Move over, white and rosé. Our partner Wine Access and colleagues at Robert Parker Wine Advocate have recommended five red wines to drink chilled this summer. For more MICHELIN-recommended programs, join Wine Access's MICHELIN subscription program—four bottles, five times per year, curated by restaurants like Two Star Californios and Three Star Per Se. Read on for five bottles to try with reviews from Robert Parker Wine Advocate.
2018 Domaine de Piaugier Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Sablet — $19
Robert Parker Wine Advocate team says: "An 80-20 blend of Grenache and Syrah, with the Grenache aged in concrete and the Syrah in older wood, Piaugier's 2018 Cotes du Rhone Villages Sablet delivers delightful strawberry and red raspberry aromas on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, silky and elegant without lacking for depth or persistence. Really nicely done. 90/100"
Pair it: With its red-fruit flavors and silky tannins, you could be daring and pair this Grenache-dominated red with a hearty fish, like grilled tuna or swordfish steaks. More conservatively, it pairs well with chicken dishes, from a simple chilled salad to a barbecued whole bird.
2018 Petrolo Torrione Val d’Arno di Sopra Tuscany — $29
Robert Parker Wine Advocate team says: "This is such a fun edition of this wine with a fluttering heart sketched onto the front label. Made with organic fruit, the Petrolo 2018 Val d'Arno di Sopra Torrione is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wine opens to a dark and rich appearance with punchy aromas of tart cherry and wild berry. Warm aromas of tobacco, spice and cedar wood appear gradually as the wine opens in the glass. An ample 50,000 bottles and 1,500 magnums were produced. 94/100"
Pair it: The Torrione is made with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Whenever you see Sangiovese in a Tuscan blended red, home-kneaded pasta immediately comes to mind thanks to the tannic power and refreshing acidity of the grape that so perfectly matches to cheese, olive oil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The savory qualities of the other grapes would match wild boar. Go with a heaping plate of pappardelle al ragù di cinghiale to bring out the best of those gamey flavors.
2018 Michel Chapoutier Bila-Haut L'esquerda Côtes du Rousillon Villages Lesquerde — $28
Robert Parker Wine Advocate team says: "Coming from higher elevation granite soils and just about all Syrah, the 2018 Côtes Du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde L'Esquerda offers stunning granite character with its cassis and black raspberry fruit intermixed with lots of wet stone, ground pepper, white flowers, and hints of truffle. Deep, medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure and elegant on the palate, with light tannins, it's going to keep for upwards of a decade. 91-93/100"
Pair it: This hearty blend of Grenache and Syrah is a bit tannic, so don't drink it too cold—just a slight chill is ideal. With its level of concentration, rich tannins and dark, plummy fruit, it really demands to be served alongside red meat. Try grilled lamb chops are an obvious choice or a lamb burger with a dash of tzatziki, or a hamburger with more traditional toppings.
2019 Zuccardi Concreto Malbec Paraje Altamira Mendoza — $30
Robert Parker Wine Advocate team says: This Polígonos Paraje Altamira Malbec is superb. It comes from vines at 1,100 meters in altitude and is somewhere between San Pablo (the lightest) and Gualtallary (the most structured). There's a little more ripeness here, and there are red and blue fruits and less herbal notes. In a way, it's a more classical Malbec, less showy in the nose but with a very interesting palate, juicy and very sapid, almost salty. 19,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2020. 94/100
Pair it: For this not so light but unoaked Malbec, go for a good charcoal-grilled hamburger or a mixed barbecue with ribs, chorizo and sausages. Serve the wine slightly chilled.
2017 Il Borro Petruna Toscana — $75
Robert Parker Wine Advocate team says: A vibrant ruby color. Aromas are led by bright, wild red berries with hints of tobacco and damp forest floor. The mouthfeel offers a broad range of flavors and textures, driven by cherry and wild herbs and supported by uplifting acidity and a long finish. Drink now - 2028. 93/100"
Pair it: Pair this wine with a lasagna rich in cheese, because the acidity of the grape is ever-present to clean your palate.
Hero image: gui00878/iStock. All other photos courtesy of Wine Access
