Fall Wine Classic: Chappellet, Piccini Memoro and Campo Al Mare

The cooler weather and shorter days are a sure sign fall is here. To me, this means it is time for something a little heartier on the menu and in the glass. A recent shipment from Wine Chateau brought me three great wines, a fall classic of sorts. My selection included a bottle of Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon, Camp Al Mare Bolgheri and Piccini Memoro Vino Bianco.

These wines are all warm and fruity, perfect for cool days and welcoming the holiday season. So, that is exactly what I did, welcomed in the holiday season with a glass of each wine.

I started with the Piccini Memoro Vino Bianco. Part of a family of Italian wines, the Piccini estate is located in the Chianti area of Tuscany. Sunny in color, with a light citrus on the nose and palette, this wine was acidic and bright. Reminiscent of sitting on the porch on a hot sunny day, this wine would be great with salad or seafood. It could also be used as a palette cleanser after a heavy meal.

I then poured a glass of the Campo Al Mare Bolgheri IGT 2010. This wine comes from the famed Bolgheri region of Tuscany, an area known for its Bordeaux wines. This wine was a beautiful deep red, with a touch of garnet. It had a nose of warm plums and fruit and tasted of dark fruits, blackberries and anise.   This wine was warm and would be nice fireside.

I finished my tasting with a glass of the Chappellet Vineyard 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature. Heralding from the Napa Valley, this family owned winery is committed to being sustainable, which yields a wine that embraces the region.This wine was also a deep red in color, and had a nose of ripe dark fruits and cooked cherries. The palette tasted of black cherries, spices and berries and had a nice fruity finish. It went nicely with my steak dinner.

I can’t say I have a favorite of the three because I liked them all. Each had their own distinct flavors and I will be drinking all of them again (and again). The warmth of the wine, combined with good food and great company, makes embracing fall just that much easier.