Winter Wines
JANUARY 2022
Inspired by Wine Folly’s: 14 Winter Wines You’ll Love, here are some fun cold weather wines to check out:
Carpineto - Tuscany, Italy (producer of SANGIOVESE, featured below)
Nebbiolo
“High acidity and grippy tannins that will make for an experience you won’t soon forget. Decant for 45 minutes and watch it rain complex rose, cherry, and leather flavors all over your palate.” —WineFolly
FOOD PAIRINGS: risotto, charcuterie, winter squash, mushrooms, truffles, fancy silverware, and food cooked in quenelles
CLASSIC REGIONS: Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Valtellina, and Gattinara
Pelassa 2017 "Sot" Nebbiolo D'Alba Piedmont, Italy // Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99100% Nebbiolo matured for 12 months in Slavonian and French wooden casks, then 12 months in bottle before release. Delicate scents of flowers (violets & roses) with strains of wild berries on a pleasantly spicy base. Dry but velvety. A delicious, harmonious Nebbiolo. Enjoy with a rich cut of meat off the grill. *Photo: Pelassa winter vineyards pictured above.
Virna Borgogno 2018 Langhe NebbioloPiedmont, Italy // Reg $24.99 | Mixed Case $19.99Etherial fruity scents of raspberry, cherry & violets. Dry on the finish, but pleasantly so. Wonderful wine: pizza, pasta with mushrooms, truffles, lamb. *Photo: arial of Virna’s winter vineyards pictured above.
Shiraz
“Used to be rugged, even heavy-handed, but now Australian Shiraz is intense in flavor with lots of fruit, but more medium in body. Beautiful, easy-drinking winter reds.” --Jens
Food Pairings: grilled meats, venison, boar, leather club chairs, and snow banks
Classic Regions: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale
Spring Seed Wine Co. 2017 Scarlet Runner Shiraz
McLaren Vale, Australia // Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
Full of black berries, black currant with a note of licorice, but it's still quite medium-bodied. Certified organic. Pair with roasted chicken or pork, grilled salmon & more. *Photo: Spring Seed’s winter vineyards pictured above.
Elderton 2016 Estate Shiraz
Barossa Valley, Australia // Reg $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59
Eucalyptus. Blue fruit. Red fruit. So fun! Medium- to fuller-bodied. Soft tannins on the long finish. Open 2 hours before dinner. You'll be rewarded. *Photo: Elderton’s winter vineyards from Jens’ trip there in July 2016.
Sangiovese
“Can we gush about traditional Sangiovese for a minute? Earthy and rustic, it goes with all kinds of winter eats and even vegetarian fare. Added bonus: Its complex nose is perfect for sitting, sniffing, and contemplating New Year’s resolutions.” --WineFolly
Food Pairings: tomato sauce, roasted winter veggies, sausage, pizza, hard cheeses, and cigars
Classic Regions: Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico
Uggiano 2016 Chianti Riserva
Tuscany, Italy // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
From the winery: A complex bouquet with notes of black cherry, fruits of the woods and rich violets with pleasant tannins on the finish. They also encourage you to enjoy this wine with: pici pasta with ragout, pappardelle pasta with porcini mushrooms, grilled meat, tripe and lampredotto "alla fiorentina" & game stew. *Photo: Estate harvest pictured above.
Tenuta Montecchiesi 2018 Sangiovese Tuscany, Italy // Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
Bouquet of red fruit (especially cherry & raspberry) with hints of spice. Delicate flavors, good acidity in a well-balanced medium body. This wine is refreshing & elegant. Great with classic Italian as well as Americana — burgers, meatloaf, roasted chicken. *Photo: Village of Cortona near the Montecciesi vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
“We can hear you now: “Thanks for the rec, Captain Obvious.” Still, just how awesome Cabernet Sauvignon is this time of year bears repeating. We’re all eating rib-sticking dishes, accumulating mass for hibernation, and Cab is a no-brainer pairing. But it’s also more than an eating companion, it’s a thinking person’s wine. It’s layered, complex, and if you go Old World, surprisingly subtle.” --WineFolly
Classic Regions: Médoc (Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Margaux), Graves, Napa Valley, Maipo, Washington State
Food Pairings: pepper steak, brisket, holiday roast, duck, goose, lentils, and mashed potatoes
1851 Cellars 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $15.99 | INSIDER $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
Aromas of dark Rainier cherries, blueberry and blackberry compote with a note of baking spice & coffee. On the palate it's full of black raspberries and cherries with subtle tannins and black peppercorn notes on the finish. Enjoy with meats off the grill, chili, stews, burgers, grilled portobello mushrooms. Great easy sipper for enjoying with friends.
