To chill or not to chill

Open a bottle of white wine and pour two glasses. Place one in the fridge and leave the other on the counter for five to ten minutes. Although they come from the same bottle, they will taste different because of the impact the temperature has on the wine.

White wine, rosé, sparkling and dessert wine provide a refreshing experience on the palate when served correctly chilled, around 4 to 10°C. Some red wines, such as beaujolais, can also show well when slightly chilled. Most red wines, however, display their best attributes when served within a temperature range of 15 to 21°C. The main reason we do not chill red wines is that their characteristic tannins and skin compounds show a bitter edge when the fruit notes are muted by the cold.

What is the correct temperature to store wine? Most agree that the ideal cellar range is between 10 and 15°C for both white and red wines.

And if you want a bottle of red wine to show its full potential, chill it for not more than five minutes before serving. The wine flavours and smells will explode on the palate.

Having said all that, remember the importance of your individual taste. The temperature at which you best enjoy wine is personal—as with all aspects of wine.
THIS WEEK’S PICK

This week, I tasted the very-soon-to-be-released 2012 Hubbs Creek Pinot Noir. We are waiting for winemaker, vineyard manager, and quintessential perfectionist John Battista Calvieri to deem this wine ready. Calvieri excels in his production of Pinot Noir because he has always insisted his vineyard control the final expression of bottle contents.

The 2012 vintage shows a washed garnet to the eye, with aromas of cherry nibs, cinnamon and freshly crushed pink peppercorn. The palate is cayenne-spiced cherry with a classic chalky finish. This wine will keep getting better over time. If we are lucky, Calvieri might bottle up to 12 magnums of this wine. Get your name down for one.

Hubbs Creek Vineyard, 562 Danforth Road in Hillier, is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery that produces wines made exclusively from estate-grown fruit.