Last minute wine recommendations for Thanksgiving
First of all let me say that the new Simpsons season has been pretty good so far. Some of the best lines in a while. For example...
"He who ha-has last ha-has best." (Nelson)
"I wanna be a triangle." (Ralphie)
Great stuff! Keep it up. I'm really curious to see who "comes out" this season.
My friend Michael, the world's biggest Simpsons fan, posted a comment to my last post about a moderately priced T-Bird wine recommendation. I don't know if he means T-Bird wine as in Thunderbird, MD 20/20, Night Train, or Boone's Farm or a wine for turkey. Hopefully he means a wine for turkey, as I hope he's not living on the streets peeing down his legs and washing car windows. So here are some Thanksgiving wine recommendations with approximate pricing (Michigan pricing is higher than most states).
2003 Nepenthe Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99)-Great with a traditional sage stuffing and asparagus (the ONLY wine that pairs with asparagus is sauvignon blanc).
2002 Valckenberg Gewurztraminer ($12.99)-Freakishly aromatic (rose petals) with lychee and clove notes. Fruity, but not sweet. Great with turkey and sweet potatoes and just about anything else.
2003 Husch Anderson Valley Gewurztraminer ($15.99)-Same aromatics, but drier with more body.
2003 Leeuwin Estate Margaret River (Western Australia) Riesling ($23.99)-DRY riesling with peach, lime zest, wet stone, and white floral characters. Bracing and fresh! Great with duck or goose also.
2001 Zind Humbrecht Riesling Brand (Alsace) ($79.99)-Not cheap, but insanely good. The BEST dry riesling you'll ever have. Freakishly complex with pear, apricot, flint, wet stone, marzipan, chirimoya, and lemon zest notes. Olivier Humbrecht-MW is one of the world's greatest wine-makers. Holy crap!
2002 The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc (Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand) ($14.99)-Perfectly balanced SB. Some New Zealand SB's can be too grassy, grapefruity, or have too much "cat pee" aroma. This one is dead-on and balanced. Great acidity with citrus and mineral notes and a crisp, focused finish. Pretty versatile with any course (except red meat).
2003 Castle Rock Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ($12.99)-Second label of August Briggs winery. This is a great value. It's not a high-alcohol powerhouse zin, but it's got great balance and length. Nice upfront raspberry fruit with subtle peppery, briary spice. Great with a fried cajun turkey or Turducken.
Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($19.99)-I don't remember what vintage this one is right now. Dark cherry fruit and good acidity with subtle earth and strawberry. GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE! Everyone's favorite comfort food.
2002 Panther Creek Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley (Oregon) Pinot Noir ($44.99)-Amazingly complex and full-bodied pinot! Dark cherry, raspberry, cola, smoke, and truffle notes. Big pinot with a long finish. Try with a smoked or brined turkey.
2002 D'arenberg The Footbolt McLaren Vale Shiraz ($19.99)-Big and bold shiraz, but everything is in check. It's full-bodied, yet elegant at the same time. Raspberry and blackberry fruit with subtle leather, mint, and tellicherry pepper spice. This is the little brother of the famous D'arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz (mmmmm......). Try with cajun injected fried turkey, spice rubbed turkey, or leg of lamb.
Try a champagne/sparkling wine. They're great for Thanksgiving! Try a sparkling shiraz for something really unique.
Try an Australian Rutherglen stickie made from Muscadelle (Tokay) or Muscat with your pumpkin pie and you'll be in heaven.
Remember, wine is subjective. Drink whatever you like best. Your favorite ripple will do.
Have fun, undo your pants, and slip into a tryptifan-induced coma.
Until the next bottle...
Cheers,
Jason
"He who ha-has last ha-has best." (Nelson)
"I wanna be a triangle." (Ralphie)
Great stuff! Keep it up. I'm really curious to see who "comes out" this season.
My friend Michael, the world's biggest Simpsons fan, posted a comment to my last post about a moderately priced T-Bird wine recommendation. I don't know if he means T-Bird wine as in Thunderbird, MD 20/20, Night Train, or Boone's Farm or a wine for turkey. Hopefully he means a wine for turkey, as I hope he's not living on the streets peeing down his legs and washing car windows. So here are some Thanksgiving wine recommendations with approximate pricing (Michigan pricing is higher than most states).
2003 Nepenthe Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99)-Great with a traditional sage stuffing and asparagus (the ONLY wine that pairs with asparagus is sauvignon blanc).
2002 Valckenberg Gewurztraminer ($12.99)-Freakishly aromatic (rose petals) with lychee and clove notes. Fruity, but not sweet. Great with turkey and sweet potatoes and just about anything else.
2003 Husch Anderson Valley Gewurztraminer ($15.99)-Same aromatics, but drier with more body.
2003 Leeuwin Estate Margaret River (Western Australia) Riesling ($23.99)-DRY riesling with peach, lime zest, wet stone, and white floral characters. Bracing and fresh! Great with duck or goose also.
2001 Zind Humbrecht Riesling Brand (Alsace) ($79.99)-Not cheap, but insanely good. The BEST dry riesling you'll ever have. Freakishly complex with pear, apricot, flint, wet stone, marzipan, chirimoya, and lemon zest notes. Olivier Humbrecht-MW is one of the world's greatest wine-makers. Holy crap!
2002 The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc (Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand) ($14.99)-Perfectly balanced SB. Some New Zealand SB's can be too grassy, grapefruity, or have too much "cat pee" aroma. This one is dead-on and balanced. Great acidity with citrus and mineral notes and a crisp, focused finish. Pretty versatile with any course (except red meat).
2003 Castle Rock Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ($12.99)-Second label of August Briggs winery. This is a great value. It's not a high-alcohol powerhouse zin, but it's got great balance and length. Nice upfront raspberry fruit with subtle peppery, briary spice. Great with a fried cajun turkey or Turducken.
Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($19.99)-I don't remember what vintage this one is right now. Dark cherry fruit and good acidity with subtle earth and strawberry. GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE! Everyone's favorite comfort food.
2002 Panther Creek Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley (Oregon) Pinot Noir ($44.99)-Amazingly complex and full-bodied pinot! Dark cherry, raspberry, cola, smoke, and truffle notes. Big pinot with a long finish. Try with a smoked or brined turkey.
2002 D'arenberg The Footbolt McLaren Vale Shiraz ($19.99)-Big and bold shiraz, but everything is in check. It's full-bodied, yet elegant at the same time. Raspberry and blackberry fruit with subtle leather, mint, and tellicherry pepper spice. This is the little brother of the famous D'arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz (mmmmm......). Try with cajun injected fried turkey, spice rubbed turkey, or leg of lamb.
Try a champagne/sparkling wine. They're great for Thanksgiving! Try a sparkling shiraz for something really unique.
Try an Australian Rutherglen stickie made from Muscadelle (Tokay) or Muscat with your pumpkin pie and you'll be in heaven.
Remember, wine is subjective. Drink whatever you like best. Your favorite ripple will do.
Have fun, undo your pants, and slip into a tryptifan-induced coma.
Until the next bottle...
Cheers,
Jason
posted by Jason at 1:47 AM
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