Daylight is beginning an early decline, the shadows getting longer. A chilling breeze causes the leaves outside to rustle, and your candle to flicker and then blow out. You hear a scratching at the window…

Don’t be frightened…it’s just me with my annual Halloween wine round up! 🎃🍷

If you know your vampire lore, you have to invite me in.🧛🏻‍♀️

But first, click the video below for more fun!👇

This year, we’ll become familiar with three. And since I never play favorites, here they are in no particular order:

🎃Banshee – 2018 Pinot Noir – Sonoma County With a cooler than usual start to their growing season, and moderate temperatures throughout the summer, the fruit yielded an offering with intense flavors and optimal acidity. This wine was then left to its slumber for 9 months in new French oak casks.

Shhhh…. don’t wake the master!

•Flavor profile: sweet | tart mix of bright cherry, raspberry, tea and vanilla.

•Aromas: pomegranate, tart cherry, earthy pine.

•Pairs well with: turkey sausages, wild mushroom risotto, grilled lobster, grilled asparagus.

•Price Point: $19.99

🎃Sixth Sense – 2018 Syrah – Lodi, CA

Awaken your senses with this lush warm – climate Syrah. From Michael David Winery (they make a wonderful Petit Petit), this is darker than Cabernet Sauv with lots of antioxidants and lends well to aging (the wine, not you). It will come out of the botttle with a big, bold bite at the start that gently settles into a gentle warming spice on the finish.

So how can you tell if your wine is a warm climate or cool climate offering? Let your sixth sense guide you (or just check the alcohol level on the label). Warmer regions have alcohol levels of more than 14%+, cooler regions less than 14%. This wine checks in at 15%.

• Flavor Profile: rich raspberry, plum, coffee bean, tobacco, black olive.

•Aromas: blackberry, boysenberry, fig, dark chocolate & allspice.

•Pairs well with: grilled or roasted lighter meats – especially pork spare ribs, tender chicken thighs, anything with a little fattiness to rip into the high tannins; fragrant, softer cheeses with lavender, fennel or thyme.

•Price Point: $15.99

👻Halloween fun trick: say, “Sixth Sense Syrah” 5x, as fast as you can after drinking a full glass. And please video it and upload to the comments if you dare! Lol

🎃Carnivor – 2019 Zinfandel – Lodi, CA

Sink your teeth into this cozy throuple of Zinfandel | Cab Sauv | Merlot, aged in American and French oak. It summons the dark arts of flavor. Lodi’s climate is more like the Mediterranean; warm days and cool nights to grow intense, ripe grapes with wonderful structure and style. Flavors meld together to hit you like a stake through the heart.

•Flavor profile: blackberry, dark cherry, mocha, toasted oak, whisper of smooth caramel.

•Aromas: spice and pepper with a little bite of jammy berry.

•Pairs well with: Any good cut of red meat, BBQ beef kabobs, beef tenderloin; cheeses such as aged Gruyere, Havarti, Parmesan and Gorgonzola.

It says right on the label that meat was made for this wine so choose anything juicy and red from the meat counter and feel free to char broil. The smokier the better as it will pair beautifully with the robust spiciness of this wine.

•Price Point: $11.99

So now you have a few treats to get you going this Halloween season. Whether you’re doing a little socializing or staying in your catacombs with a good scary movie, cheers!🍷🧡

Stay well, stay safe and Happy Halloween!🎃

©️Copyright TheWineStudent, 2021