We think grilling reds should to be three things: fruit forward, chillable, and inexpensive. Smoke flavor from the grill works well with a juicy foil. Cooked foods on a hot day pair with something a bit cool. And because grilling often means a crowd, we like to have something affordable around in quantity.
Our favorite grilling wine of the moment is the Coulange Mistral 2016. It’s a Côtes du Rhône-Villages with unusual depth — hearty, mouthfilling, and juicy, it’s a perfect red for a summer crowd. It’s hardly the most complex wine in our cellar, but sometimes the perfect wine is the simplest.
Winemaker Christelle Coulange returned to the family property after oenology school and began to make and bottle her own wine. In only a decade she has made quite a name for herself. Her wines win medals nearly every year — today’s 2016 the silver at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Concours.
The 2016 Mistral is delightful, an unoaked blend of 80% grenache and 20% syrah. It’s more substantial than the 2015, with fuller fruit and a deeper palate. The nose shows violets, wild cherry jam, and garrigue (Provençal underbrush), with woodsy and briary notes as it develops in the glass. The mouth is dense and smooth, with a rich, vibrant mouthfeel, and smooth tannins.
Serve this a bit cool with burgers or steaks or vegetables from your grill — it’s hard to imagine a better match.
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Coulange Mistral 2016
Ansonia Retail: $20
6+ bottle price : $16/bot
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES
