The Best Red Wines To Have Chilled

Some red wines are perfect for chilling in this warmer weather. It’s certainly true that some wine grapes and wine styles work better than others when it comes to what goes in the fridge, so here’s what you need to know:

Tips for drinking chilled red wine

• Chilled, not cold. No red wine will sing when it is too cold, so really, you want about 45 mins max in the fridge. Avoid ice cubes in your glass too. 

• Avoid heavy, dry tannic wines and oaky wines.

• Fruity styles of wine work best.

Some grape varieties are naturally more fruity and less tannic than others, so get to know them and the styles of wine they make. Here are some to look out for: 

Pinot Noir 

A Pinot Noir (the grape) from just about anywhere will be a good shout for a chilled red wine thanks to its high acidity and thin skin that gives very little tooth-drying tannin. The lightest styles tend to come from the Burgundy region (aka Bourgogne) and the likes of Germany, where it's also known as Spätburgunder. Richer styles will come from warmer climates such as Casablanca Valley in Chile or Sonoma in California. Try these:

Bargain: Irresistible Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir, Chile, 2019, £8 from CO-OP
Juicy, concentrated blackcurrant and plum spice with a cool, raspberry leaf tang.

Splash out: Bernard Moreau, Bourgogne, 2019, £18.
A brilliant, entry level red Burgundy with ripe strawberry, crunchy red berry fruits and a touch of spice and earthiness. 

Gamay

The Gamay grape is not that well known, though you will have certainly heard of the French wine region that specialises in wines made with it: Beaujolais. Gamay is even thinner skinned than Pinot Noir and can make some very fruity, juicy wines that can taste of bananas and strawberry bubblegum. If you want something a little more serious however, you can move up the Beaujolais quality ladder from Beaujolais Nouveau at the bottom, up to Beaujolais, then Beaujolais-Villages and finally, the top of the tree, one of the 10 Beaujolais ‘Cru’ villages. These ‘Cru’ are a little more savoury and serious - more akin to a Burgundian Pinot Noir, but a touch lighter and more raspberry-scented and leafy. They each have their own subtle differences and offer excellent value for money. From North to South, look for these ‘Cru’ names: Saint-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly. Try these:

Bargain: Chiroubles Beaujolais Cru 2018, £10 from CO-OP.
Lovely, crunchy wine with raspberry compote spice and a subtle hint of grilled meat. 

Splash-out: Fleurie Clos Vernay Domaine Lafarge Vial 2014, £33
The most floral and perfumed of the Crus, this Fleurie boast violets, rose and raspberry notes. A little more grippy than some Fleuries, the extra age on this wine has softened it just enough to make it work well when chilled.

Cabernet Franc

This is a grape that is coming back into fashion with a bang. In its Old World Home in the Loire Valley, France, it makes crunchy, light reds with notes of redcurrant and, I kid you not, pencil shavings! This Loire style tends to be better for chilling than its New World versions, (which pack a lot more power and tannin), though they can be a bit austere for some. Some appellations in the Loire are famous for Cabernet Franc, so look for those on the label as the grape may not appear: Saumur-Champigny, Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. Cabernet Franc is also a fixture in Bordeaux, but you will rarely see it as anything other than a relatively small part of the blend. Try these:

Bargain: Chinon, Lulu Lalouette, 2019, £12.99 (£9.99 mix six price) from Majestic.
Of a style, but if you know what you’re getting with Loire Cabernet Franc, you will enjoy this for its fragrant, smoky notes and dried redcurrant palate. 

Splash-out: St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Graviers Domaine du Bourg 2018, £17.25 from Corneyandbarrow.com
A touch fuller in body than the Chinon with riper, red fruit, this is a classy, old school, French red with smoky, graphite notes. Delicious.

Sparkling Shiraz

You cannot think about chilled reds and barbecues without thinking of sparkling Shiraz. This is a style of wine that tends to come from Australia only and it works so well thanks to the richer, fruitier styles of Shiraz that come from here. They are full-bodied without being too tannic and full of jammy, spicy plum fruit and liquorice notes. This is the wine you should reach for when pairing with flavoursome, grilled steaks and beef burger etc. as it has a little grippiness. Try this:

Majella, Sparkling Shiraz, £28.50 from Vivino
Lush, velvety and chocolatey, this wine is like a bar of fruit and nut in liquid form. Beautiful balance and not too sweet,  it's serious as well as quirky. Definitely the best we’ve tasted. 

