What's In Our Glasses: October

Bright & Juicy

At the very heart of the Rhône Valley, at the northerly tip of the Southern Rhône, lie the vineyards of Grignan-Les-Adhémar.

Le Devoy checks in as a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. It has terrific notes of forest floor, cracked pepper, flowers and darker berry fruits as well as medium-bodied richness, an elegant, supple texture and notable purity of fruit. This wine has considerable charm and appeal and makes for a great everyday bottle.

Pair this wine with just about anything!

Intense & Rich

Established in 2001 by Julien Montagné and his family. Clos del Rey is located in the heart of the Maury appellation in the Roussillon. Although Maury is best known for its sweet, port-like wines, Clos del Rey only produces dry red wines now produced as AOC Maury Sec.

Le Sabina is an old bush vine cuvée of grenache, carignan and syrah grown on very stony, black schist soils. This engaging red is a concentrated, aromatic, flavourful wine, with a pure essence of blackberry and blueberry fruit, sweet and resinous wild herbs, scorched earth and liquorice. A highly satisfying and bold ensemble. Tannins are abundant but coated and softened by highly intense fruit extract. Great length as noted by Master Sommelier John Szabo.

This wine is great with BBQ meats, lamb, beef, you name it.

Rich & Bold

Finca Aylés is located in the northeast of Spain, near the city of Zaragoza, halfway between Madrid and Barcelona.  The wine project of the Ramón Reula family began its journey in the 1980s and ended with the reunification of various properties that had belonged to the Finca Aylés since the Middle Ages. Today, Aylés is one of the largest private historical farms in Aragón.  

Attractive deep cherry red in colour. The wine displays a pronounced intensity on the nose, well defined, with an extraordinarily complex and wide range of aromas; think dark red fruits, ink, and spices.  On the palate the wine is clearly defined by its elegance and ripe fruit intensity. It's harmonious and well balanced leading to a rich finish. 

It's the perfect wine to pair with rich meats and anything on the BBQ.

Rich & Elegant

Softly-textured wine from an estate in Lussac-Saint-Emilion. Moulin Noir consists of seven hectares of vineyards on a good clay and limestone site. The wine is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc and is aged 12 months in oak.

This notably complex right bank blend from a satellite appellation of Saint-Emilion offers appealing savoury notes along with a mineral, iron component and liquorice spice. The oak treatment is wonderfully integrated with wood spice elevating the bright red fruit. Harmoniously matured, graceful and very elegant. The staying power of the finish is impressive. Drinking very well now.

The high content of Merlot in this wines makes it perfect with spicy Asian dishes like Korean hotpots or Chinese food. It also pairs nicely with roasted lamb or duck terrines and with fatty cheeses like Comté.

Floral & Subtle

Cascina Castlèt has belonged to the Borio family for generations; Mariuccia, the current owner, inherited it from her father in 1970. Mariuccia focuses on her terroir and the local varieties.

The vineyards of the estate are spread over 31 hectares, and are all located in Costigliole d'Asti. The clusters of Barbera were hand-harvested and unveil a rather aromatic wine with a crunchy fruitiness. The wine evokes blackberry and cherry on a delicately floral background. Balanced and delectable, there is even a subtle note of minerality.

A wine that will pair perfectly with white and red grilled meats, salami and young cheeses.

Bold & Floral

Located on the hills that rise from the Adriatic Sea and neighbouring the coastal town of Vasto in Abruzzo, the Jasci family has been growing grapes and producing wine for three generations. In 1980, the family decided to convert the farm to organic, becoming one of the first ten wineries in all of Italy to be certified. 

This vegan-certified wine is made from hand-picked Montelpulciano grapes cultivated at 250 meters in the sunny hills of Abruzzo. The healthy grapes macerate on the skins for 15 days and age in concrete tanks. Expect intense floral aromas of violet on the nose that intermingle with fruity notes of strawberry and black currant, backed with fragrant hints of cinnamon and vanilla. On the palate is full-bodied, round and with a long fruity aftertaste.

This bold Montepulciano d'Abruzzo pairs well with flavourful dishes, such as hoisin and balsamic glazed lamb chops or seared mushrooms with garlic and thyme.

Structured & Floral

Located along the Loire river on the most reputable clay and limestone terroir of Saumur-Champigny appellation, Château de Parnay has been producing outstanding wines for more than two centuries.

This wine is made from old vine Cabernet Franc and it shows with beautiful notes of ripe red fruits, mint and spices. The palate is structured, silky and very well balanced. The length is exceptional.

Suggested pairing: grilled white meat, meaty stews, bœuf bourguignon, casseroles, and more) stuffed vegetables, cold meats, soft cheeses. 

