Red wine is an icon of the viticultural world.
Picking out a stand-out poster girl from a vast lineup of wholly unique varietals, preparations and experiences feels a little funny, but hear us out – what color did you fill the glass with when you were doodling angsty wine goblets as a teenager? What bottles feature on the table in every dinner scene in every romance movie ever? What fruits were called upon to describe the liquid spilled in every contemplative feminist poetry anthology you’ve read ‘til now? Is the answer red, red, red, red?
We thought so.
Beautiful, sensual, complex, and even good for you in moderation, red wine holds a very special spotlight on the global viticultural stage. It ranges from unknowable and unique to wholly accessible and totally drinkable.
We think it’s high time to celebrate the color that does so much heavy lifting in the wine world, so – here are a few of our favorite reds from the Argaux collection.
Our Daily Red Wines
- 2019 Flâneur Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – $28
Let’s start with a staple.
Pinot Noir is sometimes touted as the gateway wine into the richer, wider world of reds. It’s light, a little on the sweeter side, and a friendly hand to hold as you step further into the darker side of the tasting card – or as a weeknight imbibeable that will only demand as much from you as you have to give.
This is ours, a fruity and floral number that feels like sinking into your favorite couch cushion the moment you come home after a hard day in the field. She’s waiting for you with open arms – come take a sip!
- 2018 Domaine Alain Burguet Vosne Romanée – $125
And on the other end of the spectrum, this red is not for beginners. It’s recommended that the Vosne-Romanee spend a couple of years herself on the shelf before you pop the cork. A scaffolding of tannins will benefit from the softening, and the rewards you’ll reap thereafter are well worth it.
Little sister to the Burgundy region’s Echezeaux Grand Cru, this rough-diamond red is full of dark and wild fruits that conjure images of bare feet, loose curls and muddied linen dresses running between the vines on an overcast summer day.
- 2021 Storm Duvarita Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir – $65
It is rare to find Margaux’s pantry empty of at least one bottle of this oceanic Pinot. It’s her absolute favorite, and may easily become one of yours as well!
This food-friendly Pinot can be your mealtime staple – its savory/sweet tasting profile truly goes with anything you could ever crave, so if you’re ever stumped for a pairing this delicious bottle is a safe bet.
Don’t feel obligated to match it with a meal, though. These grapes grew up in proximity to the softening winds of the California Pacific, so she’s smooth enough to sip all on her own.
- 2017 Domaine Rougeot Père et Fils Volnay-Santenots Premier Cru – $125
Drink it now, drink it later, drink it at your new baby’s high school graduation, it’ll be a unique and totally delicious experience no matter what you do. A Premier Cru grape, it’s an elegant draught with unmistakable depth and complexity that still manages to be friendly and delicious to the untrained palate. (Surprise! It’s another Pinot!)
A welcome dinner guest, this wine will pair best with your meat/carb combo dishes, such as burgers, saucy pastas, and sumptuous seafood preparations.
- 2019 Edaphos Steel Plow Vineyard Grenache – $40
We’re still getting to know this standalone Grenache, but we really truly love what we’ve experienced so far. This grape varietal often makes up the foundations of other red blends, or features in some favorite dark roses, so we’re thrilled that this hard-working uva is getting a little time in the spotlight with such an amazing example of the solo act it can pull off.
Fruits of the late summer and fall, a handful of rose petals, and a savory note on the back palate, this one very much wants to feature at your next dinner party.
- 2020 Gouchas Luján de Cuyo Carbonic Malbec – $22
Perfect for summer, this slightly effervescent and chillable red adds a little intrigue to the genre with something a little unexpected. And wow, is it delicious.
One of the best selling bottles of all time in our collection, this sparkly Malbec elevates our understanding of what this varietal can taste like – and we want more, more, more! Juicy, smoky, deep and dark, we’re thinking we add a handful of frozen raspberries and sip it on the back deck.
- 2021 Land of Saints Santa Barbara County Cabernet Sauvignon – $32
The smoothest of cabs, like a beret-wearing beat poet at the back of a smoky bar. Tasting notes border on the super-savory with peppery flavors that cut through the berry-flower-chocolate palate we come to expect from a simpler Cab. Pair with Gruyere, a dark singing voice, and a cherry wood table scarred from years of hosting great American novels written on grimy napkins. “Snap, snap, snap.”
Other offerings from Argaux
Want to get to know your reds a little better?
Our best-selling blind wine tasting kit is a fun and educational way to experience wines unfettered by the preconceived notions provided by any label (the writer may still be in the beat cafe at this juncture…)
Ahem.
The kit includes 2 to 4 bottles of wine which come wrapped to conceal their identities. An easy-to-follow tasting guide will hold your hand through the process of experiencing the liquid in your glass using all of your senses – with color, texture, and taste, you will be invited to make your best guess as to the wine’s identity which can be dramatically revealed at the end. Excellent as a party game, or as a way to hone your sommelier skills, select red as your wine style of choice to dive deeper into the sanguine side of viticulture.
Cheers!
