Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
Lovely, aromatic wine with juicy peach aromas and tons of floral and ripe pear and apple flavors. The 2008 Naveran Dama Cava offers a rich, long finish. Great sparkling wine at this price point.
Style: Sparkling Wine
Grape Type(s): Chardonnay Blend
Region: Catalunya, Spain
Around $20
Rich and slightly oaky sparkling wine that’s become a favorite. The nose is light Asian apple but the flavors are bolder with ripe, juicy pear and nutty notes. Great clean, crisp finish.
Style: Sparkling Wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Region: Anderson Valley, California
Around $22
Just love a sparkling rosé – it’s so…festive! This one is pale pink in the glass with a light strawberry and yeasty nose. In the mouth, the Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rosé offers juicy fruit flavors with a slightly spicy finish.
Style: Rosé Sparkling
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, California
Around $25
This wine from Alsace is pale salmon-colored in the glass and offers sweet strawberry and ripe cherry aromas. In the mouth, it’s typical (and lovely) Crémant – moussy and creamy. Luscious, yet light, strawberries-and-cream flavors.
Style: Rosé Sparkling
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Alsace, France
Around $25
Yes, I’m continuing my homage to Merry Edwards, but this time, it is not Pinot Noir I’m clamoring about, it is Merry’s delicious 2010 Russian River Sauvignon Blanc.
On the nose, this wine is floral with a ton of tropical fruit notes. On the palate, there is pink grapefruit, Meyer lemons, a drizzle of honey and Asian pear.
The wine’s six month fermentation in seasoned French oak barrels created a Sauvignon Blanc with real backbone and depth. This isn’t a pale, watery Sauvignon Blanc made to be sipped as an aperitif on a hot summer day. It’s a rich, well-balanced, bright wine that is wonderful paired with fish or seafood but can also hold its own with spicy dishes.
Super wine for fans of Gewürztraminer and dry Riesling. A bit of a splurge for some Sauvignon Blanc drinkers, but certainly worth every penny.
Style: White Wine
Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Musque
Region: Russian River Valley / Sonoma, CA
Around $30
Thanksgiving is an American tradition of family, friends, food and football. When it comes to which wine is best paired with the star of the meal, the turkey, there are many opinions.
Here are five of my favorite American pinot noirs that pair beautifully with your bird, and its accompaniments.
Have any turkey day wine favorites? Please share them!
Cheers,
Veronique
I simply love this wine. It’s not easy to come by in New Jersey, where I live, but when I’ve been able to secure a few bottles, I’ve enjoyed it tremendously.
The 2006 Tantara Bien Nacido Adobe Pinot Noir is dark ruby in the glass and pretty full-bodied for a California pinot noir. On the nose, there’s a ton of dark raspberries with notes of nutmeg and clove. On the palate, it’s all about ripe cherries with lots of earthiness, cherry cola, allspice and notes of mocha. The finish is long and silky/velvety. Just a perfect wine paired with roast chicken, wild mushroom risotto or grilled salmon.
Tantara Winery is a smaller producer and only about 200 cases of this little gem were produced, so get your hands on a bottle and enjoy. Read about my love of Tantara here.
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Central Coast, CA
Around $50
I have had the opportunity to visit Merry Edwards’ beautiful vineyard and tasting room and can say she makes some of my favorite pinot noirs. At a recent dinner party, I served the 2007 Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir to the pleasure of my guests.
This wine is dark ruby in the glass. On the nose, it’s pure Russian River pinot noir – ripe, dark berries with layers of earthiness and peppery notes. On the palate, it’s rich, velvety with tons of juicy cherries. The finish is long, elegant and silky.
If you don’t want to splurge on one of Merry’s single vineyard wines, this is an amazing wine at this price point.
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Russian River Valley / Sonoma, CA
Around $45
The Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir is pale in the glass but medium-bodied and bright with juicy berries and cherries on the palate. There’s a silky mouthfeel to this wine and there are notes of fir, pumpkin pie spice and cracked pepper. Classic Burgundy in style and delicious at this price point.
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Finger Lakes, NY
Around $20
Paired this delicious wine with sea bass a few weekends ago and it was a great combination. The 2007 Montagny 1er Cru Les Coeres is a classic example of white Burgundy. It’s rich yet offers a nice level of acidity and minerality. It’s floral with intense fruit on the palate but features a long crisp finish. Just a beautiful example of what vignerons should do with Chardonnay.
Style: White Wine
Grape Type(s): Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Around $35
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