Red Lambrusco

No, don’t turn away! This is not the Lambrusco you are thinking of that harks back to the sweet and syrupy wines of the early Spice Girls days. Lambrusco is a lot more serious now - and a lot drier. Seek out an artisanal red one for a lighter-bodied, frothy vino with moreish, yeasty notes that’s an epic match with Italian cold cuts, buffalo mozzarella and the like. Try this:

Vecchio Moro Lambrusco, Grasparossa, Rinaldini. £12.50 from The Wine Society
Deep purple and packed with ripe fruit flavours and dried herb notes, this has an intriguing breadiness and tastes drier than it smells. A lovely frothy fizz really refreshes the palate. An excellent lunchtime red for summer. 

For more mouth-wateringly good wine content, including our one-minute wine guides to the different grape varieties out there follow this link!

One Minute Wine Ace: Cabernet Sauvignon

You can generally presume that all professional, male rugby players have certain elements in common: they are full in body, fairly heavy and well structured. There are forwards who pack a slightly bigger punch and backs who are a tad more refined and lean, but generally speaking, you can always tell a rugby player a mile off, no matter where in the team they play. It’s the obvious build and all those purpley-black bruises that do it! And with all their years of training and experience, you can take a bet that their playing quality is going to be pretty reliable, no matter which country it is that they play for. They also tend to need a few years to chill out and mellow…

Yes, Cabernet Sauvignon is the professional rugby player of the wine world. This heavy-duty grape variety has the thickest skin of all the grapes, giving it lots of tooth-drying tannin and plenty of brawn! ‘Cabernet’, as it’s often known, is a hardy, well-structured grape that makes pretty reliable wine just about anywhere. This is why you can find it all over the world now. When at its very best, it can sometimes take a few years to mature, so bear that in mind when you’re picking one out. Look for a concentrated, dark blue-black and purple colour with distinctive, spicy blackcurrant and cedar flavours. In some cases, you’ll also spot a telltale minty or eucalyptus note, which is often a hint that it’s from a warmer climate.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON TASTING TOUR

Cabernet Sauvignon makes pretty reliable wines from many places globally, but here are four key styles to start your journey with,

Cabernet 1: Be prepared to spend some cash and head to Bordeaux, France: the Old World home of Cabernet, where it’s usually blended with Merlot among other grapes. Look for one from the Left Bank of the river Gironde for a classic earthy, cedary number that’s Cabernet dominant. Heard of Chateau Margaux? That’s a Cabernet-dominant, Left Bank Bordeaux wine.

Try: Château de Lamarque, Haut-Medoc, 2015 for £22.95 from Corneyandbarrow.com.

Cabernet 2: Compare your Bordeaux with a Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra in Australia for a fuller-bodied, juicier version with tonnes of ripe blackcurrant and a characteristic mint and eucalyptus twang. Coonawarra is one of Cabernet’s classic, New World homes. 

Try: Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon for £17.99 or £15.99 mix six price from Majestic.

Cabernet 3: At a similar price and standard to Bordeaux, you could also try some serious Cabernets from Napa Valley, California for a style that is somewhere between the two above: big wines made in a Bordeaux style, but with a pleasing extra dollop of fruit.

Try: Illustrious Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, £36 a bottle or £32.40 mix 6 price from Laithwaites.

Cabernet 4: For something a little more entry-level price wise, check out what they can do with Cabernet over in the warm Colchagua Valley in Chile. Here, Cabernets are about full-on, sweeter, blackcurrant-scented wines with a savory, smoky kick. You can get some great ones for £6 or so but there are also some super-serious wines coming out of Chile too. 

Try: Montes Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile, £9 from Coop.

Like this? Try our other One Minute Wine Ace articles on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cotes du Rhone and Sauvignon Blanc.

Wine Gadget: Coravin Model Six

Those of you who read our previous article on the Coravin Model Eleven and Coravin Moments, will want to know about the new Coravin Model Six. 

