Red, red wine Toast dark winter days with these great sips
Five reasons to drink some delicious reds this month? Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, President’s Day, Chinese New Year’s, and winter blues.
February is the ultimate month for red wines. It’s still dark and still cold and you need even more reasons to feel cozy. If your reds are stuck in a rut, refresh your stock with these nicely priced vintages and well-worth-it splurges.
La Crema 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($28)
The depths of winter can be a hard time for pinot noir lovers — 25 degree nights can call for something with more body and punch. But in a world growing more crazy for pinots, you better have a classic on hand all time. La Crema’s 2022 offering is pretty much the Platonic ideal of pinot noir. It’s elegant and unfussy, meaning it’s smooth but flavorful, fruity but not sweet, right for sipping alongside nibbles of roquefort or washing down a huge plate of eggplant parm.
Sodale Merlot Lazio IGP 2020 ($25)
Let me be as clear as I can be: This bottle from Italy’s Famiglia Cotarella will change your view of merlot. Wait, did you have a negative view of the grape? Yes? OK, get ready to expand your palette. This one delivers dark, velvety fruits with a wonderful balance. Drink it with anything — winter cheese plate, summer bbq, pizza, pasta, paella.
Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 ($27)
I thought that San Felice’s 2019 edition of this wine was a fancy, just-a-bit-pricey entre into the world of Chianti Classico. The 2020 has slightly less bite, making it even more versatile. Yes, the dry, acidity of Chianti can take some getting used to. This one, with its tang and complexity, is a great, easy starting point.
Duca Enrico Nero d’Avola 2019 ($85)
Duca di Salaparuta is a champion of Sicilian wine. The Nero d’Avola is its signature offering. Hot summers, short winters, cool Mediterranean breezes, and all that Sicilian magic make the conditions ideal for cultivating the nero d’avola grape (and ideal for everything else, can we all just move to Sicily?). This is the first 100% single-varietal nero d’avola bottled on the island. The nectar is fruity but well rounded, a bit of oak, a bit of cherry, a crazy amount of flavor to stand up to any cheese from Parma to Stilton. Is it $85? Yes. Is it better than Taylor Swift? Maybe. Is it cheaper than a Taylor Swift ticket? Yes.
Ramos Pinto 10 Year Old Tawny Port ($31)
Want to add some class to your liquor cabinet? Skip Scotch, pass over prosecco, and pick up a nice port. A fortified wine from Portugal, port is the ultimate after dinner drink (but, please, drink it before dinner or without dinner). Ramos Pintos’ 10-year-old vintage has a classic flavor with a blend of orange, vanilla, and caramel with a bit of wood from the casks. It’s the perfect accompaniment to cheese and chocolate, which means you can sip on it any old time. Serve it cool, not cold. Store in the fridge after opening.