Reds for Lovers of White Wine
Who said a red wine doesn't make for a good aperitif?
Not all red wines are hard, alcoholic and mature. Those of us committed to whites because of their softness, expressive fruit, fresh acidity and floral elegance may stray from time to time. Picking a red with the soul of a white isn't sinful, particularly when temperatures drop and we seek a wine that warms us up inside.
A wine that is young at heart, not (too) oaky, its palate characterized by the aromas of fruit and flowers. Who said a red wine doesn't make for a good aperitif? If we're drawn to whites because of their ethereal quality then young vintages displaying their liquid history are the best choice.
Pinot Noirs are wines made for dreaming, light, low in alcohol and pale in color. As you sip these wines, take pleasure in their accomplished acidity, because for this new generation of reds, skin contact doesn't diminish their freshness. And much like their continental climate counterparts, they embrace such a range of combinations that go together so well! Slightly aged wines combine the best of youth (a burst of fruit) and the best of oak (complexity). They are the delight of the indecisive: highly versatile reds that allow for myriad pairings.
The Monastrells, with their subtle hints of lavender, tend to be a grand melody for our senses. The Garnachas, with their extraordinary sweetness, offer luscious notes, the reason why blends containing this variety are so appealing. The Tempranillos are a celebration of red fruit and pepper. If we're seduced by whites because of their aromatic intensity then remember that certain red wines display an exquisite perfume instead of flexing their tannic muscles on the palate.
Red wines are no longer the libation of men: women want more than honeyed white wines, they want whatever strikes their fancy at any given moment. They love a well-made wine, regardless of the color.
Meritxell Falgueras by Meritxell Falgueras
"I’m a young vine 30 vintages old who has grown up at the Celler de Gelida, a wine store that has provided fine wines for five generations.
At first sight people define me as clear and bright, with golden tinges and a slow tear. An assembly of words and wines that culminate with the oak aging of a doctoral thesis on the metaphors of wine tasting. I have a bouquet of romantic flowers and wild fruit.
On the palate, I’m very savoury, with a hint of sweetness and a spicy aftertaste. A cosmopolitan wine that transmits "joie de vivre" in every single sip."
Restless soul:
Sommelier, journalist, tireless traveller. Constantly learning.
You will know her for ...:
- Her blog: winesandthecity
- Sommelier of the Year 2011 in Esquire Spain magazine
- Her books: "Los vinos de mi vida", 2013 and "Presume de vino en 7 días", 2011 (published in Spanish)
Tasting Notes
We want to know more, so we submit Meritxell to our particular questionnaire:
1. "Tweet" the answer: what’s a great wine?
A wine that appeals to the senses and nourishes the soul: that is capable of touching you!
2. Some believe that the wine world is a close circle only suitable for experts. Your reason to convince them otherwise?
Wine is for people who want to read the story behind every sip
3. Banish a myth about wine
That wine is difficult: wine, like everything else, is what you make of it
4. Why would you wait 20 years to open a bottle?
Because one of my dreams, after much hard work and hope, becomes a reality
5. Choose a personality and a wine - (Torres) - with whom you would share a glass and a conversation?
I’d share a Moscatel Floralis - e la dolce vita- with Roberto Benigni
6. What is fashionable in the world of wine and what will always be?
The passion and dedication with which families make wine their own, generation after generation
7. Finally, complete the following statement: No justice has been done with________
No justice has been done with winegrowers because if we don't take care of them we kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. It's from the best grapes where the best wines come from.