Coravin, as you may know, is the ultimate wine preserving system that works by injecting inert argon gas into a bottle via the cork, which then reseals itself. The gas pushes the wine back up the needle, out the spout into your glass. What’s left is perfectly preserved for weeks, months and even years. 

Coravin Model Six

The new Model Six is the only system in the Coravin range with a selection of three colours: Candy Apple Red, Silver or Piano Black. Boasting SmartClamps technology, it is easy to use, comes with some awesome accessories and with its chrome accents, is a great blend of elegance and technology. 

Accessories

The Model Six comes with a range of accessories, depending on the package you go for: 

• Argon Gas Capsules: All packages come with spare Coravin Pure capsules.

• Coravin Screw Cap: Simply quickly unscrew your wine cap and replace it with this. Then, use your Coravin as normal.

• Aerator: A click on ‘shower head’ style attachment that aerates your wines as it pours, helping it become smoother and more flavoursome.

• Needle Kit: Change your needle for old, vintage corks or for a fast pour…

• Premium Pedestal Base: Smart, solid base to keep your Coravin upright and looking great in your cabinet.

• Carry Case: Soft, black carry case allowing you to carry your system with you wherever you go! 

Model Six Package Options

Coravin Model Six ‘Core’ - £289

Includes 2 Coravin Pure Capsules, 1 Coravin Screw Cap

Coravin Model Six - £329.

Includes 3 Coravin Pure Capsules, 2 Coravin Screw Caps, and 1 Carry Case

Coravin Model Six ‘Ultimate Wine Lover's Pack’ - £449

Includes 12 Coravin Pure Capsules, 8 Coravin Screw Caps, 1 Carry Case, 1 Aerator, 3 Needle Kit, Premium Pedestal Base

Coravin Model Six ‘Ultimate Wine Journey Pack’ - £549

Includes 3 Coravin Pure Capsules, 2 Coravin Screw Caps, 1 Carry Case, 1 Aerator, 3 Needle Kit, Premium Pedestal Base, 1 12-Pack of Capsules, 1 6-Pack of standard Screwcaps

Mindful Drinking: Fine Wine in Half Bottles

If you’re anything like me and my other half, you may be looking at your lockdown alcohol consumption over the past couple of months and thinking ‘oops!’ When did a glass of wine a night become a bottle? Or more sometimes, if we’re honest.

I know that it's unrealistic - in my household anyway - to think that we are going to give up drinking entirely, but we do realise that we can and should tone it down now and think about more mindful drinking. Yes, we’ll take more nights off booze a week but there’s one thing we know would really help: smaller bottles. If the bottle is smaller in the first place, you really have to think about what you’re doing before opening another and often, just that pause to think is enough. With that in mind, I looked for places to find half bottles of wine, but not just any rubbish wine - really good wine. Thankfully, the half wine bottle world is growing quickly, so the choice is now better than it has ever been. Here are some great wines in half bottle that I found of varying styles and price levels for every budget: 

Half bottles of white wine (37.5cl)

Macon Blanc Villages, Louis Jadot, 2018, £8:30 from Morrisons
Soft, easy drinking, melon-scented Chardonnay with a touch of vanilla. 

Chablis, Louis Jadot, 2018, £10.99 from Wholefoods
Cool, dry, classic Chardonnay from Chablis with a characteristic, savoury tang and a leafy note.

Sancerre, Reverdy Terre de Maimbray, 2017 £13 from Dulwich Vintners
Sauvignon Blanc at its most elegant and understated from its spiritual Loire Valley home. 

Kumeu River Chardonnay, New Zealand, 2017 £15.95 from the Little Fine Wine Company
Full-on, fruity Chardonnay with toasty, smoky oak. 

Mas de Daumas Gassac Blanc, 2011, £17 from Dulwich Vintners
A glorious, weighty and aromatic blend of white varieties led by Viognier, from the Languedoc. 

Condrieu, Guigal, 2017 £22.50 from the Little Fine Wine Company
Creamy, apricot and blossom-scented Viognier at its finest from its most famous appellation.

Half bottle of Rosé wine (37.5cl)

Côtes de Provence, Whispering Angel, 2019, £10.95 from the Little Fine Wine Company 
Pale and pretty, dry and complex with a saline tang from one of Provence’s famous producers.

