Red Wines — Off The MRKT

Erbay Zorlu

As the air begins to carry the subtle hints of autumn, there's a certain allure that sweeps through vineyards and wine cellars alike. It's a time when the velvety richness of red wine takes center stage, inviting us to indulge in its complex flavors and captivating stories. Each year, on National Red Wine Day, enthusiasts and newcomers alike raise their glasses to celebrate not just a beverage, but a symphony of taste that has stood the test of time.

Let's celebrate National Red Wine Day by unlocking the stories bottled within each sip and savoring the warmth it brings to our hearts and conversations. As the corks pop and glasses clink, let us honor the heritage and elegance that make red wine an enduring symbol of sophistication and enjoyment.

Upon opening a bottle of the 2018 Archimedes, one is welcomed by enticing aromas of cocoa, toffee, and raisins. Pouring and tasting reveals a wine that is dark in color. Rich, smooth tannins, and plush, mouth-coating flavors of mocha, cassis, and clove tantalizing the palate with hints of tobacco on the long finish. The 2018 Archimedes was aged for just over a year and a half in French oak barrels with a large portion of new wood. The final result is a beautifully integrated wine. With this wine we pay homage to Francis's Uncle Archimedes, who loved math and mechanics as much as his namesake.

San Felice Chianti Classico DOCG 2021 Produced entirely from native grapes, it is a typical, medium-bodied Chianti Classico, with a distinguished personality and notable for its elegance and pleasantness. The 2021 vintage was characterized by a mild and dry winter. The germination was consequently brought forward to the end of March for the earliest varieties and for the best exposed vineyards. On the nights of April 8 and 9, the temperature dropped a few degrees below zero, significantly reducing production. Thankfully the spring was rainy, allowing the plants to tolerate a long, hot summer. Production was poor but, as often happens, the small quantity corresponds to an excellent quality.

The Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 offers intricately woven layers of decadent flavor, complemented by exotic spice components and a refined tannin structure. It highlights all the best attributes of what defines Oakville as the epicenter for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Aging for 17 months in French oak Barrels (52% new).

Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir Known for its iconic red wax top, Belle Glos is the perfect bottle to grab this National Red Wine Day. Enjoy the dark ruby color and lavish aromas of dark chocolate, vanilla bean, dark berries, and succulent peach cobbler. On the palate, this pinot noir is bold and sophisticated, layered with rich caramel, dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, and cranberry jelly. The texture is rich and velvety, which leads to a long, structured finish.

Elouan Pinot Noir This wine opens up with aromas of bright cherry, plum pie, cocoa nibs, and hints of baking spice. You’ll taste rich and well-balanced notes of raspberry jam, candied cranberry, wild bramble, and a lingering pepper finish on the palate. With incredible depth and concentration, this smooth, medium-finish pinot noir pairs perfectly with your favorite fall comfort foods - french onion soup, warm baguette slices, fresh pizza, or a well-curated charcuterie board.

2021 San Simeon Pinot Noir, Monterey The Riboli Family farms estate vineyards in Monterey in order to ensure the ultimate level of grape quality. The Sarmento and El Camino Real Vineyards embody our family's commitment to estate grown wines. Both vineyards share spectacular views of the Santa Lucia Highlands and were chosen for their well-drained, alluvial soils and cool, coastal microclimates. San Simeon Pinot Noir is a rich, fruit-driven wine with ripe flavors of strawberry and raspberry. The mouth is soft and round with a lingering finish. Aromas of bright red fruit, cinnamon, and oak spice are revealed on the fragrant nose – a perfect wine to enjoy for any end of summer occasion!

Balletto Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Made with estate grown grapes from the Russian River Valley, the Balletto Pinot Noir exhibits everything you would expect from a serious Pinot Noir. Combining the full and captivating aromatics with a delicate texture that defines the Balletto style of Pinot Noir. The overall impact is complex, impressive, and delicious.

The Baldacci Family Vineyards Fraternity Red Blend is a beautiful Napa Valley wine that’s perfect for these late summer days. The 2021 Fraternity Red Blend recently received 94 points from Decanter Magazine and is one of those special Napa wines that drinks really nicely without needing to be aged! The blend is made of Cabernet Sauvignon (73%), Petit Verdot (17%), and Syrah (9%). It shows off ripe pomegranate, blackberry and spice from the Cabernet, a gorgeous color and cocoa nuance from the Petit Verdot, and lovely floral notes from the Syrah. The wine is elegant and powerful, and perfect to cheers with this National Red Wine Day. It’s available via the winery website or at all Total Wine & More locations across the U.S.

Crosby Roamann is a boutique producer of minimal intervention wines in Napa. The proprietor Sean McBride, and his wife Juliana, believe that wine is a living thing that has transformative power – a bridge to the future, to the past, between people to share love, or to reminisce. For them, winemaking is a family affair – focused on making distinctive, limited allocation wines by hand with the greatest care, ensuring lively wines of character and a true sense of place. The Estate Merlot comes from an old vine, dry-farmed vineyard. These big vines grow in a deep clay soil near a tributary of the Napa River. The fruit was manually sorted and fermented in stainless steel, then aged twenty months in French oak barrels, 33% new. The Estate Cabernet is a very small production cuvee destined for eight plus years of bottle development, with at least three years to reach full maturity. With extraordinary purity of fruit, and delightful notes of cassis, dark cocoa, and blueberry, the wine finishes with a touch of spice.

Napa Valley's Flora Springs is a winery with rich history in the valley for over four decades producing exceptional wines embodying elegance and quality. The winery's flagship red wine, the 2019 Trilogy is a bold red blend worthy of special occasions. Trilogy is a classic Bordeaux blend of estate-grown varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. As one of Napa Valley’s first proprietary red wines, the 2019 Trilogy marks the winery’s 35th vintage of the distinctive red blend. Ripe and succulent, the wine has flavors of cassis, currant and black plum balanced with notes of vanilla crème and black licorice, a noteworthy bottle for the moments you want to remember.

America's favorite wine brand, Josh Cellars (currently ranked #1 in the US) provides *reliable, affordable sipping options *well suited for cheers-ing with friends and family on National Red Wine Day. Hearth Cabernet Sauvignon, the newest red wine in the Josh Cellars portfolio, is a cozy Cab perfect for summertime evenings around the campfire and welcoming the arrival of fall. This full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is filled with flavors of baked plums, black cherries and blackberries, inviting relaxation at the end of the evening.

Sourced from some of California’s finest vineyards, Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon is full bodied with notes of dark cherry and toasted caramel. While it is bold and plush, their Cabernet is not overpowered by oak or tannins which allows the fruit to shine through. It also allows the wine to pairs well with a wide variety of cuisines - anything from pho to your favorite gourmet burger.

Chateau Magnol is a dry red wine from the Haut-Médoc region of France, made from a blend of four grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. This wine is harmonious, well-balanced, full, fine, and elegant, with ripe tannins that provide structure and depth.

2021 Assemblage Cab Franc Blend A delightful summer red blend from Majuscule Wine truly expresses the elegance and texture of the predominant Cabernet Franc with the backbone of high-elevation Cabernet Sauvignon and the roundness of mountain-grown Merlot. Savor the flavors of bright red fruit with a brambly backbone, bright acidity, well-integrated tannins and a smooth, lingering finish.

Conundrum 2021 Red Blend Sourced from premier California winegrowing regions, Conundrum Red features dark red varietals, including Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is serious yet lighthearted, complex and approachable. With lavish fruit flavors and baking chocolate, this wine has smooth tannins that provide a distinctive, soft character. Be daring and drink slightly chilled to enhance the fruit profile and enjoy any time of year.

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