Back in 2019, to the bemusement of my friends, I asked for an ice bucket in a restaurant. The pinot noir we had ordered was served almost lukewarm, or room temperature. A few minutes on ice and it changed from soupy and jammy to fresh, fruity and vibrant. Talking to buyers who visited the annual spring wine fairs of Europe earlier this year, chilled red wine, particularly chilled pinot noir, has become a thing. Will it catch on in Ireland? If we get a warm summer, it might.
Chilling works best with lighter, lower-alcohol red wines that tend to have slightly higher acidity and fewer tannins. Most of them tend to be pale in colour too. Stylistically, these are not unlike a white wine in fact, so it is logical to chill them a little. They tend to come from cooler climates; think Beaujolais and other gamays, pinot noir, most Austrian and German reds, Bardolino, Valpolicella and Lambrusco, Loire cabernet franc, some grenache and cinsault. However, avoid chilling tannic reds such as Barolo.
All red wines taste better served at 17-18 degrees. Chilled reds should be about 14-15 degrees. To quickly cool a wine, put it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes, the freezer for 10 or an ice bucket for five. As well as drinking it alongside red and white meats, cool wine can go very well with fish, salmon, tuna and monkfish in particular.
M&S Found Marzemino 2024, IGP Veneto
11.5%, €11.75
A juicy light refreshing red wine with light tannins. I would try this with all sorts of Italian charcuterie or light tomato-based pasta dishes.
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From Marks & Spencer
Tattendorf Pinot Noir 2023, Thermenregion, Familie Reinisch, Austria, Organic
13%, €23.50
A beautifully poised precise pinot noir with delicious fresh blackcurrant and dark cherry fruits. Serve it alongside duck or a rare fillet of beef.
From Terroirs, Dublin 4, terroirs.ie
Pormenor Douro Tinto Ginga 2023
11.5%, €24-€24.50
Juicy and fresh with vivid red fruits and a herby note. Try it cool with cured meats and cheeses or grilled lamb chops.
From Pinto Wines, Dublin 9; Corkscrew, Dublin 2; Delgany Cottage, Co Wicklow
Eclat de Granite 2023, Côte Roannaise, Domaine Serol
12.5%, €27-€29
A beautiful refreshing light- to medium-bodied wine with fleshy, succulent dark cherry fruits and light tannins on the finish. Serve cool.
From Fion Eile, Dublin 7; 64 Wine, Glasthule and Mount Merrion, Co Dublin; Drinkstore, Dublin 7; Green Man Wines, Dublin 6; Whelehans, Loughlinstown, Dublin 18; Pinto Wines, Dublin 9; Delgany Cottage, Co Wicklow; Fallon and Byrne, Dublin 2
