What I’m Drinking

I love the winter season. it doesn’t matter if I’m up North in the snow or down here in the sun, the winter marks the passing of another year and the return of colder weather.  As the temperature changes, so do our appetites. At this time of year, I begin to crave more substantial food and more robust wines.  Last fall I had the pleasure of tasting a fantastic red wine from the Rhone Valley that satisfies my desire for something balanced, yet rich. Selection Laurence Feraud Chateauneuf du Pape 2007 is my top pick for red wines this season. 

The Feraud family is known for its Rhone Valley wines, the most famous being Domaine Pegau. This wine is a blend of 80 percent Grenache, 15 percent Mouvedre and 5 percent Syrah. It’s fermented in the traditional cement vats and aged both in stainless steel tanks and in oak casks. 

I love Selection Laurence Feraud Chateauneuf du Pape because it has everything I want in a robust red wine. Aromas of dark and red fruits, subtle spice notes and aromas of roasted meat jump from the glass. On the palate it is quite dense and has wonderful dark fruits with chewy tannins. This is definitely great to drink while cozied up next to a fire. At the table, I like to pair it with lamb, beef or a nice braised dish. Cheers!

Selection Laurence Feraud Chateauneuf du Pape is distributed locally, though you may need to special order it from your wine merchant. Expect to pay about $70 a bottle.

—Colin Estrem is the owner of Avenue Wine Café, 483 Fifth Ave. S., avenuewinecafe.com.

This article appears in the January 2012 issue of Gulfshore Life.

Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to Gulfshore Life magazine >>