I reached out to a few friends in retail for suggestions of Thanksgiving wines that would expand the palates of both the knowledgeable and the novice oenophile. The last post focused on wines that retail for $20 or less…this post moves above that price point.
Our friends at Accent on Wine in Summerville and Park Circle (North Charleston), South Carolina, recommended some interesting whites, including an intriguing Vermentino, but the one that caught my eye was Elizabeth Chamber’s 2016 Pinot Gris. Sadly, winery founder, and veteran Willamette Valley winemaker, Elizabeth Chambers, passed away unexpectedly in 2018, but her legacy of crisp whites and flavorful Pinot Noir continues under the leadership Drew Voit, Chamber’s colleague at Silvan Ridge.
This Pinot Gris, rated at 90 points from the Wine Enthusiast, is “bone dry” and offers excellent minerality along with elements of green fruit that will be wonderful with your Thanksgiving feast. You can find this Pinot Gris for just north of $20.
Accent on Wine also recommends the 2018 Monaco ‘Rosso’. Produced by Danilo Marcucci, the Umbrian leader of the Italian Natural Wine Movement. Following the Natural Wine standards, Marcucci utilizes spontaneous fermentation focused on natural yeasts (instead of cultured yeasts). The 2018 is a blend of Sangiovese (70%), Ciliegiolo (20%), and Aleatico (10%). There is no added sulfur and no filtration.
The Rosso has a medium body and a lingering finish that offers hints of spice on the nose and red fruit on the palate. There are only 2000 bottles available at a $40 price point.
A third recommendation is the 2018 Bainbridge and Cathcart, Cuvée Rouge Aux Lèvresh. You can this secure this French ‘garage’ product of Oklahoma natives, for just north of $30. It offers “smooth tannins and fresh and Juicy garden berries, slightly herbal tones and a gentle touch of pepper”.
Sealed with a crown cap and vinified from 100% Grolleau grown on nearly century old vines, this earthy wine will be excellent with your Thanksgiving dinner.
Chan’s Wine World in the Panhandle region of Florida also has three wonderful options.
You should seek the 2015 Gini La Frosca Soave Classico, a product of Veneto, Italy (94 points from the Wine Enthusiast) for about $30.
The Gini family has been producing wine for more than 400 years. They grow Garganega (this one is 100% Garganega) on nearly 60 acres of volcanic soil, from century old vines, within the Soave Classico appellation. Barrel aged, you will enjoy a wine that is “straw yellow with golden-green reflections. Elegant and complex with mineral notes…and yellow apple, lemon, white peach, almond”. The flavor package will offer an ideal pairing for appetizers and through the main course for those favoring white meat.
A second Wine World recommendation comes from Tendril Cellars. The 2017 Yamhill-Carlton, Williamette Valley, Child’s Play Pinot Chardonnay, earned 91 points from The Washington Wine Blog, and can be found for a price just north of $20.
Tentril, owned by Tony Ryders, who for ten years headed the winemaking team at Domaine Serene, first released a wine in 2008 through the joint effort of Ryders and his wife. The term Child’s Play honors his daughters, whose “artwork is proudly displayed on their labels”.
This unique blend (70% of Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir) spends six months in stainless steel before release. The wine offers a “bright and juicy structure…and offers hints of ripe Asian pear and peach”. The winemaker suggests that the Child’s Play will pair nicely with everything from Manchego cheese to Skittles. The Child’s Play would be a fine way to start Thanksgiving festivities.
Wine World also suggests that you consider the 2016 Manoir du Carra Juliénas Les Bottiè (approximately $20).
Domaine Manoir du Carra, located in the south of Burgundy, in the center of Beaujolais, has been producing wine since the 1850s, and was purchased by Jean Sambardier in 1962. The winery now manages 50 vineyards covering 84 acres, most with 50 to 100 year-old-vines.
The key to this Gamay as an ideal Thanksgiving accompaniment is the soft tannin that the Wine Enthusiast emphasized while awarding 90 points, noting that it is “crisp and structured and offers bright red fruits”. Those bright red fruits will be excellent with any element of the turkey.
Consider serving the Juliénas slightly chilled.
We now turn to our northern friend, Sterling Cellars in Mahopac, New York. Jay Gruber sent a list interesting wines, and I selected three that you might consider.
The 2017 Bedrock Cuvee Katatas Blanc is a $50+ white blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc that Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded 94 points.
Bedrock is just over a decade old, but this Napa based winery already sources its grapes from the finest vineyards and regions of Northern California. However, it is Bedrock’s winemaking pedigree that is most intriguing. Co-Owner and winemaker is Morgan Twain-Peterson, the son of Joel Peterson, the founder of Sonoma’s iconic Ravenswood Winery. Twain-Peterson was raised in the wine industry, and according Bedrock, “was five years old in 1986 when he made his first wine”, a Pinot Noir.
Bedrock sources Semillon from the Monte Rosso Vineyard, and the Wine Advocate suggests that offers “notes of orange marmalade, honeydew melon, jam, quince, white currents and flowers. There is an almost unctuous quality to the texture and super-concentration from these two varieties”. The structure and flavor package that will be an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving table.
You can purchase the second suggestion, a 2017 Stephane Aviron Morgon Cote du Py, for $25.
Sourced from one of Beaujolais most highly regarded terroirs, the sloped vines are biodynamically farmed in volcanic soil. Yields are low, and the grapes produce a highly concentrated flavor package that produces a wine, that according to the Wine Advocate (awarding it 93 points) is “medium to full-bodied, velvety, and layered, with a fleshy core of fruit…with a nicely defined finish”. This would be ideal for the turkey (and sides) course of the Thanksgiving feast.
The third Sterling Cellar recommendation is the 2010 La Rioja Vina Ardanza Reserve Seleccion Especial.
Rated in the mid-90s by virtually every publication, from The Wine Advocate to the Wine Spectator, this $40 Tempranillo, ideal for the main course, is “garnet-red…with a nose of sweet cherries, red currants assembled with notes of black pepper and nutmeg”. It also offers “elegant tannins and a silky finish” (winemaker notes). Enough said…this Tempranillo is certainly worth tracking down.
This post is already longer than I would prefer. However, these wonderful recommendations from New York, South Carolina, and Florida were worthy of more in-depth discussion.
Finally, my preferences…Gruner Veltliner for a white, and Brunello for a red. No specific recommendations, but Sterling Cellars, Accent on Wine, and Chan’s Wine World (and every other worthy retailer) will have excellent options.
Enjoy the hunt…