Red wine and winter go hand in hand. There is nothing better on a cold day than a full-bodied red wine, particularly if it’s matched with a slow-cooked lamb or beef dish. Or a fireplace. Or both! If that sounds right up your alley, you’re in luck. Our good friends at Chas Cole have the very best wine to warm your soul this season, and have done the hard yard in narrowing it down to their top five!
Sevenhill “Inigo” Cabernet Sauvignon
You had to have known a Cabernet Sauvignon would make the list. Perfect for this time of year, this particular Cabernet Sauvignon has a dark, ‘black cherry’ hue and prominent red berry fruits on the nose. Commanding fruit and mocha/spice carry through the palate, underpinned by unmistakably high-quality tannins, typical of the variety in the Clare Valley. With a long lingering finish, this one is ideally paired with pepper steak, brisket and mashed potatoes next to the fire. The best part is you can pick it up from Chas Cole’s for a measly $22.
Atze’s Corner “The Giant” Durif
Durif should be your new go-to winter red. Produced using black-skinned grapes that resulted from a cross between the popular Shiraz and lesser-known Peloursin varieties, Durif wines are emerging to be a great substitute for Shiraz (Syrah) owing to the incredibly dark colour and powerful characteristics. This particular Durif is made using 100 percent Durif grapes and displays a purple-black colour. The bouquet reveals aromas of black fruits and sweet spices along with a touch of liquorice, this $32 wine was simply made to enjoy by the fire on a Friday night while you pick at a range of mature cheeses. We’d recommend blue cheese for this one!
Sons of Eden “Remus” Shiraz
If the weather is particularly freezing, you will need something a bit bigger and heartier to see you through. Best described as big, brooding, and boozy, Shiraz is known for its powerful black fruit flavors, savory undertones, and high ABV (14%-15%). This one is deep garnet in colour with a complex red-cherry and blackcurrant aroma, underpinned by elements of dried spice and bay-leaf. A little higher in price at $70, the Remus is not for the faint of heart or palate, but it’ll warm you up in a hurry and is definitely worth the price.
La Prova “Monaciello” Aglianico
This one’s for the Italian-lovers out there. Aglianico is a full-bodied red wine which is found almost exclusively in Southern Italy in the regions of Campania and Basilicata, but winemaker Sam Scott is all in on Italian varieties, believing that the Adelaide Hills is uniquely positioned to produce some of the best examples of Italian varieties outside of their home country. This Aglianico comes from a single site in Kersbrook (the warmer Northern part of the Adelaide Hills) where Scott feels the conditions are spot on for growing a classic, rustic, structural example of the variety. Powerful, earthy and savoury, this is a very ‘Italianate’ version of Australian Aglianico and is sure to spark that Italian fire in your belly! This one’s just $38.
Kalleske “Plenarius” Viognier
Big, bold and unabashed! This one is a white wine for red wine drinkers, although it could be classed as an orange wine. Don’t worry wine lovers, that’s got nothing to do with the fruit itself, just the colour of the wine. With plenty of savouriness, this one is bursting forth with honey, lemon, flowers, spice and fresh hops. It will be like Christmas in July upon first taste however with initial flavours of marmalade and gingerbread. With a whole lot of freshness, as winter starts to warm, you’re probably going to need springtime in a glass and this is it. You can nab this one for $27.
You can find these wines (plus a whole lot more) at 395 Moorabool Street, South Geelong.