Half bottles of red wine (37.5cl)

Beaujolais Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques’, Louis Jadot, 2018 £6.85 from Tesco & Morrisons
Light in its feet with crunchy, strawberry and raspberry notes. A perfect summer red. 

Rioja Crianza, Beronia, 2017, £7 from Ocado 
Brilliant, concentrated Rioja, packed with spicy red fruit with a touch of tobacco-smoke.

Zinfandel, Seghesio, Sonoma County, 2017, £18.95 from The Little Fine Wine Company
A modern, more elegant style of Zin with notes of damson jam and cinnamon spice.

Chianti Classico, Fontodi, 2016, £14.50 from The Little Fine Wine Company
Old-school Chianti Classico with a cool, mineral core, tangy red fruit and fresh herb notes. 

Morey St Denis, 1er Cru, Lignier, 2013, £21 from Dulwich Vintners
Moreish (!), Burgundian Pinot showing some secondary tobacco and leather notes. Delicious.

Half bottles of Champagne  (37.5cl)

Mumm Champagne, NV, £18 from Ocado 
Rich, brilliant value bubbles from a well-loved house.

Bollinger Special Cuvée, NV, £23.99 from Ocado
Weighty, complex Champagne with toasty, brioche notes.

Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé NV, £ 36 from Dulwich Vintners
The benchmark for elegant pink fizz. Delicate colour with red apple skin and patisserie notes.

If you like this, check out our piece on the best no and low alcohol drinks and Small Beer.

Is this the best wine cooler ever?

We’ve finally discovered a brilliant way to cool wine down that solves loads of problems! Heilo is a new company that is taking cooling wine to the next level with its space saving, incredibly efficient coolers.

The Eclipse

The Eclipse (as seen above) is a solid metal structure that cools within a couple of minutes of having ice added to the eclipse section. It stays very cold, bottle after bottle. As there is no messy water, the ice doesn’t melt as quickly, so you use less. Other big selling points are that the bottle doesn’t get wet and drip everywhere and the label stays dry. Designed with the perfect amount of space around the the bottle, cool air hugs it without dissipating too quickly, which means it can be a compact package, taking up less space on your table. So, no water, no mess, space efficient. What’s not to love? It comes in a choice of six finishes and retails for £55 - 59.

The Heilo

The Heilo design is more of a classic cooler, only better. Add just 5 ice cubes at the bottom and pop in your bottle of already chilled wine and it will keep its cool for a lot longer than most. There’s no condensation either, thanks to the raised platform inside which allows air to circulate. The premium finish is super smooth and you can engrave it too for an extra special gift. Heilo comes in a choice of three finishes and costs RRP £49.

Need some wine suggestions for what to put in your cooler? Here are some key suggestions for Summer rosé, Chardonnay and Cotes du Rhone.

7 Great French Rosé Wines for Summer

Let’s face it: France really does knock it out of the park with fabulous rosé wines, especially down South where they are pale and pretty. Rosé wine also seems to be the category where producers can have most fun with the bottles. From Provence to the Languedoc via Beaujolais, here are some that look as good as they taste and taste as good as they look...

Domaine Ott, Clos Mireille (Provence)

Domaine Ott are the godfathers of Provence rosé, ever since Marcel Ott founded the winery on the shores of the Mediterranean in 1896. This is where it all started; the quintessential, Provençal style of pink and the iconic bottle shapes. Domaine Ott have 3 properties in Provence, each harnessing the style of that particular terroir: Château de Selle near Draguignan, Château Romassan in Bandol and Clos Mirelle overlooking the sea at La Londe Les Maures. The Clos Mirelle is Grenache dominated with a splash of Cinsault and Syrah. It is very pale pink, with subtle notes of ripe melon and peach, a citrusy freshness and a cool, saline core thanks to the proximity of the vines to the sea. 

Find Domaine Ott, Clos Mireille, Côtes de Provence 2018/2019 for  £33 - £39.95 from  Hennings, Soho Wine Company or  Amazon by the case.

