There’s a nip in the air, and that means it’s time to shift our focus toward the fall’s cooler days, cooler nights and red wine.
Those light and bright summer whites are making room for richer and more full-bodied wines — both white and red. It’s time to head down to the wine cellar (or over to the wine rack) to begin the transition to medium-bodied wines, ones that work well with autumn’s erratic temperatures and seasonal foods. This month we share ten easy drinking favorites that pair beautifully with fall menus. All were selected because we love them, not according to price, so you will find an organic Argentine Malbec that retails for $10 or less to a $50+ (gasp!) Chardonnay.
El Coto de Rioja Crianza, 2006 from Spain is a perfect addition to fall and makes for the classic Rioja marriage of wine and wood. Made from 100% Tempranillo from Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja, this sleek red is created in a modern-style, with intense red fruit that combines the fresh, crushed strawberry and red cherry flavors typical of Tempranillo with expressive hints of vanilla and oak. It’s spicy, with gentle tannins and bright acidity, offering a rich, ripe finish. This style of wine just calls out for hearty beef — covered with black pepper, grilled or braised. It’s spectacular paired with “game birds,” paella, Parmigiano Reggiano or Asiago cheese, but it’s also an easy drinking wine to pair with a “the works” pizza and football on the side. Around $12
Cuma Malbec, 2007, a certified organic wine produced by Michel Torino Estate in Cafayate Valley, Argentina, was hidden in the southern hemisphere section of my wine cellar. Cuma means “pure and clear” in Aymará, the language of a tribe who once inhabited the region. This lively red-violet wine exhibits opulent aromas of bright cherry and plum jam, with raisin, vanilla and rosemary notes. There is plenty of ripe fruit, date-raisin flavors, and soft, sweet tannins. There’s a trace of nuts and spice on the long finish. Red wine lover’s pair this with chicken — barbecued, baked, broiled, roasted, or sauced like Chicken Cacciatore. A perfect party or get-together red, it also pairs well with pork, sausages, hard and semi-hard cheeses, calzone, burgers, cheesesteaks, cold cuts, and lasagna. Pastas with meat, vegetable, tomato, pesto or marinara sauces love this wine. This should become a staple in your wine collection. Around $10
Pumphouse Shiraz, 2007 hails from Backsberg Estate in Paarl, South Africa. This Malbec (12%) and Shiraz (88%) blend is a bold, full-bodied Shiraz. It’s very distinctive with roasted mesquite flavorings, and lots of mouth-watering black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and black currant fruit blending with anise, vanilla, and a graphite notes. The long, smoky finish lets an espresso hint linger, allowing the wine to pair very well with dark chocolate. For more substantial pairings, steak, lamb, venison, or chili make for a nice meal. For snacking, cheesy dishes, Parmesan, Asiago, Gorgonzola or bleu cheese with Prosciutto are magically delicious with this wine. Around $19
Hugel Pinot Gris, 2006 is a rich, yet bone-dry wine that is savory and creamy on the palate and has generous acidity to balance its fullness. The aromas are fresh floral and spice with a bit of earth. There are apple-pie and lemon curd notes, sidling up to aromas of pear, jasmine, lime blossoms and smoky hints of moss, fern, and mushrooms. Full-bodied, balanced, and nicely structured, it’s a fruit-driven wine with delicious acidity. The lively, juicy fruit flavors offer a hint of sweetness. Ripe pears orbit around citrus and peach notes that make for solid pairing potential with seafood, poultry, veal, or mushroom risotto. The wine’s cinnamon and cardamom notes will bring out the savory side of autumn pumpkins and apples. Around $20
Nothing says fall like a good white burgundy. Even the “anything-but-chardonnay” types will find Olivier Leflaive Meursault Premier Cru Charmes, 2006 something special. Yes, it’s pricey, but for a special meal, Meursault is a delight. It is a rich, round, elegant and powerful wine, with a ripe nose of white flowers, peach, pear and apricot. There is a hint of brioche that serves as a refined introduction to the clean, crisp and naturally pure sweet flavors that this generous medium-bodied wine offers. The excellent vibrancy and a silky texture displays plenty of citrus-like acidity and finesse. This is a perfect accompaniment to calf’s sweetbread, lobster or cream dishes, and can be served with all kinds of cheeses, fish, poultry and any white meat with cream. This is a charming, enjoyable wine that’s definitely worth the price. Around $65
Perhaps better known as the AS-Elite, produced by Ardea Seal, this interesting contraption is uniquely designed with three distinct components. The AS Elite uses a polypropylene chassis to maintain rigidity inside of the thermoplastic elastomer body. The final, and most unique, component is the inert techno-polymer shield that is the only part in contact with the wine. The makers of this product go as far as claiming that it is "probably the best closure in the world." While they offer no support of this claim, I would be interested in tasting a variety of wines that have been bottled and aged with AS-Elites, cork and screw cap in the future. In addition to the interesting closure, I also was able to enjoy a very nice Chardonnay with dinner!
This Chardonnay, imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd., is from a vineyard that straddles Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. It pours a clear, light-yellow color. On the nose, lemon, tarragon and nuts dominate with a slight hint of grassy notes. This is tart in the mouth! Lemon, pomelo, tart apple and melon lead on the forepalate but yield to a medium-length finish of chalk, nutmeg and smoke. Not overly complex, but a nice, simple entry-level white Burgundy. 13.0% abv Purchased $17. Good (tasted 11/28/10)
