Hugel "Gentil" 2023

 

Light golden hue with aromas of sweet vanilla laced with lime and green apple.

Palate--Off dry, but more dry than "off" with a steely mid-palate and citrus notes and a quick finish.

This Alsatian blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer is a tad disappointing not because of the wine as much as my expectation that it would be a touch "sweeter" to pair with my Asian cuisine tonight. I think it will "work" but I do not think it will be an enhancement to the meal.  

I paid $16 for this at a European specialty shop in rural Maine. It's not at all substandard, i just had different expectations. That is my fault because I should have known that as al Alsatian creation it would be bone dry more than anything. So, it is good wine so raise a glass!

Motif Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Hills Lake County) 2023

Dark slightly opaque garnet hue with aromas of Crushed dried red berries, plum with spiced apple rings, and something else....

Palate--Somewhat staid first impression but flavors fighting to burst out. Confusing presentation but there is something pretty nice hiding underneath its youthfulness. Relaxed structure, easy to drink, should be a good food wine (baked chicken with root vegetables pairing) quick finish but makes you want to go back for more.

A Trader Joe's offering at $10, I will be buying more so raise a glass!

Corvelia Zinfandel Paso Robles 2023

 

Lovely eggplant hue with aromas of spicey dark berries, and a youthful presentation. 

Palate--Mouth watering structure with relaxed tannins and a big burst of spicy berry mid palate with a warm lingering finish. 

This is a welcome sight at Trader Joe's as it disappeared for a couple years but found it this past week.  It needs another 1-2 years to mature but is a nice bargain at $10 so raise a glass!

Inscription Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) 2023

Beautiful ruby hue with aromas of strawberry/cherry simple and straightforward but definite.

Palate--Mouth watering structure with subdued fruit on opening, and essentially no finish.

Right now, out of the gate this is a big disappointment. Willamette Valley, Oregon is a well known Pinot Noir AVA. (American Viticultural Area)  ie., a wine region that meets certain requirements and merits this distinction)  for first class Pinots. Hopefully this will open up into something much greater than what it is on first blush. 

I am having it with turkey pot pie made with--what else-- left-over Thanksgiving turkey. This is a Trader Joe's offering at around $12 but showing around $22 on-line.  The Wine Enthusiast gives this wine a 90 point score which is absurd from what I am tasting. At any rate, if this wine surprises me and opens up I will update this post. 

JOSH Zinfandel 2021 "Special Reserve" (Bourbon Barrel Aged)

Ruby, garnet hue with a big bouquet over the glass with lovely brooding black raspberries, with notes of coffee, and dark chocolate.

Palate-- Fruit forward on a foundation that is well structured. There is a special twist mid-palate, and espresso, home baked berry pie, and somewhat lingering finish that makes you look forward to the next gulp! 

This $10 value from Trader Joe's is one of the better wines I have had in a long time. In fact I just got home from the store where I bought the 1 bottle and grabbed several more. Raise a glass!

Caretaker Cabernet Sauvignon. (Paso Robles) 2023

Garnet hue with aromas of nice plummy, black cherry with hints of pomegranate.

Palate--Thin texture with prominent Black cherry/berry flavors on a bed of acidity with a very quick finish.  

This is a "sort of" Cabernet Sauvignon, meaning ya don't want to judge what Cabernet Sauvignon should be like if you're wondering if you like Cab or not.  Yes this is a cheap $9 attempt but disappointing even at that price. I will chill it down for my Sunday night pizza and it will be adequate but that's about it.  

Giardino Pinot Grigio delle Venezie Rosé 2024

Pale orange/pink hue with aromas of vanilla cream with baby powder, green apple and a hint of citrus.

Palate--Off dry first impression with subdued mouth feel and presence of clean and pretty crisp fruity notes.  The pin prick bubbles are tepid but present. Finishes very quickly.

Chill it down, serve it with lighter fare or beside your pool (if you live in the deep south) and at $8 raise a glass.

