As a lover of summer it pains me to say this, but fall is coming. As our long warm days start coming to an end I’m trying to focus on the positives of fall. It will soon be time for football season, bonfires, warm sweaters, heartier foods, and the wines that pair so well with them. Our August featured wines are sure to make this transition more exciting.
Maison Idiart Sancerre 2013, is a wine that can please the palate any time of year. Sauvignon Blanc is just a natural fit with Spring and Summer but I love a glass of Sancerre when it is chilly out too. This wine has a fantastic chalky minerality, with touches of peach and, tangy citrus notes. It is incredibly well balanced and ready to be drunk on its own or paired up with some chicken or fish dishes. The complexity lends itself to standing up to those hearty rustic plates for the fall but can be used right now for something light or grilled. I’d even say it might be the perfect wine for tailgating.
When I first started to really drink wine and learn about it, Pinot Noir became my first red love. Pinot will always have a special place in my heart. Drinking a good Pinot Noir is like stumbling across a great photograph from your past. You get a warm fuzzy feeling that makes you reminisce, Ca’Momi Pinot Noir 2012, does this for me. It has a wonderful earthy flavor balanced with fresh dark fruits, a light oaky quality with tannins that develop throughout the palate. It reminds me of that first moment I fell in love and makes my soul feel warm. Truly a feeling I think we all look for in the cooler months.
Nothing makes me feel cozier than Bordeaux rouge, and Sichel Graves 2010 is perfect for that sentiment. A gorgeous intensity with notes of tangy cherries, raspberries, dark chocolate, and some green pepper flavors are all accompanied by rich tannins. This wine makes me want to eat something just as indulging, like grilled pork or a medium rare juicy beef tenderloin. The various flavors that seamlessly come together in the glass also make it perfect for drinking on its own. This is a wine I would love to drink while I sit around a campfire on a cool night with friends.
All of this talk of heartiness and fall weather brings me to the final wine, JL Chave Cotes du Rhone “Mon Coeur” 2010. This wine is a beast, and you should be prepared to go on a flavor adventure! It has all the scents and tastes I think of when I think of fall. The journey begins with the smell of dried leaves and hay with scents of smoky barbecue and continues to develop with elegance on your palate showing dark chocolate, black licorice, cherries, and pomegranate flavors. This wine is almost like a meal on its own however I can’t help craving lamb or a heavy stew to enjoy with it.
With these four wines in mind and the fun fall activities on the horizon it hopefully won’t be too hard to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall!
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