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 Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
November Club Chevalier ~ 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.
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 | Corsica
November Club Chevalier ~ 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 | Provence
This full-bodied rouge, with notes of dark fruit and fragrant garrigue, is built for grilled lamb or pork chops.
Italy | Emilia-Romagna
October Club Gourmand ~ Dry red Italian sparkling wine with dinner? You’ll love it.
More Collections
From the Cellar: Holiday Edition
We’ve done some digging of our own, and came up with a collection of perfectly cellared bottles that would make for epic companions to anyone’s grandest events. You’ll find whites and reds from numerous French and Italian regions dating back up to thirty-five years, with styles and price points for everyone…
The Kermit Lynch Holiday Gift Guide
When it comes to holiday shopping, the gift of wine is hard to beat— especially when it’s a thoughtfully chosen, hand-crafted bottle from one of our many talented growers in France or Italy. Beyond wine, we have an assortment of other goodies to stuff every stocking on your list, from artisanal olive oil to gift cards to ball caps. You’ll find these items and more in the Holiday Gift Shop—now open!
Annual Dessert Wine Sale
Gingerbread cookies, yule logs, pumpkin pies…Sauternes, Banyuls, Muscat…Whether you prefer your treats baked or fermented, no holiday meal is complete without the final flourish of dessert. Now through the end of December, 20% off per bottle!
Annual Sparkling Sale
With seasonal celebrations and feasts around the corner, now is the time to stock up on sparklers from Champagne and beyond. To kick off our annual sale, we’re shining the spotlight on the KLWM quartet of Champagne growers, each with a distinctive house style that exquisitely translates its unique terroir. Get to know all four, as well as a range of lively offerings from regions like the Loire, Alsace, Veneto, and Savoie…
Domaine Tempier: the Wine, the Family, the Exuberance
Domaine Tempier is a wine—it is also a family; exuberance and finesse are the traits common to both,” wrote Richard Olney back in 1984. What’s remarkable about this simple yet spot on-observation is how true it rang then, how true it rang forty years prior to that, when Tempier had just released its first wine, and how true it still rings today, forty years later.
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!
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.
