The 7 Best Chillable Red Wines to Drink This Summer
Summertime is here and it’s not uncommon for temperatures to reach 80°, 90°, or even 100° degrees—yet wine lovers have long been told they should serve their red wines at room temperature. This presents a problem because room temperature is generally around 74° year-round with modern heating and air conditioning. But the correct temperature to serve red wine is actually cellar temperature, which is somewhere closer to 55°. This is easy if you live in a sturdy stone chateau with wine niches carved into the limestone cave beneath your house, but since most of us don’t, let’s talk about ways to drop the bottle temperature closer to 55° or 60° and let’s discuss which red wines taste the best when chilled.
Let’s start with a simple idea: don’t be afraid to chill your reds, especially when it’s really hot outside. Heat intensifies the feel of tannins in wine, especially the mouth-coating sensations and drying effects that can make it unpleasant to drink. So, lowering the temperature of the bottle is a good thing to do. When it’s extremely warm neither of us even wants a red wine when the sun is blazing, so often we’ll wait until the sun sets to fire up the grill and drink nicely chilled red wines.
There are a number of methods to get your wine to the proper temperature and keep it there. The easiest is to keep them at 55° in a temperature-controlled wine cooler, but if you haven’t invested in one yet here are some ideas that don’t require a degree in rocket science to execute. You can lower the temperature of your wines simply and effectively by submerging them in an ice bucket for around 20 minutes, then pull the bottle out, dry it off, and place it on the table. If you’re drinking slowly and the bottle starts to heat up, plunge it into the ice again. Repeat as necessary. You can also chill your wine by placing the bottle in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. There are also decanters with sealed ice inserts that won’t dilute your wine, and there’s even an “icicle” style rod you can freeze and insert into neck of the bottle. Whichever method you choose, you’ll be happier when you drink your wine slightly chilled. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to discern the aromas and flavors if you don’t make it too cold.
It’s also important to choose wines that have lower tannins and are aged for less time in oak barrels than some of our favorite heavy-hitting Napa Cabs. Seek out Gamay from Beaujolais, lightly aged Tempranillo from Spain, Sangiovese from Italy, lightly oaked Malbec and Carmenere from Argentina and Chile respectively, and Grenache-based wines from the Rhône Valley. Here are seven we’ve been drinking this week and will continue to enjoy all summer long.
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Castello Romitorio 2020 Colto Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany Italy
The building that now houses Castello Romitorio has had many iterations. Originally it was a temple that became a monastery in the 12th century, then it was repurposed as a castle for a few hundred years until artist Sandro Chia restored it and created a winery with winemaker Franco Martini in the 1980s. Today the family tradition continues with the next generation as both of their sons now work together. Their Colto Rosso di Montalcino is ruby red with aromas of red raspberry, bramble, and cherry cola. It has bright acidity with flavors of blackberry, red cherry, and a touch of dried rosemary in the finish.
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Casa Emma 2019 Harenae Tuscany Italy
Casa Emma is located at an altitude of 1,400 feet in San Donato, Poggio. It was founded by Fiorella Lepri in 1969 and today it is owned by the Bucalossi family. The estate sits among 1,000 olive trees and 69 acres of vineyards consisting of Sangiovese, Malvasia, Ciliegiolo, and Merlot vines. The 2019 Harenae is garnet colored with a light violet rim. It has aromas of red raspberry, crushed violet petals, and a touch of pine resin. Bright and lively, it offers soft tannins and flavors of red plum and juicy blackberry.
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Chateau de Rouanne 2019 Les Côtes Vinsobres Rhone France
Located in the northern region of the southern Rhone Valley, Chateau de Rouanne produces wines that are designated with the Vinsobres appellation. The estate consists of 176 acres with 150 of those under vine. Louis Barruol is the current owner of Chateau de Rouanne; many wine lovers know him from Chateau de Saint Cosme in Gigondas. His Les Côtes Vinsobres is purple ink-garnet colored with aromas of red plum, freshly picked cherry, and anise. Slightly salty on the tastebuds, this enticing wine has flavors of red plum, freshly ground black pepper, and a touch of candied ginger in the finish.
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Altos Las Hormigas 2020 Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec Uco Valley Mendoza Argentina
It all started in 1995 when winemaker Alberto Antonini left his native Italy in search of excellent terroir to grow grapes in South America. In Mendoza, Argentina he found winemakers using Malbec only to produce jug wine, but he thought he could do something more to make excellent wines with the same grape and first-class soils. He eventually brought in more partners and today the group calls themselves Terroir Specialists. Their Paraje Altamira Malbec is intense ruby in color with aromas of black currant, black plum, and lifted mint. It’s juicy at first sip with balanced acidity and flavors of black raspberry, brown baking spices, red plum, and a touch of dried Mediterranean herbs in the finish.
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Tenuta San Guido 2022 Guidalberto Tuscany Italy
Wine aficionados know Sassicaia, but few know Guidalberto, the less serious, easier drinking little brother made at the same estate, Tenuta San Guido. This large estate in Tuscany is near the coastal village of Bolgheri in the province of Livorno and is owned by the Incisa della Rocchetta family. The 2022 Guidalberto has aromas of dried rosemary, red plum, and juniper berries. Upon entry the tannins are pleasantly grippy and the acidity is well balanced quickly giving way to flavors of red currant, red plum, and wet river rocks. The finish is long with a touch of salinity at the very end.
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Paul-Henri Thillardon 2021 Chenas Chassignol Beaujolais Burgundy France
Paul-Henri Thillardon started his own domain in 2008 at the tender age of 22 and was joined by his brother Charles a few years later. Together they farm using organic and biodynamic principles and their wines are some of our favorites produced in Chenas in Beaujolais, Burgundy. The Thillardon brother’s 2021 Chenas Chassignol is ruby red colored with aromas of red raspberry, bramble, and bright red cherry. Soft tannins pave the way for flavors of red plum, strawberry, and Earl Grey tea.
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Apaltagua 2018 Grial Carmenere Colchagua Valley Chile
In 1995 Edward Tutunjian was vacationing in Chile and became enamored with its wines. He purchased his first vineyard in the Curicó Valley and his second in Curepto in the Maule Valley. Today his holdings include vineyards around the country. Most wine lovers agree (ourselves included) that some of the best Carmenere wines in Chile are produced in the Apalta region of the Colchagua Valley. Apaltagua Grial 2018 is an excellent example of what Carmenere can become when made properly. It has aromas of black plum, red plum, and red raspberry that transfer seamlessly to the palate and is juicy from the first sip with soft tannins and flavors of blackberry, cassis, and bright red cherry.
Authors
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Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