Ancient Peaks 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Paso Robles, California // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
”…vivid aromas of violet, boysenberry and black currant with trailing hints of tobacco …with dense flavors of blueberry, cherry and blackberry. Suggestions of black olive, vanilla and mint elevate the experience …. Enjoy … with herb-marinated rack of lamb, rosemary-grilled flank steak, filet mignon with black olive sauce, and duck breast with wild mushrooms.” —winery notes. *Photo: 2021 harvest at their Santa Margarita Ranch.
Chardonnay
“It’s so cool to hate on oaked Chardonnay. No, we can’t get behind that. Every wine has a time and a place. The time is now for rich, buttery Chardonnay. Full-bodied with dominant flavors of vanilla, butter, caramel—and a touch of citrus—it’s quite an alternative to eggnog and hot buttered rum.” --Winefolly
Classic Regions: California (North Coast, Central Coast, Santa Barbara), Burgundy (Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Grand Cru Chablis, Pouilly-Fuissé), Willamette Valley, New Zealand
Food Pairings: chicken, turkey, sea bass, lobster, comté and gruyere cheese, mushrooms, cream sauce pasta, and cream-based soups
Domaine Cornu 2017 Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc
Burgundy, France // Reg $34.99 | Mixed Case $27.99
12 months in barrels. White flowers with notes of citrus, apples and pears on the nose. Flavors of soft golden apple & golden plums. Beautiful roundness, with a smoky note on the finish. Lovely acidity. Enjoy with shellfish, roasted chicken & pork dishes and as an aperitif. *Photo: Cornu estate vineyards
Raeburn 2019 Chardonnay
Russian River Valley, California // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
“…complex fruit tones ranging from pear and Gravenstein apple to nectarine. The fruit is beautifully complemented with toasted oak, vanilla and hints of Crème Brûlée with a balanced and elegant finish.” —winemaker’s notes. *Photo: 2018 harvest, estate Chardonnay
Viognier
“Why would we recommend a classically flowery white wine known for peach, tangerine, and honeysuckle flavors? By Late January, you’re probably going to need springtime in a glass.” --WineFolly
*We’d add: It’s luscious and fuller-bodied and great with winter dishes!
Classic Regions: Originally from the Northern Rhône. California, Australia, Washington State and beyond. Wines are often age in oak to deliver Chardonnay-like richness
Food Pairings: A wine best paired with delicate meats or scallops that are flavored with stewed fruit, almonds, citrus or aromatic herbs (such as Thai Basil or Tarragon)
Domaine Haut de Mourier 2020 Viognier
Languedoc, France // Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Aromas of apricots, peaches and spice. Flavors of stone fruits, honey with a soft herbal note. Round, soft, fresh, well-balanced. Nice off-setting acidity. Enjoy with Asian dishes, spicy foods, and smoked almonds! *Photo: estate grapes
Tinte Cellars 2018 Viognier
Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
”Fermented in stainless steel and concrete to preserve aromatics and enhance mouthfeel. Tropical aromas meld with violet and lychee enhancing flavors of lime, honeysuckle, and pear. Pairings? Lobster, crab cakes, pate, asparagus, fried plantains.” —winery notes. *Photo: Meet Tucker, the winery dog.
Valpolicella
“The region’s most famous wine, Amarone della Valpolicella, partially dries grapes to increase concentration in a process called appasimento. Corvina is the darling grape of the Valpo blend and known for its flavors of cherries and chocolate.” --WineFolly
Classic Regions: Valpolicella in the Veneto region of northcentral Italy
Food Pairings: The simpler Valpolicella wines pair with burgers and roast chicken. Finer Ripasso and Amarone styles deserve braised meats, steaks, mushrooms and aged cheeses.
Franchetto 2018 Valpolicella Superiore
Veneto, Italy // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Herbs (sage) & ripe plums… lots of perfectly ripe plums! Note of stewed plums, too. Good acidity in the most pleasant, well-balanced, kind of way. Bea-u-ti-ful wine! Absolutely lovely with a roasted chicken or turkey, charcuterie, mushroom dishes.
