Since I suspect many folks are cracking a bunch of bottles in the never ending quest to match T’giving food, I figured a global thread would be helpful.
Last night, with hybrid Jewish/ Thanksgiving/BBQ from the incomparably wonderful Big W BBQ in Wingdale, NY:
2012 Bedrock Kirschenmann Vineyard Zinfandel Lodi - I love well made Lodi Zin - I confess a secret affair with Turley Dogtown that belies my usually AFWE leanings - and this is the best yet. A perfect example of red fruited Zin that retains its varietal character, this has an herby, anisey undernote, plenty of ripe, powdery tannin, and plenty of acid, but it’s not angular acid, it registers more like a well-made, feminine CdP in that it carries the whole sip from start to finish. The upfront fruit is sweet and red and holds up against baked beans with and cabbage soup , but the savory finish matches the burnt ends in both. Great wine, big hit with the whole fam.
2007 Domaine Huet Vouvray Pétillant Brut- France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray Pétillant (11/28/2013)
Citrus and apple and pear, with good depth through the midpalate and a ton of acid that gives the flavors structure and drive. Not much overly cheniny woolly character (which is not necessarily a bad thing), and turns nicely earthy and mushroomy on the finish. Very nice and a great value as this is just as good as nearly all NV champagne that’s twice the price.
2012 Dönnhoff Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett- Germany, Nahe (11/28/2013)
A little more weight than you might want in a kabinett, sure, but the concentration is excellent and the acid is brilliant. Lime, strawberry and peach are the main flavors. Sometimes I worried there was a little too much material, but the acid is so electric that this actually tastes off-dry. Not much minerality, but the fruit/acid combo is a lot of fun regardless. Held up surprisingly well with Chinese food.
Still trying to decide what the afternoon/evening’s wines will be, but last night we had a 2004 Beausejour-Duffau and it was very very nice. Maybe at least a year away from tannins resolving but there are many years of pleasure left in the bottle. I thought I only had one or two bottles, but cellar reorg this morning disclosed 5 more, so yay for that!
Opened a 2007 Kutch McDougall to drink during the pre-meal with some light apps (wonderful Pinot)…dinner is on tap shortly and I have open a 1995 Peter Michael Les Pavots…if another bottle is needed I have a 1999 Lail J Daniel Cuvée on deck…(only four of us together this year and kids won’t drink more than a glass each…
We started with a 2004 Dom. Zind-Humbrecht Gewurtz Rangen de Thann, but it was extremely premoxed. Bummer, since I have enjoyed Gewurtz with Thanksgiving Day dinners in the past.
Went with a 2001 Trimbach Cuvee Federic Emile 375th Ann. and a 2011 Copain Estate Trousseau for dinner, and both were sound.
So my wife and I have a different tradition which excludes family (our xmas is all family) so it’s just us and our 18 month old bundle of joy AKA Tank!
For breakfast (this year is different her family came over) Pumpkin pancakes, country sausage with- Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne.
Lunch- Sliced Salumi meats, 3 different cheese, pears, duck pate with truffle and crusty baguette-
PYCM- St Aubin 1er Combes
Dinner- Fresh dungy crab, Manilla Clams and fresh shucked Kumomoto Oysters- Ganevat les grands Teppes VV
Last years was Duck 3 ways with Burgundy
I am really beginning to love Turkey Day!
2008 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast- USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (11/28/2013)
Dark garnet color but some bricking on the edges. Chambord nose and dark toast. Sweet dark fruit and a good dose of oak but it all plays well together. Tannins are gentle and a bite of acid, this could age except it’s my last bottle. Medium plus finish.
2004 Ch Fleur Cardinale - modern gone bad, massively extracted, heavy oak, char and alcohol
2008 Produttoru al Barbaresco Ovello - tart, acidic
2010 Amadeur Gigondas - opulent, dense, modern
2007 Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape - hands down the worst wine I’ve had all year if not longer. Easily 16 percent alcohol - blows fumes and tastes like vodka. Just a nasty mess of a wine.