Ultimate Provence (Provence)

Making a splash on the rosé scene thanks to its combination of a classic, Provençal pink wine profile and a stunning glass bottle that will be reused for water, olive oil and many other things over its lifetime, this is an easy-to-recognise wine from a producer with a funky, urban-style hotel, half an hour away from St-Tropez. Cool, dry and elegant with stone fruit notes.

Find Ultimate Provence rosé for £19.99 - £22 from The Drink Shop and Dulwich Vintners.

Château de Berne CDP (Provence) 

We love Chateau Berne, not just for its funky square bottle and epic wine tourism offerings but because the wine is absolutely delicious. This iteration of it (it has many versions) showcases everything we love about Provençal pink with its weighty, saline texture and subtle complexity, but seems to have just a splash more peachy fruit than most.

Find Château de Berne Côtes de Provence 2019 for £15.99  / £11.99 mix 6 price at Majestic 

Jardin des Roses,  (Languedoc)

Newsflash! This wine is not from Provence, but from the Languedoc region further west. Made in a similar style to the famous Provençal wines with a similar blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, there’s a touch more ripe strawberry fruit and a distinctive, floral aroma that really does make you think of a bed of roses. It has a gorgeous bottle too and you can collect all six labels, each showcasing a different rose. 

Find Jardin des Roses, AOP Languedoc, France, £13.49 Waitrosecellar

Chêne Bleu Le Rosé (Vaucluse)

Located on the borders of Provence and the Rhone Valley, the wines from Chêne Bleu straddle both styles and offer something unique of their own. Syrah and Grenache dominant, this pink is pale and sophisticated with savoury red fruit notes of redcurrant and wild strawberry. It’s a foodie pink that would be great with grilled meats from a barbecue. Beautifully packed, don’t even get me started on the place itself. If you visit , you will never want to leave...

Find Chêne Bleu, IGP Vaucluse Le Rosé for £25 from Wine & Greene and in magnum for £56.50 from Hedonism Wines

Paradis secret, Foncalieu, (Languedoc)

Another Languedoc pink, Paradis Secret is now one of the signature wines of Vignobles Foncalieu in the Languedoc. Dangerously easy-to-drink, with notes of nectarine, peach and even lime leaf, it's a modern style of southern French pink with an equally modern and elegant, frosted bottle.

Find Paradis Secret by Foncalieu for £10.99 at Majestic

Premier Bain, Beaujolais, 2019 (Beaujolais)

Rosé wine from Beaujolais is going to be a big thing this summer thanks to its slightly lighter style. This one is cool and crisp with vibrant notes of raspberry summer pudding thanks to the Gamay grape from which this wine is made. At 13%, it’s a touch lighter on the alcohol too - something that many are looking for at the moment. Dive in!

Find Premier Bain Rosé, Beaujolais for £10.49 from  Laithwaites

Like this? Check out 3 Styles of French rosé you can rely on…

One Minute Wine Ace: Chardonnay

Words by Helena Nicklin

Weren’t there always at least four people in your class with the same first name at school? In my year, it was Kate: fat ones; skinny ones; drippy ones; foreign ones, you name it! Variations on a theme of Kate were popular the world over.

It was hard to work out how to feel about Kates, because just as you had decided that you hated the name because of spotty-faced Kate who smelled of potato, you met supermodel-in-training Kate who had a perm and older friends who could get into nightclubs. Suddenly, you wanted to name all your future children Kate. Even the boys.

Well, Chardonnay is the wine version of Kate. The sheer number of styles you’ll find worldwide can make it difficult to pin down your thoughts on it.  After all, nearly every wine-producing region in the world has a go at growing it! And as styles of this wine go, Chardonnay moves from the sublime to the ridiculous, being responsible for some of the greatest white wines in the world. Climate and winemaking techniques may leave their mark, but the key elements will always be there somewhere: look for a golden colour, ripe melon flavour and a fuller body than many other white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc. Vanilla and buttery notes are also good indicators that the wine is a Chardonnay. Try it unoaked for a true reading of its merits. 

Tasting Tour

Wine regions all over the world are making wine with Chardonnay, but here are some keys styles to try first. Taste them together (in moderation, of course) and then go out and explore the world of Chardonnay! One thing to bear in mind with Chardonnay: what you pay for is very much what you get. 

