Forge Mill Shiraz/Cinsault/Mourvedre

£8.49

£11.32 per litre · incl. 20% VAT

In Stock

Easy-going, unwooded and built for everyday drinking, a soft, juicy Western Cape blend that punches well above its price. Bright red berries, a whisper of spice, and tannins that don't get in the way. The sort of bottle you open on a Tuesday, finish without thinking, and add to next month's order.

Not for sale to persons under 18. Adult signature required on delivery.

Region

Western Cape, South Africa

Grape

Mourvedre, Blends

UK wide delivery

Expert curated

Sourced direct

Our Verdict

We taste a lot of entry-level Cape reds, and most of them feel like they're cutting corners. Forge Mill doesn't. There's a freshness and a lift to this blend that you simply don't expect at the price, the Cinsault brings a juiciness that supermarket reds at this level rarely manage, and the Mourvèdre gives it just enough backbone to feel like a proper wine rather than a soft drink. We keep it on the list for one simple reason: it's the bottle we'd happily open on a weeknight without a second thought. Perfect for anyone building a reliable house red.

Tasting Notes

A bright, unwooded red built for easy pouring. The nose leads with red berry fruit, fresh raspberry, red plum, a lift of cranberry, backed by a peppery hint of spice from the Shiraz. The palate is light to medium-bodied with soft, round tannins that glide rather than grip, carrying juicy red fruit through a well-balanced acidity. The Mourvèdre adds a savoury edge, a whisper of dried herb and warm spice that keeps the finish interesting rather than simply sweet-fruited.

Bright Red Berry

Crunchy raspberry and red plum lead the charge, the upfront, juicy fruit character that makes this so easy to keep pouring.

Soft, Round Tannins

Cinsault's hallmark, gentle, supple structure that glides across the palate rather than gripping. No need to wait, no need to chew.

Peppery Lift

Shiraz brings a flicker of black and white pepper, adding a savoury edge that keeps the fruit from tipping into jammy territory.

Herbal Warmth

Mourvèdre threads a quiet line of dried herb and warm spice through the finish, lending grown-up complexity to a friendly blend.

About This Wine

Some wines demand occasion. This one just wants to be poured. A three-way blend of Shiraz, Cinsault and Mourvèdre from the Western Cape, Forge Mill's red is the kind of honest, unfussy bottle that quietly earns its place in your weekly rotation.

Expect upfront red berry fruit from the Cinsault, think raspberry and red plum, lifted by a gentle peppery spice from the Mourvèdre and rounded out by the soft, juicy core of Shiraz. There's no oak getting in the way: everything is fermented in stainless steel, which keeps the fruit fresh, the tannins supple, and the whole thing dangerously drinkable. The acidity is balanced rather than sharp, so it slides easily from glass to plate.

This is a brilliant midweek red. Try it with a Friday-night pizza, a bowl of spaghetti bolognese, or sticky sausages off the barbecue when British summer finally shows up. It's also a smart bring-along for a casual dinner, generous enough to share, modest enough that nobody feels you're showing off.

We deliver across the UK, usually within a couple of days. If you're stocking up for a houseful, this is exactly the kind of bottle to buy by the case.

Food Pairing

This is a midweek-meal red, made for food you actually cook on a Tuesday. Think herby sausages and mash, a tomato-rich pasta, or a homemade pizza fresh from the oven. It's also genuinely good with charcuterie and a wedge of mature Cheddar, and friendly enough to handle a backyard burger when the British summer plays ball.

—Pork and herb sausages with creamy mash
—Spaghetti with a rich tomato and basil ragù
—Margherita or pepperoni pizza
—Charcuterie board with mature Cheddar and olives
—Chargrilled beef burgers with caramelised onion

How to Serve

Temperature

Slightly below room temperature. Twenty minutes in the fridge before serving will lift the fruit and keep it refreshing.

Decanting

No need to decant. This is an unwooded, soft-tannin red designed for immediate pleasure, open, pour, drink. A quick swirl in the glass is all the air it needs.

Glass

A standard medium-sized red wine glass is perfect, no need for anything specialist with a wine this approachable.

Behind the Wine

Swartland is a region of extremes, hot, dry summers punctuated by heatwaves that can push the mercury close to 40°C, tempered by cool evenings that pull freshness back into the fruit. The best producers here lean on patience and ruthless selection, dropping bunches to keep what remains in balance. You taste that discipline in the glass: ripe, generous fruit lifted by enough acidity to keep things bright, with no jammy heaviness weighing the wine down.

Ageing Potential

Built for drinking now, not for the cellar. Unwooded and fruit-forward, this is at its best young and fresh, pop the cork within a year or two of buying and enjoy it for what it is: a bright, easy red that doesn't ask you to wait.

The Winemaking

Three grapes, three harvest dates, three separate ferments, then brought together. The Shiraz comes in first, fermented in stainless steel for nine days at a steady 24°C to keep the fruit lifted. The Cinsault follows from bush vines, handled gently with fewer pump-overs to preserve its softer, lighter character. Mourvèdre arrives last, given a slightly longer ferment to coax out its spice and structure. Everything stays in stainless steel, no oak, no makeup. Just clean, expressive fruit.

The Western Cape Region

Le Domaine draws its fruit from vineyards scattered across the Western Cape, from coastal sites cooled by Atlantic breezes to warmer inland slopes, all planted between 50 and 300 metres above sea level. This broad sourcing is deliberate. By blending components from different microclimates, the cellar builds a consistent house style that balances the crisp acidity of cooler sites with the ripe generosity of warmer ones. It's the Western Cape's extraordinary diversity captured in a single glass.