2000 Ridge Estate - classic cab, delicious, wood integrating; give it 2-3 years more to start entering a food drinking window. Excellent QPR
2009 Ridge Geyserville - awesome
And the WOTN:
2009 Baudry Croix Boissee - textbook Chinon, admittedly from a ripe vintage. Decanted for 1.5 hours. Wonderful nose of cranberries and currants and ash. Crisp reds on the palate, intense concentration of fruit, still primary but gorgeous.
2011 Cayuse Viognier - Spice predominates with a bit of background sweetness. Very nice. Good pair with turkey.
2011 SQN The Moment - Outstanding. Meaty depth fro Roussane, a bit of spice from Viognier, fruit and creamyness from chardonnay.
2011 Ceritas Porter Bass Chardonnay - Outstanding. Laser sharp with minerals predominating. No Cali Chard oakiness or creamyness or buttered popcorn.
2009 Schafer Frohlich Nahe Riesling Medium Dry - Not opened.
2006 Rivers Marie Occidental Ridge Sonoma Coast Pinot - Gotta try this. Last bit in bottle. My wife said it was great.
2004 DuMol RRV Syrah - Note tried.
1999 Cims de Porrera Classic Priorat OUtstanding. three hour decant. Lots of sediment, use screen. Delicious. leather and earthy age with red fruit. Still not at its peak.
2006 Quilceda Creek Palengat Cabernet - 6 hour decant. Infanticide but approachable. Plenty of gripping tanins, dark fruit and a bit of cherry. Good wit prime rib.
1951 Chateau Prieure du Monastir del Camp Rivesaltas. NOt opened. Not enough energy left to go down staors and get oit.
1996 Salon: A little muted at first and clearly still on the young side but with time and air its potential is obvious. For now, lemon, sea spray and some serious depth on the mid-palate which became particularly obvious when we drank the Krug. Increasingly complete with air. Three years to the next bottle if I have the patience. 93
Krug MV (375ml): Full and bright on the nose, but its interesting to compare this side by side with the Salon. The latter, while young, is fleshing itself out. The Krug is still a bit angular and awkward. 90
Cayuse Cailloux 2009: At first very punchy and up-front, with some heat on the finish, but food does wonders for this. It will never be shy but with turkey and the trimmings it comes into balance and works a treat. My first bottle, the next two need a few years before they’re broached. 92
Yalumba Signature 2008 - Marvelous savory nose on this, plenty of vanilla from the oak but its all nicely resolved and for my preference works brilliantly with Thanksgiving lunch. These Aussie wines from the late 90s seem to be available for a song here and there, and this continues the happy streak from the Penfolds Bin 398 from the same vintage. 92
2009 August West Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah: Not quite as showy as the Cayuse, but nicely resolved and with good balance. One of those good wines that sometimes passes unnoticed in comparison with other, flashier, wines but I’d happily drink this day in, day out. Blueberries, blackberries, a good beam of acidity and a pleasantly hefty mouthfeel. 90
Samantha did a smashing job on this wine and it continues to improve and drink with a purity and joy that I really appreciate.
2010 Poe Wines Pinot Noir Angel Camp Vineyard- USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (11/28/2013)
Opened for Thanksgiving dinner. Samantha did such a nice job with this wine, I really enjoy this wine a lot. It has a fresh, red fruited, pure quality that really makes it sing. Leans into the strawberry, raspberry jam qualities, with that richer edge yet the wine remains balanced, with acidity and focus. Bit of mineral and tannin still in the finish, a winner. Well done!
And one more, the 2008 Pisoni, which I think is the best Pisoni made to date…
2008 Pisoni Pinot Noir Estate- USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (11/28/2013)
Drinking solid again. Needs air to allow everything to come together. Rose petal, cherry, rapsberry, some herb and just great balance and tension. Bottle was gone in about 90 mins.
list][*]2012 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Las Alturas Vineyard- USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (11/28/2013)
Pop this wine and many folks will absolutely love it. What’s not to love? You have huge yummy plums, a warm hug of cocoa and lip smacking vanilla on the finish. So why did I hate this sappy concoction? Well, for starters, it doesn’t taste like pinot noir. It is not bright, nor interesting. It is just a big jammy milkshake with no varietal character. It is a well-made wine but it is terrible. How do you score such a wine? (79 pts.)
Where Ridge saves the day…