Chardonnay 1: Chablis, France. Yes, Chablis is always made from Chardonnay. It’s just named after the region in northern France rather than the grape, as often happens in Europe. Don’t be that person who ‘loves Chablis but hates Chardonnay! Chablis has a particular style that’s lean, mineral and elegant, thanks to the very cool climate there and its famously chalky soil. If it were a Kate, it would be Kate Moss, the catwalk model. Start with a Petit Chablis, then a straight Chablis before working up to the Premier Cru and Grand Cru Chablis wines, which are fabulous, but a bit richer and often have a touch of oak - getting towards the classic ‘Burgundian’ style of Chardonnay (see below). Chablis, by the way, is technically part of the greater Burgundy region, but it’s slightly removed, just to the north west of Burgundy ‘proper’ and while it’s all still Chardonnay for the whites, the styles are distinctly different. 

Try: Chablis, Domaine Louis Moreau. £17.99 Ocado

A great producer making classic Chablis. Lean, chalky and refreshing. Excellent with seafood.

Chardonnay 2: Burgundy, France. The greater Burgundy region in France also has its own style that tends to be fuller-bodied, with more fruit and savoury oakiness than Chablis. Golden, complex and sophisticated, this is the Kate Winslet of wine. The oscar winner -  statuesque and structured, with a lot to say. Burgundy (Bourgogne in French) is one of the world’s most famous regions for Chardonnay. It’s also a region with many villages, the names of which will be shown on the label in large letters - villages you may have heard of like Puligny-Montrachet or Macon or Meursault. These still fall under the general umbrella style of Burgundy as I’ve described but each will have their own nuances thanks to their specific geography. 

Try: Domaine Carrette, Pouilly Fuissé 2017. £22.95 from CorneyandBarrow

A popular style from the Maconnais in southern Burgundy. Rich, ripe fruit and spice with refreshing acidity. 

Chardonnay 3: Mornington Peninsula, Australia. The country that put Chardonnay on the map for a new generation is doing incredible things with this grape, especially from the relatively cooler parts, like Mornington Peninsula in the south and Margaret River on the coast in the west. Think exotic, ripe fruit with a zingy freshness. It’s a million miles away from those cloying Chards of the early ‘90s.

Try: Ten Minutes by Tractor, Estate Chardonnay, 2015. £36 mix six price from Majestic.

The is the Cate Blanchett of wine styles: cool and restrained, this is an elegant Chardonnay with plenty of structure. Made in a Burgundian style with French oak but showcasing an extra dollop of pure fruit. 

Chardonnay 4: California, USA. The best Californian Chardonnays are like actress Kate Hudson: golden, curvy California girls with brains, capable of fun as well as complex roles, and everyone wants them at a party. Napa and Sonoma are the places that fly with it.

Try: Mannequin Chardonnay 2017, Orin Swift. £46 from winebuyers.com

Brilliant, mind-boggling label aside, this Chardonnay is multi-layered with notes of melon, honey and nectarine supported by a well-integrated oak spice. Velvety and mouth-filling, it’s a real head-turner.

Chardonnay 5: Blanc de Blancs Champagne or Sparkling Wine. ‘Blanc de Blancs’ with fizz usually means it’s made from 100% Chardonnay and the style is more ethereal, fine boned and delicate in its youth than the wines traditionally blended with the red Champagne grapes (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier). With age, it puts on weight and becomes deliciously creamy and rich. 

Try: Charles Palmer Blanc de Blancs 2014, £26.10 on offer from charlespalmer-vineyards.co.uk

Incredible value bubbles with some age on them. Deliciously creamy thanks to extra lees ageing. Would be lovely with seafood and anything umami, like parmesan cheese snacks. If it were a person it would be Kate Middleton. Elegant and English, with porcelain skin…

If you like this, try Helena’s One Minute Wine Ace features on Pinot Noir, Cotes du Rhone and Sauvignon Blanc

13 Seriously Luxury Reds For Your Collection

Words by Aidy Smith

 As we (hopefully) are beginning to enter the final stages of this lockdown, many of us will be nearing our limits.  There was a time where we visited restaurants or wine bars for our weekly fix, but our attention is now focused on enhancing what we do in the home. In this issues drinks guide, I’ve put together a selection of some of my favourite luxury reds from Europe and the USA for those cool evening nights. Also, don’t forget that you don’t have to down the whole bottle in one go. If you’re getting your hands on some pretty nice wines, seriously consider investing in a Coravin which will allow you to have a glass of each over a very long period of time.  It’s nice to switch things up and I truly believe a few glasses of something different will allow you to appreciate the wine a lot more than 6 of the same. Right let’s get to it!

