Autumn is coming…really!

It’s hard to believe when temps are still roasting us like wieners on a stick, but autumn is nearly here. It says so on the calendar, so it must be true. The kids have returned to school, and the autumnal equinox is just around the corner. So what better time to seek out the comfort of France? Though that might not have been your first thought, it’s beautiful in France right now as apple trees are flush with fruit, grape vines are verdant and plentiful, and most of all, the temperatures have already cooled down. It’s the perfect place to be in September.

And this month’s Inspired Wine Club knew that. Don’t be fooled by the fact that one of this month’s selections actually hails from California. Shhhhh — it thinks it’s from the Rhône valley. Cooler days are coming, but in the meantime, here come a sultry Syrah and an elegant white Bordeaux to transport you to a happy place where calming fall has already arrived.

2008 Qupé Syrah Central Coast, California

It’s hard to go wrong with a wine that was named Food and Wine magazine’s best Syrah four years in a row, and that is exactly the case for the Qupé Syrah. Here is a fallish, dark purply wine with embedded aromas of luscious, round berries and pepper. Most credit the blend of cool-climate Santa Barbara grapes and warm-climate Paso Robles grapes, saying they are what give the wine its beautiful, distinctive plum, berry and pepper flavors, marked by a bright acidity and a spicy finish. Critics continually compare it to classic Northern Rhône wines, quite drinkable now and perfect for aging further as well.

2008 Château Tour de Mirambeau blanc, Bordeaux, France

In 2009, Robert Parker remarked, “anything from the Despagne family [which produces this particular mouth-watering Bordeaux white] performs way, way above its official pedigree.” This wine is no exception. Predominantly a Sauvignon Blanc blend, the Mirambeau smells as beautiful as it drinks. A perfect wine to finish out the summer – limey, acidic, crisp and fresh. And, like so many other Sauvignon Blanc wines, it has that characteristic big herbaceousness that can remind one of freshly cut grass. Here is a wine that provides elegant, balanced citrus refreshment that is perfect for that lingering summer heat.