Every evening, as we inch closer to winter, we are bestowed with awe-inspiring displays of orange, pink, and purple as stunning as a painting. One of the finest ways to enjoy such beauty is with amazing wines, sitting back and taking in the romantic scenery. Here are some of the most charming wines to sip with our fleeting autumn sunsets.
2011 Domaine Paul Blanck – Pinot Blanc – Alsace, France – $15
91 Pts. A lovely, charismatic Alsatian where tart lemon meets creamy golden apples on a base of chalky minerals. Straightforward with charming flavor density and uplifting acidity, notes of white flowers and grapefruit peel lead into a long, zesty finish. – JA
2012 Bénédicte et Stéphane Tissot – Poulsard Vieilles Vignes – Jura, France – $25
94 Pts. Like Leon Phelps from The Ladies Man, this is funky, gamey, and just plain ballsy. Venison, paprika, raspberry, and cherry boogie into the nose as smooth polyester tannins and subtle effervescence reel in rustic flavors of mushroom and clove. Rawr! – JA
2012 Drew Family Cellars – Valenti Vineyard Pinot Noir – Mendocino Ridge, CA – $45
93 Pts. Resembling a John Muir exploration, natural scents of strawberry, red cherry, lavender, and sage climb out of the glass. Wonderful extraction of supple tannins live alongside vibrant fruits, florals, and a finish of toasted wood and almonds. –JA
2011 Flowers Winery – Sea View Ridge Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast, CA – $70
95 Pts. Where ocean and forest collide, we find celestial sensations of black raspberry, balsamic strawberry, and black forest ham. Fairy-dust tannin and juicy fruit unveil a silhouette of lavender and cocoa powder creating an enticing longevity on the palate. – JA
2011 Ojai Vineyard – Puerta Del Mar Chardonnay – Santa Barbara County, CA – $33
94 Pts. A Spanish sonnet with quixotic sea grass, peach, saline, and cashew oil. Slices of apple and lemon invigorate the palate’s crispness, while its divine structure and minerality prolong the wine’s lingering impression. –JA
Roederer Estate – NV Brut – Anderson Valley, CA – $25
92 Pts. Like Don McLean’s legendary song, this American Pie plays tunes of baked apples, pears, vanilla cream, cinnamon, and toasted pie crust. Its fluffy mousse and heartening texture are further dolled up by its bouncy acidity and tasty autolytics. – JA
2007 André Brunel – “Les Cailloux Centenaire” – Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France – $130
97 Pts. Like a bearded mountain man in an Armani suit. Burly notes of meat sauce and rural barnyard evolve into velvety tannin and perfumes of prune, dried redcurrant, violet, and brown sugar. -JA
2010 Kenzo Estate – Murasaki Red Blend – Napa Valley, CA – $250
93 Pts. With attributes of Japanese watercolor, its tranquility harmonizes with a powerful romanticism of black cherry, wood dust, and rose petals. Its silky tannin and animated acidity are exquisitely painted with notions of thyme, cola, and plum. –JA
2006 Ackerman Family Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon – Coombsville, CA – $105
95 Pts. Like Paul Newman’s career, this seductively maturing Cab is debonair with a suave, velvety touch. Its strapping body releases a cologne of blackberry, violet, meat, and fennel, while dark chocolate, tobacco, and charcoal finish the palate. – JA
2013 Inman Family Wines – Endless Crush Rose – Russian River, CA – $25
92 Pts. Expressing classic Provence purity, its stony minerality is beautified with a bouquet of strawberry, grapefruit, rhubarb, elderflower, lanolin, and lemon. Dry with zippy acidity, the palate delivers hints of iris and salinity, with a watermelon Jolly Rancher finish. – JA
2011 Sequoia Grove – Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah – Napa Valley, CA – $38
92 Pts. Rugged, like the pioneers crossing the Sierras, with a robust body and notes of boysenberry, allspice, leather, pepper, smoke, and fresh soil. Exposing its gentler side with powdery tannin and florality, it further evolves into mint leaf, dates, and vanilla. – JA
