Chateau Fage Red

Chateau Fage Red is a 750ml red wine from Esplanda, listed with a Massachusetts appellation and filed under French-style reds. The details supplied don't name a grape, vintage, alcohol level or oak treatment, so the notes below describe what red wines in this style usually offer. They are not a measured profile of this bottle. Read the back label for the blend and vintage. Expect a dry to off-dry red built around dark and red fruit such as plum, cherry and blackberry, with medium body and moderate tannin. Many reds made in a French style also show earthy or savory notes like dried herbs, tobacco or damp leaves, and some carry light oak spice. Acidity is usually moderate, which keeps the wine balanced with food and gives a medium-length finish. Serve it slightly cooler than room temperature, around 60 to 65°F. Twenty minutes in the refrigerator before opening usually gets a bottle there. If the wine feels tight or closed when first poured, 20 to 30 minutes in the glass or a decanter will soften it. Pour it into a medium-to-large red wine glass, filled about a third full, so the aromas have room to open up. At the table, a red in this style works with roast chicken, pork loin, mushroom dishes, grilled sausages, burgers and tomato-based pastas. It also suits semi-hard cheeses such as Gruyère or aged cheddar. Unless the label says otherwise, treat it as a drink-now bottle. Most reds at this level are made for current drinking, not long cellaring, so enjoy it within a few years of purchase and store it on its side in a cool, dark spot away from heat.