The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
Light-bodied Reds
August 6, 2025
Red
2022 Stephane Aviron Beaujolais Villages
Who doesn't like Beaujolais? And why not this time of year? Stefan Aviron makes Beaujolais in a more classic structure, without the Tutti Frutti. Which is not to say that his wine lacks pleasure. The 2022 is in a very good place right now and, purchased before the tariff, is still a very good price for its quality.
Color: light red black; Aroma: Fresh, intense rounded good acid on the attack and full; Mouth: Mineral clean fine acidity, firm, excellent and linear, nice length; Very Good Plus $18.99; Case, $15.99
2024 Santa Tresa ‘Rina Russa’ Frappato Sicilia
Santa Tresa’s vineyards are located on the southeast end of Sicily, brother and sister team Stefano and Marina Girelli bring a love of Sicily and authenticity to the rare and special Frappato grape from the village of Vittoria. It’s like Beaujolais’ Gamay in flavor and style.
Aroma: Candied strawberries, pomegranate, toasted clove & nutmeg, tobacco and white pepper. Mouth: Light bodied red, balanced acidity, soft texture, juicy red berry fruit, baking spice, rhubarb, and a refreshing finish. You can serve it chilled alongside rich, spice-driven foods or even a juicy ribeye steak.
Very Good Plus $16.99, Case $14.49
2020 Cantine Menegotti Bardolino Rosso
A vibrant, fresh, juicy red blend from the east shores of Lake Garda in Italy’s Veneto.
Commonly seen on the summer trattoria tables in Verona and Venice. This is great for pairing with charcuterie, white meats, pasta, and tomato-based seafood dishes. Aroma: Red currant, strawberry, red raspberry, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, hint of mint herbs. Mouth: Fresh and juicy texture, light, refreshing, sour cherry, mint, hint of baking spices, good acidity, light bodied red, bright finish red wine that can take a chill if preferred. Very Good $17.99, Case $15.29
2023 Florence Cholet Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge ;
The Pinot Noirs of the Hautes Cotes, the higher slopes behind Beaune, are lighter than other Burgundies. Made by a lesser winemaker in a less balanced vintage, they can be too thin or flabby. Florence Cholet - you will be hearing a lot more about her from us - made a 2023 that is light, but also gay and has a lot of pizzazz. It's both joyful and fun.
Color: light concentration, ruby red with dark notes; Aroma: very fresh, intense, full, fresh, clean strawberry, opening to plum finishes with a light cherry pit note; Mouth: follows the nose: clean, rounded, fleshy, pretty fullish fruit, lively and forward, long finish; Very Good Plus $37; Case, $31.50
2023 Joachim Beurer Trollinger
The rare Trollinger grape is, as far as we know, grown only in Germany’s Upper Swabia and, under a different name, in the Italian Alps. Hard to describe, its lively, complex pot-pourri of spice and efflorescent fruit. is unlike any other It can sing. When talented artisanal winemaker Joachim Beurer makes it from his small plot of 50-year-old vines, the singing is jazzy scat. A mouthful will get you humming along.
Color: very light red black; Aroma: rounded rich, light and evanescent later richer more rounded ; Mouth: fleshy bright, linear, clean, dried spice, a very pretty danseuse on the tongue; Very Good Plus $26.99; Case, $22.99
2023 Domaine d'Ansignan Les Grenadines Cotes Catalanes
Ansignan wines were some of the most popular in our tasting of southern French wines last March. This week we're back with a lighter version from the hills of Russian which is a blend of 4 grapes two of which you've never heard of Which make for a light fruit forward wine with a lot of punch and length. Perhaps a bit heavier than the ones above this wine loves white or red meat dishes and a fair amount.
Aroma: heady, very fresh pure intense, light intense, fresh ; Mouth: clean light pretty fine acidity, lifted, very fresh light and intense, long; Very Good Plus $21.99; Case, $18.99
Lively Light Red Case $280, Sale $239, 19.92 a bottle
Or mix any twelve bottles at their case prices
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- Len Rothenberg
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