The Wines of October 2026

    Another month - we got past Halloween and now will come Turkey time. Here are some wines for you to peruse.

2020 Annick Bachelet Morgon Les Charmes, France

This rich, structured wine comes from one of the top sectors in Morgon. The density, with full-bodied black fruits sustained by acidity, mean this wine needs to age. Drink from 2023  92 pts WE

From the celebrated Morgon appellation, the 2020 Annick Bachelet Beaujolais Cru Les Charmes captivates with its vibrant red fruit profile, showcasing luscious raspberry and cherry notes intertwined with delicate floral hints. Scoring an impressive 92 points from Wine Enthusiast, this wine is a testament to the exceptional terroir of its origins, where granite soils impart both minerality and finesse. On the palate, it delivers a harmonious balance of bright acidity and silky tannins, making it incredibly approachable yet complex. Perfect for a cozy dinner featuring roasted chicken or a charcuterie board, this wine shines as a delightful companion. With its retail price of $36, it’s a smart buy for the quality, offering remarkable value for such a polished expression of Beaujolais.

 

Six year old Beaujolais can sometimes spell trouble. Not in this case – I snagged the last bottle – I had had a few years ago.  Still a very good bottle of wine that was $20 on our shelf.

 

2022 Famille de Lorgeril L’orangeraie Syrah, Pays d’oc, France

Dark red, almost purple color. Typically exuberant Syrah fruit (blackberry, raspberry) combines with the aromas of the garrigue – thyme, licorice, boxwood. A rich, round mouthfeel with fine tannins, and a dry, mineral finish.

 This is not one of my favorite French wine – it just doesn’t  have layers and is just a simple Syrah. Even at $14, I wouldn’t buy again.

2023 Covalli Nebbiolo, Langhe, Italy

Pure and focused, evoking cherry, blackberry, licorice and mineral notes. Elegant and structured with the flavors persisting through the balanced finish.

Here's a crowd-pleaser that doesn't try to be something it's not. Bright cherries and wild strawberries keep the energy up while gentle tannins provide just enough structure to keep things interesting. It's the wine equivalent of your favorite neighborhood hangout.  88 Pts WE

"Evolved and ripe style for this nebbiolo with notes of dried cherries, leather and strawberries. Light- to medium-bodied with an easy-drinking structure, it is chewy and tight. Ready to drink now." —James Suckling

 Nebbiolo is becoming a favorite of mine. This one is young, but has a nice broad flavor profile and great acidity for foods. At $20, it is a great wine to have on hand.

 

2019 Pira Giorgio Nebbiolo, Langhe, Italy

Rose colored. Scents of roses and subtle red fruit. Subtle red fruit, earth with soft silky and seductive. Firm mouthful of spice and tannin on a lightly medium frame. Finishes with a classic kiss of earth and roses.

Replanted in 2008, at 420-450 meters in elevation. Produced at ‘Perno’ in the Cru of Barolo. Guyot trained vines, facing due west.

Vinification: Integrated farming, with hand harvesting, and natural pesticide controls. Wild yeasts from the grape skins perform fermentation, at 30° for three weeks. A small percentage of stem inclusion. Cap punching for 14-20 days. Aging for twelve months in large and old 20-year-old Slovenia casks (botte). Aged one year in bottle. 4000 bottles made.

 I held this for a number of months – it was very good before. Classic Nebbiolo with great fruit and acidity – the extra aging brings some nuance to the flavors. We sold out at about $20, wish I had several more. (The bunny on the label is really cute, too)

 

2022 Protocolo Tempranillo, Castilla, Spain

Poor calcareous clay soils with a high proportion of limestone. The surface is spotted with pebbles, resulting in good surface drainage. Continental climate with a Mediterranean influence.

VITICULTURE

Dominio de Eguren manages and controls multiple vineyards in Manchuela Spain. The Eguren family sets  themselves apart compared to other Vino de la Tierra wines by selecting vineyards with advanced age and low yields, and performing a rigorous selection of the grapes.

VINIFICATION

Cold maceration followed by a six-day fermentation with two pump-over’s daily. Controlled micro-oxygenation  during the fermentation. Eight-day post fermentative maceration

 My favorite under $10 a bottle wine – it is very servicable and tasty. Not complex, but great for cooking and weekday sipping. 

 

2017 Mollydooker Carnival of Love Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Austalia

This McLaren Vale Shiraz is powerful and expressive. Lifted aromatics of dark berries and smoky oak leap boldly from the glass. With a satin like palate; cherry and satsuma plum flavors develop into decadent dark chocolate and licorice. Complex flavors, phenomenal depth and perfectly polished tannins are what makes this Carnival of Love one to be savored and celebrated.

