In Vino Veritas
As summer ends and we say goodbye to sipping rosé and Albariño on patios, we at In Vino Veritas increasingly find ourselves pairing light reds with these chilly nights. With spooky season fully upon us, now is the perfect time to review and recommend our favourite blood-red “grape juices” to help you ease into fall. Below you’ll find five reviews covering a diverse range of light and medium reds. Whether you prefer a classic pinot, a funky blend, a bold grenache, or a delicious syrah, we’ve highlighted something for everyone and every occasion!
Quinn Hartwig (1L)
La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018
$34.95, LCBO
In a word? Crushable. However, this nuanced, elegant pinot noir is so much more than just an easy drinker.
On the nose, you are immediately hit with notes of bright, fresh, red fruits including cherry, strawberry and cranberry. As it opens up, aromas of sour cherry candy and coffee emerge.
The first sips are equally full of beautiful red fruit with an immediate punch of cherry, followed by a distinct taste of baked strawberry and rhubarb. The eight months in a barrel soon become apparent, as gentle flavours of vanilla, cocoa, and coffee come through to create a mocha flavour. The mouth feel is velvety smooth and the tannins are so soft, they are hardly apparent. The long-lasting finish imparts noticeably refreshing acidity and leaves a taste of sour cherry and pomegranate. This crowd-pleasing wine is a prime example of what makes Sonoma one of the most well-respected homes of New World pinot noir. The renown and versatility of this wine make it an excellent choice for any occasion as it can be appreciated by the wine snob and the casual wine crusher alike.
Angela Gu (3L JD/MBA)
Bread & Butter Pinot Noir 2019
$16.95, LCBO
It’s pumpkin spice season and this pinot noir is perfect for a basic girl fall, a time of year that I wholeheartedly embrace. Get your blanket scarf and cozy up with this California red. There are hints of pumpkin spice candle on the nose, with a bit of artificial brown sugar vanilla. It smells sweet, and tastes like raisins. There’s a round, almost buttery, mouthfeel. I’m adding this to my list of easy-drinking reds; it’s a great sipper for an overcast afternoon.
Jared Barkman (1L)
$40, Boxcar Social
When choosing a light red wine to ease into fall, one is generally drawn to the soft sensuality of pinot noir or the cheery aromatics of gamay. Syrah, on the other hand, can be thought of as punchy and overbearing, better suited for your frumpy uncle who subsists solely on red meat and full-bodied wine. Andréa Calek’s “A Toi Nous” demands that such stereotypes be discarded, producing a light and juicy syrah/grenache blend that perfectly offsets the heaviness of middle-of-term blues. Raspberry and cherry notes are complemented by moderately structured tannins, keeping things interesting. If you’re new to natural wine, the slight effervescence may be off-putting, but several glasses of wine dancing on your tongue will provoke your feet to do the same. Whether you’re looking to dance off an LP from your first 1L assignment, or you’re waltzing to celebrate an in-firm interview, this may just be the wine for you.
Shae Rothery (2L)
$19.95, LCBO
Okay, a garnacha (the Spanish version of a grenache), may not fit squarely into the light-bodied red wine category, but I don’t make the rules. This is definitely a dinner wine—it’s bold, peppery, and would pair well with meat or roasted veggies. I’m a big fan of natural wines, so I was pleasantly surprised to find this natural yeast-fermented bottle at the LCBO. Overall, this is a solid pick for a sub-$20 bottle and is great to bring along to a dinner party!
Tom Russell (2L)
Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz
$21.95, LCBO
This OCI season, I have been staying sane by drinking enough red wine to make everyone else in my house uncomfortable. Therefore, I really needed a wine that was both delicious and affordable. That’s why my recommendation for this month is Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz.
The syrah/shiraz variety is a dark-skinned grape with a long history in the Rhone region of France and is now grown around the world. The name “shiraz” and “syrah” refer to the same grape, but shiraz is the popular way of referring to the variety in Australia and is sometimes used to distinguish a “New World” style of using that grape.
Lionheart of the Barossa is produced in South Australia, is a full-bodied and smooth wine, and has a sugar content of 7 g/L. It is a dry wine with a beautiful ruby colour. I noted flavours of dark plum, blueberry, and mint. This is a delicious wine that I recommend pairing with hard cheeses.