Faiveley Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Grand Cru 2012

 Now at 7 generations, Domaine Faiveley has been a family estate for nearly 200 years and gained a solid reputation for producing truly stunning Burgundy from Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise - totalling over 120 hectares. The Clos des Cortons Faiveley is a stunning Grand Cru example, produced from vines planted as long ago as 1936. Each year typically sees just 16,000 bottles, which considering its global appeal isn’t that many. Smooth, enticing and powerful with black cherry and an abundance of white pepper spice. 

Find it here

Nuits St Georges Les Murgers des Cras Perrot Minot 2016

 I always love discovering a wine that despite its youth is able to be enjoyed right now, not after 20 years of ageing in my cellar. The creations of Christophe Perrot-Minot represent just that. Here we have a blend of several vineyard parcels that offer a vibrant and juicy dark cherry, raspberry and strawberry alongside a subtle minerality and savouriness.

£140 from Hedonism

Nicolas-Jay, Bishop Creek Pinot Noir 2017

 What happens when Burgundian tradition makes its way into Oregon winemaking? This. Bishop Creek is home to some of the older vines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, making these wines rarer and more sought-after. Perched on the hillsides of the Yamhill-Carlton appellation these vines get the perfect amount of sunshine. Dark berries, cola and smoky mineral elements hit you on the nose with black raspberry, violet and Moroccan spices on the palate. The finish? A burst of fragrant floral notes with a smoky glaze. 

£104 from Berry Bro & Rudd

Lokoya Howell Mountain 2009

 Lokoya is one of the key reasons I fell in love with Napa after visiting their winery on the purchased upon the rolling hills of Spring Mountain. The winery itself produces magnificent Cab Sauv from Mount Veeder, Spring Mountain, Diamond Mountain and Howell Mountain. Today we focus on the latter. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, demerara sugar and black liquorice evolve into blackberry and stewed raspberry. The robust tannins within this beauty pave way to a long dark chocolate and tobacco finish, held together with a beautiful texture and mouthfeel. 

£305 from Oeno

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2006

In 1974 Joseph Phelps decided to create a unique wine each year, allowing only the finest of his grapes to end up in the bottle. This 100% estate grown beauty has become one of the most iconic wines in Napa for its ongoing consistency and longevity. Produced from some of Napa’s finest vineyards, the 2006 vintage is crafted from 95% Cab Sauv and a kiss (5%) of Petit Verdot. The result after 24 months in French Oak is a mysteriously dark beauty, full of intense black fruits, coffee, cracked cocoa and liquorice. Dense tannin intertwines with a stunning mouthfeel and a finish that never seems to end. 

£226 from Hedonism 

Vérite Le Désir 2015

Vérite Le Désir is by far one of the greatest cab franc dominant blends available. 50 micro-crus across 4 appellations are what make this wine so irresistible, alongside the 5 decades of experience its creator, Pierre Seillan holds. Each cru is independently harvested, fermented and aged in French oak to custom toast levels before being blended to create only 3,500 cases. A process which sees hundreds of unique components and blending options, but only the finest make it into the bottle. Crushed blackcurrant, stewed plums and rose petals mingle with warm vanilla bread pudding, fresh clove and star anise. The texture and tannin are sublime with the perfect balance of acidity. One to get your hands on. 

£399 from Hedonism

Inglenook Rubicon 2014

The name Inglenook has become infamous for its association with Francis Ford Coppola, award-winning director of The Godfather, amongst many other feature titles. With Rubicon, I can confirm his ability to direct movies matches his taste in wine. This stuff is delicious. Crafting wines on their estate since 1879, this particular elegant blend derives from the finest vineyard blocks giving it dynamic layers of complexity. This 2014 is pretty much Cab Sauv with a splash of Merlot (2%) and Petit Verdot (1%) allowing it to showcase black fruits such as dark berries, cherries and currants alongside a baked spice, great tannin and vanilla finish. Only 5,00 cases are produced each year. 

