Red Wine is a red wine that strikes a delightful balance between spice and velvety smoothness, featuring lively cherry notes complemented by the subtle influence of oak. This wine offers a captivating tasting experience with its vibrant layers of fruit flavours, gentle tannins, and an enduring, velvety finish. Its aroma is a fragrant bouquet of spicy red fruits and cherries, with a harmonious touch of cedary oak in the background.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Shiraz Cabernet
- Alcohol content: 13.9%
- Volume: 750ml
- Country of Origin: Australia
Pros:
✅Great pair with grilled steak, pizza, or tomato-based pasta dishes
✅Vibrant layered fruit flavours with soft tannins and velvety finish
✅Spicy yet velvety with vibrant cherries and a backdrop of cedary oak
Price: RM70.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.asia. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
