Easy-Drinking Affordable Red Wines for Late Spring
The sun's out in Southern California. It's not quite summer yet, but flowers are in bloom and we're craving red wines that are a bit lighter, some chillable, and fun to drink. Imagine sitting under a tree, a warm breeze passing by, and you're sharing some salami and cheese while sipping one of these affordable charmers. Life is good.
⭐ Wine of the Month
Laroque Cité de Carcassonne Pinot Noir, Languedoc 2023 – $17.99
We recommend that everyone try our Wine of the Month if you like a light and easy red wine. It's a light-bodied, fruity Pinot Noir from the Languedoc, specifically from Carcassonne, a beautiful city in the South East of France.
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La Badia Chianti "Cetamura", Tuscany 2024 – $15.99
Coltibuono, the great Chianti house, has consistently offered this charming entry-level red under several iterations, currently settling on La Badia Cetamura. It still offers its familiar quality, a lighter, fresher, tart cherry-flavored character that is unmistakably Tuscan. Drink this with your next pizza.
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Aigueville Vin de France Rouge-Frais Syrah N.V. – $15.99
The label sums this easy-to-drink quaff perfectly: "Fresh & Juicy Red Wine." This Rhône wine producer decided to make a non-vintage red that was not intended to be deep, yet somehow, they made it interesting and not at all syrupy. Some grip at the finish helps frame the Syrah nicely. A little chill will be fun if you choose.
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Pedroncelli "Friends Red", Sonoma County 2023 – $13.99
This friendly red wine showcases the best of the blend. Aromas of blackberry, cherry and warm spice. Smooth tannins and light toasty oak notes frame the black cherry, plum and vanilla. It is a medium-bodied harmonious wine with a round fruity finish.
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Thevenet & Fils Bourgogne Rouge "Les Clos", Burgundy 2024 – $19.99
Thevenet & Fils has offered us a medium weight no-oak Pinot Noir grown near the Mâconnais town of Boussieres. With a minerally aroma, the clean flavor has a persistence from beginning to end. No flashy fruit here, just an easy-to-drink red Burgundy at an attractive price.
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Lini Lambrusco Rosso, Emilia-Romagna N.V. – $19.99
What speaks to outdoor fun more than dry red Lambrusco? This dark red sparkler with its creamy mousse is not your grandma's Lambrusco, that's for sure. Bold tasting, with berry and some peppery notes with a tremendous freshness -- one of our best wines for a wide array of foods like traditional cold cuts and cheese, mortadella in particular, dim sum, and fried dark meat chicken.
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Coteaux des Travers Rouge "ZouZou", Rhône Valley 2023 – $14.99
Marine and Paul Charavin, the couple who gave us our sensational and affordable Rasteau also produce this carefree south-of-France red wine made from Grenache, Mourvedre and Cinsaut. It's an easy-drinking, fun red wine that is a no-brainer for our Southern California outdoor lifestyle. I can imagine drinking it with all kinds of summer fare and it's delightful with a slight chill. This just may become your next house red!
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J. Lohr Valdiguié, Monterey County 2024 – $13.99
This is our perennial recommendation for charmer-of-the-year, a rare California red wine that knows its place and performs it well. Dark in color, yet something about it reminds us of Beaujolais. In fact, forty years ago it was accidentally called "Monterey Gamay." If Pinot Noir and Beaujolais had a baby, this would be it. Delightful with a little chill, too.
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