Most Chillable Reds
by Tom Wolf
Most Chillable Reds
by Tom Wolf
A little before 8 p.m. on a warm night last June, I sat down at a Paris wine bar across from François-Régis Gaudry, host of Radio France’s On Va Déguster. The waiter arrived and Gaudry asked for a couple glasses of whatever “vin frais” he’d recommend. It wasn’t the open-ended nature of this request that caught my attention—the order was appropriately vague, exhibiting the sort of trust you place in the staff of your favorite establishment. My curiosity snagged instead on the word “frais.” Was Gaudry yearning for something specifically “fresh” or “chilled”? When the glasses arrived, it became clear that he’d meant both!
When it comes to wine—and reds in particular—this French double meaning of “frais” is so apt because cool and fresh go hand in hand. Too many glasses of red wine are consumed at room temperature—too warm!—which tends to make me think of a vase of wilting flowers. To liven up a wine and draw out its maximum aromas, flavor, and freshness, it always helps to stick a bottle in the fridge or an ice bucket several minutes before pouring a glass. Doing so, for example, will magnify the ambrosial character of a Morgon, heightening its floral side while also making its bright fruit notes taste even more refreshing and vivid. And while we often associate chilling reds with bottles that are quaffable and low-tannin, this practice can work its magic with certain bigger wines, too, like young Bandol rouge, in which a chill brings its fruit and succulence to the fore.
If you are new to cooling your red wines, consider the wines below an ideal assortment for discovering the many ways a chill can change—and improve—your favorite bottles. And if you’re a veteran of the chilled reds game, you know just how good these selections taste at their ideal temp!
Wines In The Collection
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
This divine red allies the power and finesse one would expect from this great terroir.
Kante Italy | Friuli
A blend of multiple grapes and multiple vintages crafted in a fresh, easy-drinking style.
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
Gently perfumed and full of fresh berries with the bright, stony finish typical of wines from Reuilly
La Soeur Cadette France | Burgundy
Few domaines bring out the joyous side of red Burgundy like La Soeur Cadette. When I close my eyes and try to dream up the ideal bistro red, this is it.
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
This versatile and refined Corsican blend is my favorite wine to take to dinner. It’s always dressed to impress and pairs well with all kinds of fare.
Guy Breton France | Beaujolais
An opulent, mouth-filling expression of granitic terroir, this bottling has the delicate floral nuances and fine-grained tannin that differentiates Fleurie from the other crus.
Domaine du Gros ’Noré France | Provence
This full-bodied rouge, with notes of dark fruit and fragrant garrigue, is built for grilled lamb or pork chops.
Fattoria Moretto Italy | Emilia-Romagna
October Club Gourmand ~ Dry red Italian sparkling wine with dinner? You’ll love it.
France | Loire
This divine red allies the power and finesse one would expect from this great terroir.
Italy | Friuli
A blend of multiple grapes and multiple vintages crafted in a fresh, easy-drinking style.
France | Loire
Gently perfumed and full of fresh berries with the bright, stony finish typical of wines from Reuilly
France | Corsica
This bottle is benchmark Corsica at a weeknight price.
France | Burgundy
Few domaines bring out the joyous side of red Burgundy like La Soeur Cadette. When I close my eyes and try to dream up the ideal bistro red, this is it.
France | Corsica
This versatile and refined Corsican blend is my favorite wine to take to dinner. It’s always dressed to impress and pairs well with all kinds of fare.
France | Beaujolais
An opulent, mouth-filling expression of granitic terroir, this bottling has the delicate floral nuances and fine-grained tannin that differentiates Fleurie from the other crus.
France | Provence
This full-bodied rouge, with notes of dark fruit and fragrant garrigue, is built for grilled lamb or pork chops.
Italy | Alto Adige
An ethereal red with a little spice.
Italy | Piedmont
A quintessential house wine from Piemonte’s less-traveled side.
France | Beaujolais
Serious minerality, with earthy stone and plum notes.
Italy | Emilia-Romagna
October Club Gourmand ~ Dry red Italian sparkling wine with dinner? You’ll love it.
More Collections
New Arrivals from Savary
(and an Unexpected Trip Down Memory Lane)
-image_set_1_img_1-21585-large.jpg)
Domaine Savary’s 2023 wines have landed, and just in time for oyster season! In celebrating the new arrivals from one of our favorite domaines in Chablis, I can’t help seizing the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane of the appellation to recall some of its colorful history here in the states…
Unearthing the Northern Rhône
After the dizzying number of appellations in the south, the northern Rhône is easy. There are but a handful, including some of France’s noblest: Saint-Péray, Cornas, Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Condrieu, Château Grillet, and Côte-Rôtie. And in contrast to the numerous grape varieties permitted down south, the northern Rhône reds are the result of a single variety, the Syrah...
Spotlight on Corbières
If you’d like a travel tip for France, I have a good one for you: go to Corbières! Living is good in those southern hills, with plenty of artsy villages, locavore restaurants, B&Bs with old-school charm, hikes and sites galore, and, of course—the reason we’re here—a plethora of local wines that are most often affordable and pleasantly drinkable, and, at their best, truly exceptional.
Introducing Our Newest Producer: Cantine Garrone
Exactly what I had been searching for over many years was hidden in this remote corner of northern Piedmont, waiting intently, jewel-like, to be discovered.
New Arrivals
Here is a collection of recent arrivals. Every week, we’ll be adding a dozen or more new arrivals, so check back often for your favorite classics or new discoveries!
Memories, Wines, and Reflections
In our July newsletter, Kermit reflects on the old days after cleaning up his home office and finding his earliest tasting notes. Particularly inspired by his first wine-buying trip to Paris, he notes that on May 3, 1974, he walked into the wine shop of Monsieur Jean-Baptiste Chaudet, who “generously opened at no charge so many great bottles for tasting and devoted such a big chunk of time to me, just me, of all people…”
The Carpe Vinum Collection
An ever-changing offering of wines that are just about to sell out; one last opportunity to seize a range of selections before they disappear from our shelves forever.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.