Leathery & Peppery

As at many family domaines with deep roots in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, vigneron Alexandre Favier was by his own account “raised in the vineyards”: Alexandre’s grandfather, Noël Sabon, is from one of the best known winemaking families in the region. Alexandre himself began his viticultural studies in Orange at the age of fifteen and passed the exams four years later in 2001. A year later (at age twenty!) he took over winemaking duties at the domaine when his father experienced health problems. Today, Domaine Chante Cigale is one of the most important family estates of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

This wine comes from 30-year-old vines grown in clay-limestone soil, composed of 80% Grenache and 20% Carignan. Hand-harvested with careful grape selection, it undergoes a short maceration of about a week and is matured in tanks on fine lees. The result is a brilliant red wine with a fresh nose of red fruits, balanced acidity, and soft tannins.

Best served chilled, it pairs well with grilled meats, cold dishes, cheese, and even chocolate cake. Ideal for enjoying young, it has an aging potential of 2–3 years.

Domaine de la Garenne's Sancerre Rouge, made from 100% Pinot Noir, is sourced from two hectares of vineyards in the commune of Verdigny, where the soil is primarily clay-limestone marl. The vines, averaging 30 years in age, are cultivated using organic methods, with careful attention to tillage, yield control, and manual leaf thinning—without the use of herbicides or insecticides. 

Part of the production is aged in 500-litre oak barrels which allows the Domaine to obtain a balanced wine, with small red fruits (cherry, sour cherry) aromatics and subtle oaked notes. The colour is garnet with purple undertones, and the palate is delicious. 

Suggested pairings include red mullet or monkfish; the Sancerre Rouge would also work with a well-ripened Brie or Camembert. 

Château Haut Grelot is located near the Gironde Estuaire, north of the town of Bordeaux. Haut Grelot has been making wine and taking great care of their vineyards since its establishment in 1920!

This Vin de France is made from 100% Cabernet Franc, sourced from a 2-hectare vineyard with sandy, silty, and clay-rich soils. Yields are kept to 50 hl/ha, with grapes mechanically harvested and sorted. Vinification is followed by 6 months of aging in stainless steel vats to preserve freshness and varietal character. The wine shows a vibrant dark pink hue and a very bright appearance. Its intense nose reveals aromas of strawberry and floral notes, while the palate is round and fruity with lovely richness, leading to a generous, persistent finish.

Perfect to serve young and fresh as an aperitif, with a summer salad, pizzas, or grilled meat.

Complex & Powerful

Julien Bonneau, (Château Haut Grelot in the Blayais), and his friend Alexandre Lavigne, restaurateur in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, created in 2014 a range of wines, Grains d'Estuaire, from a 10 ha vineyard located in Saint-Bonnet-sur-Gironde, in the south of Charente-Maritime.

Crafted from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and produced at a yield of 40 hectoliters per hectare. The vines thrive in gravelly-sandy loam soils on the Agrières hillsides, near the estuary, which contribute to the wine’s distinctive character and structure. Vinification is carried out entirely in barrels, ensuring a meticulous expression of the grape and terroir. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for 16 months in 225-liter barrels, allowing it to develop depth, complexity, and refined balance. On the nose, it reveals woody, vanilla, and toasty aromas complemented by the freshness of red fruits. The palate is powerful and full-bodied, with enveloping tannins and a long, aromatic finish.

Enjoy with red or game meats.

Fruity & Floral

Heinrich Winery believes great wines express a true sense of place—something best achieved when vines thrive within a biologically diverse environment where soil vitality and natural symbiosis are preserved. Their ultimate aspiration is to let nature speak through their wines, guided by ethical and qualitative principles that shape every decision. 

The Blaufränkisch from Heinrich is an elegant, biodynamic red shaped by the contrasting chalky and sandy terroirs of Lake Neusiedl. It shows juicy berry fruit layered with floral, herbal, and mineral notes, supported by refined tannins and lively acidity. Matured in neutral oak, it’s a balanced, versatile wine with depth, ideal for pairing with hearty, rustic dishes.

Try this wine with braised beef, grilled vegetables, and spicy cheeses.

Fresh & Floral

Welcome to the intimate world of Quevedo, a small, family-owned winery where quality is a treasured tradition. The Quevedo family's viticultural heritage spans over five generations, beginning with Abel Gouveia Costa, who planted the first vines in 1889. Through the years, the family diligently expanded their vineyards, culminating in the 1970s when Oscar and Beatriz Quevedo modernized their facilities and established the Quevedo winery in 1993. Today, Quevedo oversees 100 hectares of vineyards and 25 hectares of organic olive groves, with current proprietors Cláudia and Oscar Quevedo Jr. continuing the legacy of crafting exceptional wines.

The Bravo Red is led by notes of violets. It’s followed by a vibrant array of red fruits like raspberry, cherry, and red plum, with a subtle hint of black pepper adding a sophisticated layer. This wine is all about elegance and a silky mouthfeel. It’s incredibly smooth, with a refreshing and spicy finish that makes it dangerously seductive.

Ideal matches for this wine include light meat dishes, pasta, and cheese boards.