It is the season to paint the town red! Cosy up and browse through this vino guide for the eight finest red wines in India to buy this holiday season.
A flickering anticipation to wind up from work, hit your favourite spot on the couch, or wherever comfort finds you at your best, play that euphoric jazz playlist in the background with the star of the evening — your chosen red wine — gently poured into a tall, Bordeaux glass. Sounds soothing, right?
If you are a vino lover (just like us!) and like to keep your collection accoutered with the finest red wines at all times, let the upcoming holiday season be the reason to stack your shelves with eight scintillating, luscious red wines in India.
Sula Vineyards Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon
You cannot possibly discuss wines in India without the mention of Sula Vineyards —its winery and vineyards stationed in Nashik, western Maharashtra. Its Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon made from a 100 per cent variety of Cabernet Sauvignon is dubbed as one of the finest red wines in the country, while also being easy on the wallet. This full-bodied red wine is matured in French oak barrels for over 14 months and later in the bottle. Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon carries deep, complex flavours laced with hints of blackcurrants and blackberries and has a velvety smooth finish.
Where to buy: sulavineyards.com
Grover Zampa La Réserve Syrah Grenache
With its winery based in Doddaballapura, Karnataka, one of the oldest and front-running wine brands in India, Grover Zampa is soon inching closer to completing 35 years of winemaking. From its signature La Réserve range comes La Réserve Syrah Grenache, a beautiful blast of black cherry and vanilla. This dark purple-hued red wine is aged in French oak barrels for about six months. The resultant nose is a rich bouquet of black cherry, pepper, and florals along with a rich, complex palate underlined with firm tannins.
Where to buy: groverzampa.in
Fratelli Sette
Another Indian brand championing the booming nose for fine wines in the country, Fratelli is a must on the list when stocking up on red wines for the season. Fratelli (that means brothers in Italian) birthed out of a collaboration of the Italian Secci brothers, Sekhri, and Mohite-Patil brothers. Which Fratelli unique red vino is under our radar? Fratelli Sette 2015 made with Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in new French and American barrels for 14 months, Sette is refined and concentrated with woody and vanilla notes.
Where to buy: fratelliwines.in
KRSMA The Sangiovese
Image: KRSMA.
Redirecting the spotlight to the hill-dotted region of Hampi in Karnataka, KRSMA dived into winemaking in 2008. A name formed from its founders Krishna Prasad Chigurupati and Uma Chigurupati, from KRSMA’s vino trove, we are eyeing The Sangiovese 2012 made from 100 per cent Sangiovese grape variety inked with a luscious, dark crimson hue. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, the finish is underlined with dusty tannins and with every sip, notes of boysenberries, blueberries, plums, oregano, and smoke come alive. At KRSMA, they like to call it the first Sangiovese vintage for the Indian palate!
Where to buy: krsmaestates.com
Chateau La Fleur Petrus
From the renowned repository of Jean-Pierre Moueix vineyards, Chateau La Fleur Petrus is easily one of the most coveted wines from Bordeaux, the southwest region in France known for its red grape varieties. Named for the area it comes from, Chateau La Fleur Petrus 2010 is premium in every trickle, made from the Merlot variety. Intertwined with notes of dark berry, blackcurrant, plums, and truffle, it finds admiration for its suave and silky character, velvety mouthfeel, and long finish.
Where to buy: livingliquidz.com
Castello Di Querceto Cignale
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that wine runs deep in the nerves of Tuscany, a central region in Italy where some of the major grape varieties are Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The deep ruby-hued Castello Di Querceto Cignale 2015 comes from Toscana (as it is called in Italy) as well, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with blooming scents of red and black fruits, tobacco, cedar, and a slight balsamic note. Every sip fills the mouth with a velvety, full-bodied feel and long finish.
Where to buy: Via delivery, All things Nice Wine Cellar, call 9820698883 or reach out at @anggelsshare on Instagram
Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge
Image: Anggels’ Share.
As they call it, Mas De Daumas Gassac is also dearly called the jewel of the Languedoc, a wine-producing region in Southern France. Interestingly, Languedoc leads with about one-third of wines created in all of France. Currently run by the second-generation family of the brand’s founder Aimé Guibert, getting your hands on Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge 2019 is a gift to yourself. The velvety red vino is elegant with hints of toast, surprisingly soft yet concentrated on the palate with a fleshy finish.
Where to buy: Via delivery, All things Nice Wine Cellar, call 9820698883 or reach out at @anggelsshare on Instagram
Alta Vista Terroir Selection Malbec
A worthy wine contender with a spot in the lists of top five wine-making regions in the world, Mendoza in the west of Argentina is responsible for about 70 per cent of the wines from the South American country. Alta Vista Terroir Selection Malbec 2018 from Mendoza is a deep purple red wine with an intense nose of blackberries, plums, and hints of black pepper and liquorice. On the palate, it bursts with soft tannins and a full-bodied, long finish.
Where to buy: Via delivery, All things Nice Wine Cellar, call 9820698883 or reach out at @anggelsshare on Instagram