I’m never one to limit great wine consumption by season. Want a rosé when it’s snowing? Drink it. Crave a Cab when it’s 90 out? Down it. That said, there are certain wines I associate with a time and place. That I imagine drinking in front of a fireplace, while wearing a sweater and enjoying the view of my neighbor’s pumpkins and gourds splayed across porch steps.
There is nothing I love more than a glass of a spicy red when fall hits. Leaves are in their amber prime, and I’ve put away the grill for the season. In Autumn, I like something medium-to-heavy body with full fruit, that has enough acidity to handle all the butterfat I’m likely throwing at it. I tend to save my uber-rich, more oaked reds until December- more on that later. These 3 below are my top autumnal styles.
-
Northern Rhône Reds like Crozes-Hermitage
-
From the Northern Rhône Valley in France, these Syrahs are some of the best in the world. Some are $$$. Some are $. All are Syrah. The rule in this region is that if you slap a Northern Rhône appellation on your label and it is red, the grape in the bottle must be legally be Syrah.
One area I love in the Northern Rhône is Croze Hermitage. The pricepoint is killer compared to many other neighboring regions and you can find a bottle for around $20. (Watch out though- the neighboring “Hermitage” region will cost you $40 and up, easy). I also like wines from this area because they’re delicious, and lovable. Think floral notes, blackberry and blueberries, thyme, and sometimes hints of bacon or black olive. With great acidity.
-
Other great regions to try nearby are Cornas and Côte Rôtie,
-
Some wineries I love from Northen Rhône: Jean-Louis Chave, Yann Chave, Domaine le Colombier, Faurey, Graillot, Sorrel, Vernay,
2. Aged Tempranillos of rioja alta
-
Did you know that there’s an area of Rioja, Spain that actually ages your wine for you? And they don’t charge you extra for it. This appellation in westernmost Rioja is called Rioja Alta and it’s magnificent. Unlike wineries in Burgundy, Barolo or Barbaresco (where some of the best Pinot Noir and Nebbiolos are made) who sell their wine young and expect you to age it until it’s at its peak, Rioja Alta producers make the wine, then generally cellar it for you until they think it’s ready to drink. This means that upon release, the ravages of time have already made the wine, well, less ravaging. Those burly tannins and high acids that many high-end European wines are known for when young (see the 3 B’s above) have already been soothed for you as the wine ages and mellows in the bottle. Quite simply, they’re ready to go.
The grape of Rioja Alta is Tempranillo, sometimes with a touch of Graciano. The wines taste of black cherries, spice, leather, and sometimes tobacco. And at around $40, they’re a deal considering you could be opening a wine…