Marco Secondo 2015 Valpolicella Ripasso
Veneto, Italy // Reg $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59
Medium-bodied wine with plenty of ripe and dried, red-fruit flavors accented by spice and floral notes. Thanks to its rich texture and ripe fruit flavors, this Ripasso can be paired with a wide range of foods from mushroom risotto to beef-filled ravioli.” —importer notes
Port
“You say you don’t like Port. We say you don’t like Port yet. There are a lot of wines we’ll be sampling this winter, but this is the one we’ll be reaching for after celebrations, by the fireplace, and on the longest of winter nights.” --WineFolly
Classic Regions: Douro Valley (Portugal)
Food Pairings: blue cheese (stilton, roquefort, gorgonzola), creme brûlée, black forest cake, cherry pie, chocolate truffles, and walnuts
Alves de Sousa Quinta da Gaivosa 20-Year Old Tawny Port
Douro Valley, Portugal // Reg $66.99 | Mixed Case $53.59
Full of spices, toffee, caramel and herbal notes on the nose. Rich and very complex. Wonderfully refined by time, it expresses the beauty of 20 years of maturity. Pair with cheese, caramel desserts, egg desserts such as flan or custard or (the winery says) with a cigar
Champagne
“We’re not really sure why so many relegate their Champagne drinking just to New Year’s Eve. It’s light, refreshing, and insanely versatile when it comes to food. Sure, it’s expensive, but there are affordable alternatives. Plus, we can’t think of a better way to cure winter blues than with a bit of the bubbly.” --WineFolly
Classic Regions: Montagne de Reims (for depth), Côte de Blanc (for Blanc de Blancs), and Valée de la Marne (for Blanc de Noirs)
Food Pairings: fries, bacon, ham, potato chips, popcorn, latkes, cheese, and nuts
Henriot NV Champagne Brut Souverain
Champagne, France // Reg $57.99 | Mixed Case $46.39
Classic, old-fashioned Champagne fom a 200+ year old house. Lush, full flavors of citrus, yellow fruits & brioche with a note of roasted almonds on the finish.
Mourvèdre
“(aka Monastrell) A gamier, more untamed alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon, seek out wines from Jumilla and Bandol for shining examples of this unctuous mother.” –-WineFolly
Classic Regions: Bandol (Provence), Jumilla, Catalunya
Food Pairings: A perfect wine with smoked meats and barbecue where the wine’s peppery and gamy flavors seem to vanish, revealing layers of black fruits and chocolate.
Domaine de Frégate 2015 Bandol Rouge
Provence, France // Reg $32.99 | Mixed Case $26.39
Rich & deep in color. Blackberries, cassis, mulberry, truffle and forest floor. Nice note of pepper on the finish. A strong wine. Balanced & elegant. Enjoy with richer meats (wild game, lamb) or strong cheeses.
Bodegas Olivares 2019 Altos de La Hoya Monastrell
Jumilla, Spain // Reg $13.99 | Mixed Case $11.19
“Deep ruby. Ripe, powerful scents of red and dark fruits, minerals and spices. Finishes fresh and long, with a repeating dark fruit note.” —winery notes
Sagrantino
“Grown on the small hillside of Montefalco in Umbria, deeply opaque Sagrantino is about as bold as bold red wine gets! [Flavors of plum sauce, licorice, black tea, black olive, black pepper.] Just make sure you have fats and proteins when drinking to counter all that tannin.” --WineFolly
Classic Regions: Umbria (Central Italy)
Food Pairings: earthy sausages, wild mushrooms, and cheese all match well.
Bocale 2015 Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Umbria, Italy // Reg $41.99 | INSIDER $39.99 | Mixed Case $31.99
Aromas of blackberries, currants with notes of herbal Mediterranean shrubland, spice and vanilla. This wine is dry, but the tannins are relatively smooth. Just give it a couple hours open before enjoying with dinner. This wine is definitely enhanced with food! Enjoy with gnocchi in Sagrantino wine sauce, roasts and grilled gamey meats, pasta with truffles or other flavorful mushrooms, aged cheeses.
Madeira
“Oxidized, fortified dessert wines [with flavors of burnt caramel, walnut oil, peach, hazelnut, orange peel] from the Island of Madeira ranging in style from off-dry to sweet. Wines are incredibly stable and are known to age over 100 years.” –-WineFolly
Classic Regions: Spain
Food Pairings: Madeira is a popular choice for reduction sauces because of its walnut-like flavors and tart acidity, but it also pairs well with artichoke, pea soup, and asparagus.
Hope you enjoy these winter wine suggestions! They’re really fun.
Julie & Jens, owners
Portalis Wines & J. Strecker Selections (import company)