Wine Spectator 93 Pts

Juicy, soft and plush flavors of root beer–scented cherry and raspberry are spicy and a touch candied, but very generous, showing off caramel and sandalwood accents. Smooth and supple through the long finish, this is impressive for the complexity and focus. Drink now through 2029.

 Mollydooker uses Nitrogen in their wines. This one was old enough not to need the” bottle shake” younger bottles require. Taste wise, this was a very good shiraz, with several layers that hit your palate. Not many tannins left, but a nice finish. 

 

2023 Llama Malbec, Lujan de Cayo, Argentina

Attractive dark cherry-red with violet hues. Fruity aromas of cherries, blackberries, and plums stand out against fine toasty hints from aging in top-quality oak — warm, rounded, and well-structured with an explosion of fruit flavors and a pleasant, persistent aftertaste.

Fun Fact: The Belasco family has been in the spirits and wine business since 1831, starting in Viana, Spain. Juan Ignacio Belasco fell for Malbec in the early 1990s and, working with Bertrand Bourdil (former head winemaker at Château Mouton Rothschild), spent a decade searching Argentina before acquiring 222 acres of 100-year-old Malbec vines in Agrelo.

 100 year old vines, higher elevation, French oak aging and consulting winemaker Michel Rolland. For a $15 Malbec, what more can you ask. It is a great every day wine that is better than many at a higher price.

 

2023 Grazioso Torrontes Riojano, Mendoza, Argentina

The Symphony range from Caligiore pays homage to winemaker Gustavo Caligiore's love of music and playing guitar. The Grazioso Torrontés Riojano is made from a small plot of organically farmed (but not certified) fruit in the region of Lavalle in Mendoza.

 Very nice sipper from Argentina – floral and a bit waxy, but nice at 13% ABV and priced under $14.

2024 El Hijo ‘Prodigo’ Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Tasting notes: Bright ruby red color with intense violets hues. Aroma of raspberry, plum and vanilla. Good structure on the palate with soft tannins and good acidity. Red berry fruits predominate with well-balanced tannins, integrated to the oak. Fresh fruity wine with nice finish.

Food pairing: Pasta, white and red meats, empanadas and traditional argentine barbecue.

An austere nose offers light notes of overripe plum with minimal aromatic expression. The medium-bodied palate delivers baked berry flavors alongside grassy notes. This wine shows simple character and a medium finish. 87 Pts WE

A deep dark Malbec with decent fruit and body. Good with food, not a real sipper by itself. Pretty good for around $20.

 

2024 La Posta ‘Tinto’ red blend, Mendoza, Argentina

Aromas of red cherries and raspberries are infused with mocha and spice. Your first sip washes broadly across the palate like a flood of sweet, fresh fruit and the viscous mouthfeel keeps the flavors lingering. The hints of baking spice and some oak keep the fruit flavors fresh and lively.

Food pairing       Unique recipe ideas include Ricotta Salata and Roasted Pepper Fritatta, Pomegranate-Glazed Short Ribs, or Roast Chicken with Wild Rice and Cranberry Stuffing.

 A blend of Malbec, Bonardo and Syrah – a decent wine with bright fruit, no tannins or great acidity. Not a favorite of mine but under $20.

 

2019 Tagua Tagua Family Reserve Carmenere, Rapel Valley, Chile

Ruby red color. Herbaceous nose with hints of toasted black pepper. The palate is lush with red fruit and berries, supported by the balanced oaking that provides chocolate and roasted Colombian coffee notes. The acidity is elegantly balanced and the tannins are marked, without seeking to be invasive and the finish is long and slow, a perfect example of great Carménère from Rapel Valley.

Fermentation between 27°C to 29°C to obtain rich color and structure. It is completed and complemented with malolactic fermentation. The wine then ages for 16 months in new French barrels.

 Carmenere is now a classic wine from Chile – originally thought to be Merlot. The fruit is bright with undertones of coffee, good acidity and oak notes. Priced at $25, you can find it for around $20 – well worth the experience.

 

2021 Penololen Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile 

Low yields and hand harvesting indicate the care given to the superior fruit from this single-vineyard winery located on the gravelly slopes of the Maipo Valley. These standards extend to the wine-making process, with meticulous grape selection and aging in French oak barrels for 12 months. Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, this is a complex and velvety wine with a soft structure, spicy tannins and a fruity finish.

97-point winemaker Jean-Pascal Lacaze makes Peñalolén from the younger vines on the prestigious Viña Quebrada de Macul property, reserving the old-vine fruit for Domus Aurea.

 A Chilean Cab that doesn’t need a half-hour of breathing to move off the ‘funk’ found in so many. Very smooth, dark and red fruits with nuances of eucalyptus and other baking spices. Moderate finish, good with a meal – nice bottle. MSRP is $28, can be found closer to $20.

 

Another month, finally getting into fall weather. Hope all is well – keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.