Chilling Red Wines

[Colt45]

Generally, I drink more reds than whites or rosés, and typically drink reds at "cellar temp" - around 60'F. I enjoy good whites as well, but am wondering if members chill reds for summer drinking. A couple that come to mind for me - light chill only - that might fit the bill are a good French gamay, and grignolino from Piemonte.

Curious to know what, if any, reds members put a chill on......

[dangolf18]

Never drink red wine chilled. I do like sangria chilled though (quasi-red wine). Perfect summer drink.

[Profmd]

No I don't chill red wine. Usually around room temp all the time.

I find when summer comes,

I will tend toward Rose wines or right to champagnes

So that I can get a really good chill in them when the real summer heat hits!

[Natedog]

I enjoy drinking some reds right out of the cellar 55 deg but it depends. I do enjoy the transitions as the wine warms and opens up (i drink really slowly when the wine is really cold. BUT I think you have to be careful with some of the more delicately nuanced wines (some burgundies or aged wines) or you might loose some of their bouquet and flavors. With that said I don't think you should drink red wines at "room temp" if room temp is warm. To many reds are served well above an ideal drinking temp witch in my opinion should be around 65-70 tops. Once reds start to get to warm the tanins tend to become more aggressive and astringen the alcohol starts to taste "hot"and its not an enjoyable experience.

[LLC]

My cellar is at 65 and normally I'll take it out about half an hour before I drink it to decant. By the time I'm drinking it, it's probably around 68.

[Ken Gargett]

ross, same as per the comments on spitbucket.

the more you chill something the more you hide things. so good idea for lesser wines but not so, especially for more complex whites and older ones.

i believe we drink our whites too cold and our reds too warm.

so a little cooling of the reds usually a plus.

room temp completely useless. if you live in an unheated castle in scotland, probably a different room temp to anyone living in singapore.

[Ken Gargett]

That's why Aussies drink their beer ice cold If you ever try the domestic lager (xxxx, emu, swan, Carlton etc) warmer you almost puke at the awful taste... Don't know what's in it but its a long way from pure water, malt and hops...

also because most of the time, it is bloody hot!

[Surucipe]

In summer I like to chill some lighter French reds. Not too much just keep the bottle fresh, once in the glass it warms up quickly anyway (if it gets the time that is... ). My favorite chilled red is Sancerre, but you could also do it with a Beaujolais for instance.