£199 from Oeno

Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura Riserva 2012

 The Sangiovese grapes that grace this stunning wine are sourced from the first vineyard to have been created on this estate. A process of which took over 10 years to decide to ensure optimum selection and quality of the vines that were to be planted. Every detail was meticulously thought of, which in the end is why this wine is so tantalisingly good. A rich nose of prune jam, cacao, coffee and spicy balsamic intertwine with an elegant yet powerful palate. Rich fruits, an earthiness and a velvety tannin that continues to flow into the distance. The 2012 is at a beautiful place, but you could wait a long time with these gems, they have the ability to age forever. 

£122 from Hedonism

Castiglion del Bosco Millecento Riserva 2012 

Castiglion del Bosco is one of the leading Montalcino estates that has undergone a lot of tender love and care since it was purchased by Massimo Ferragamo in 2003. The grapes that make their way into this top-tier wine come from a fairly small 8.5-hectare plot, so they get a lot of attention. It’s the tannins on this one that jump out at you giving it insane ageing potential, but the 2012 is ready to go! Super ripe and aromatic (think Mediterranean herbs) with leather, dried berries and dense chewy red fruits.   

Find it here

Tenuta di Trinoro, IGT, 2010

 When Andrea Franchetti discovered this site in the deep south of Tuscany, he knew the terroir was like nothing he’d seen before. As a Bordeaux man, terroir is everything and so removing acres of scrubs and deserted woodland he planted his vines, did his thing and naturally word spread. 9,700 vines are hand-picked bunch by bunch with several passages through the vines to ensure optimum ripeness. The wine itself is created from 60% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. The result? Stunning juicy red fruits with tobacco, spice a savoury smoke and a kiss of minerality binding it all together. 

£137 from Corney & Barrow

De Buris Valpolicella Classico DOC Amarone Riserva 2008 

 The vineyard producing this wine is only 1.9 hectares. Known as Groletta, in the small municipality of Sant’Ambrogio it is famed for producing the highest quality wines within the Valpolicella Classico zone. The selected grapes are placed on bamboo racks (Arele) and left to dry for 110 days before being pressed and left to ferment for 30 days in oak vats. After two stages of malolactic fermentation (over 2 years) followed by ageing in Slavonian oak barrels for a period dependent on the seasonal phases of the moon, the juice is then left to age for 5 years in oak barrels. Talk about quality care. Complex notes of dark fruit, black pepper, spice, liquorice and dark chocolate with an incredibly long velvety finish. 

Find it at Hedonism

Marqués de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2009 

One of the most beautiful Rioja wines in existence as far as I’m concerned. Murrieta is one of the oldest and most respected wineries in the region, dating all the way back to 1852. The legendary Castillo Ygay sits atop the perch of their offering and does so for a reason. The Grand Reserva itself comes an old single vineyard named “La Plana”, which is about 485 metres high and to top it off, this wine is only made during exceptional vintages. A beautiful array of meadow flowers hits your nose with truffle, baking spice, bright red cherries and a delicate parfum lingering in anticipation. Intense yet refined with a satin soft mouthfeel. 

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Château Haut-Brion: 2012         

Arguably one of the most famous wineries in Bordeaux, Château Haut-Brion came into new ownership in 1935 with Clarence Dillon at the helms. Today, Prince Robert of Luxembourg is also the Chairman of the estate and has been since 2008, which gives you an idea of its quality and reputation. The 2012 vintage is a steal of a price, given the vintages either side of it were deemed to be ‘better’, but I have to say, it is held up in the bottle quite nicely. Two-thirds Merlot, the wine has a blackberry and blackcurrant backbone with generous helpings of freshly ground espresso, vanilla oak and a delicate violet. Soft, rich and juicy all in one with a stunning finish. 

Starting £271 from Lay & Wheeler

This content was originally published in Oracle Time Magazine under Aidy’s Drinks Column. You can subscribe to the online magazine here to view online or order the magazine in print format.