Try these five perfect wine pairings for fall comfort food

Opinion

Some might call it sweater weather, while others will declare it decorative gourd season — but around these parts, fall is the time to crack open heartier red wines to take the edge off the late-day chill.

Here are five bigger, bold reds sampled recently to enjoy around a fire, over a board game or while bingeing a new TV show this autumn…

The Tenute Rossetti Poggio Civetta 2023 Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy — $29.99, De Nardi Wines) is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape, with some Canaiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon thrown in the mix. Deep purple-ruby in colour, this Tuscan red brings bright plum, cherry, iron, red licorice and spice aromas, with secondary herbal and white pepper notes. It’s dry and full-bodied, with ripe cherry and raspberry flavours coming with medium acidity, secondary notes of red licorice, spice and white pepper (the latter two from nine months in barrel), decently grippy tannins and at 13.5 per cent alcohol, a finish that’s slightly warm. Drink now with rustic pasta dishes or pizza, or set aside for 2-3 years. 4/5

Ripe blueberry and plum aromas are front and centre in the Bodega Norton 2024 Barrel Select Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina — $16.49, Liquor Marts and beyond), with secondary violet, cocoa and cherry notes showing nicely as well. Sourced from Malbec vines planted at the foothills of the Andes mountains some 950 metres above sea level, this Argentine red is full-bodied and dry, with plenty of ripe, dark fruit here (particularly blackberry) along with cocoa and baking spice notes, modest tannins and, at 14 per cent alcohol, a medium-length finish. A crowd-pleaser. 3/5

From just up the mountainside comes the Santa Julia 2023 Reserva Malbec Cabernet Franc (Uco Valley, Argentina — $18.99, Liquor Marts and beyond), with grapes for this red blend coming from up to 1,400 metres above sea level. It’s inky purple in appearance and brings loads of blackberry, dark chocolate, plum, violet and subtle tarry and herbal notes. It’s a dry, full-bodied and fruit-forward red, with deep jammy blackberry, plum and raspberry notes, secondary chocolate, espresso, herbal and vanilla components (the latter from six months in barrel), chewy tannins and, at 14 per cent alcohol, a long and warm finish. Drink now with heartier stews and similar fall foods. 4/5

The grapes for the Bec Hardy 2024 Garden Series Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia — $26.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) are sourced from two different Aussie vineyards; the wine’s inky purple in colour, with pronounced herbal notes alongside ripe cherry and raspberry aromas, iron and earthy notes and a hint of violet. It’s dense and full-bodied, with ripe cherry and plum flavours coming with blackberry jam, cedar, black tea and white pepper (from 10 months in oak), and at 14.5 per cent alcohol, offers a long, warm finish. Drink this now with spicier fare or ribs. 4/5

The Viña San Pedro 2022 Sideral (Cachapoal Andes Valley, Chile — $29.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) is a Chilean red blend made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with Syrah, Petit Verdot, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc making up the balance. It’s deep ruby in appearance and aromatically brings cassis, iron, leather, white pepper, blackberry and a hint of dark chocolate. It’s dry and full-bodied, with loads of ripe dark fruit, hints of leather, black pepper and iron, medium tannins, as well as vanilla and spice notes from 16 months in oak and, at 14.5 per cent alcohol, a lengthy finish. Drink now with a steak after letting the wine breathe in the glass for a bit, or cellar for three to five years. 4.5/5

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