I still haven’t decided what to open this year. We’re having a small gathering, and as has become our tradition, we’re roasting a heritage chicken instead of the usual turkey. Potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, the whole thing.
I love Champagne and the cellar is deep, but for American sparklers my bottles of Goodfellow sparkling wines probably need more time. The CellarTracker notes on my 2015 Rhys Blanc de Blancs Bearwallow Vineyard aren’t exactly inspiring, though I’m tempted to try one anyway. I also have the two late releases from Wenzlau Vineyard Estate Blanc de Blanc and their late-disgorged Blanc de Noirs, and both seem like they still want more age despite the Blanc de Blanc being more than a decade old.
Still wines are a possibility. There are older Chardonnays from Ceritas, Arnot Roberts, and Liquid Farm that could work beautifully. Then there are the Pinots from Kelley Fox, and a stash of older cru Beaujolais that would be perfect with the roast chicken.
Fun choices, but tough ones. Help me out, and let me know what you’re opening.
The 2015 BdN from Wenzlau is actually quite open to business for me at 3.5Y post disgorgement a few months ago, 2016 maybe next year. The BdB needs another few years for sure. The Goodfellow Durant and WR BdB from last year disgorgrment are still crazily reductive to my palate and nowhere ready.
I’m going to pop a BXT Wheeler BdB 2022 and Peay Les Titans 2016 tomorrow at my partner’s Thanksgiving lunch. We skip the turkey and go for roasted duck and carne asada instead.
Warren, fwiw I think the Goodfellow WV Extra Brut and the Durant BdB were in good shape when tasted over the summer, with the caveat the Durant is pretty reductive (though otherwise it has rounded out a lot). The Whistling Ridge on the other hand has seemed a little young/tight when I’ve had it.
All the wines you mentioned seem sensible suggestions (whites with some body or lighter reds). Chicken roasted simply probably easier to get a good match, but conversely I can’t think of ever having a ‘wow’ match.
thanksgiving isn’t a thing for us, but we always avoid the xmas turkey tradition. Its primary benefit seems to be its size, being able to feed a large gathering with as single bird. For me the meat works best in a curry. Chicken not much of alternative for us, given the poor overall standard of chickens in this country (some work colleagues from India were shocked how tasteless they were compared to what they were used to). Instead we lean towards Guinea Fowl, though plentiful pheasant, partridge etc. locally makes that a decent option, albeit they’re a lot smaller.
I popped a bottle of the Goodfellow Whistling Ridge a few days ago. Ended up enjoying about 1/3 of the bottle and saved for later. My partner and I agreed - it was better 2 days after opening. I think they’ll need a bit more time
That 2016 Peay Les Titans is a banger. Been through a few and have more to go. It’s a wine I really like and have bought a bunch of times over the years. It’s nice to have Wines like that that you like instead of mystery wines.