Embroidery Zinfandel 2021

Garnet and ruby hue with nice fruit aromas above the rim rustic dense blackberry with a suggestion of mocha.

Palate-Finessed structure first impression with a very relaxed profile with somewhat subdued fruit that seems to be disappointingly fleeting. It may need to breath a bit... After some air time I have to say it didn't significantly change the profile.  It was a decent accompaniment to Thanksgiving Turkey but at the price point of $24, I can recommend numerous Zins for half the price which I believe are better. 

Lamarca Prosecco

Slightest hint of gold hue with aromas of light tropical fruit, a hint of citrus, and vanilla cream with pin prick bubbles.

Palate--Lively effervescence on a pretty flat palate with such light hints of flavor that seems hardly worth the effort of lifting the glass to your mouth.

I know this is a wildly popular wine amongst the restaurant by-the-glass crowd which honestly baffles me. There are SO many nice wines "out there" which are far superior to this *pricey effort. 

*Lamarca Prosecco is one the more expensive Proseccos out there at around $16 which is--IMHO--due to the amount of advertising they do. "It pays to advertise" as they say and give them kudos for success in that arena. But in my world, I avoid Proseccos at all costs--pun intended. 

Cockburn's Special Reserve PORTO

 

Lovely purple/black he to the rim with big sweet raisiny, pruney fruit and Christmas fruit cake.

Palate--Balanced profile with velvety texture and nicely touched acidic layer, on a bed of ripe plump raisins and a finish that just keeps going. 

I paid $18 for this and it is lovely for the money. Porto is such a gift to the palate so enjoy it with dark chocolate, or any sweet bite that you want to enjoy to the max and raise a glass!

Orin Swift Abstract 2022

Intense eggplant hue with aromas of  Plum, blackberry and gentle spice. 

Palate--Silky first impression with bold flavors of fruit forward goodness with immature angular profile that needs a couple more years to come into its own. 

This blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Zinfandel California sourced grapes needs more time to really show its stuff. Some of the scores I am seeing on this wine are quite over the top. 

With prices showing at $35-$85 is rather crazy. It's a decent $20 wine but beyond that, well.... to each his own.

Thanksgiving Dinner Wine Guidance!

If you are planning a very traditional Thanksgiving meal, complete with Turkey and all the assorted sides, You need to abandon the adage saying, "White meat, white wine..." This couldn't be worse advice considering all the hefty spices, gravies and sauces at Thanksgiving. In fact, because of that very fact, a red wine is the best pairing but not just any red wine. So without getting too complicated--and boring--I'll cut to the chase.

 A host of red wines work well like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Merlot. All of these varietals have a pretty broad range, except maybe the Zinfandel. However, I put Zinfandel on the list because it works well with cranberry sauce and heavy starches like mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. And as far as bang for the buck, my go to is Zinfandel. 

In order to make things even more festive at the table, I suggest you offer guests two wines. This is especially easy if you are able to provide you guests with two wine glasses and allow them to pour and sip as they like. Simply place the bottles on the table and allow your guests to discover the different pairings as they please.

As a rule of thumb, plan for at least a half bottle per person while at the table. That may seem like a lot but, there are only 4-- 5oz. pours in a 750ml bottle! So which two wines? Try offering one Cabernet Sauvignon and one Pinot Noir, perhaps both from American wineries in the spirit of the holiday. While there a many very nice $12 Pinot Noirs, stay away from the bottom of the barrel Cabernets.  If you are able spend closer to $15 - $20 for your Cabernet.  Washington State is making some really good value Cabs at this price point.

While wines at the dinner table are often the focal point, don't forget that you can create a special experience with wines before and after the meal. A nice bubbly is a great way to start the festivities, especially with assorted appetizers or finger food. (I like a Cava from Spain which are ubiquitous and very inexpensive. It will say Cava on the label) 

To finish things off, try a nice dessert wine or Champagne. Something sweet but light, for example a muscat or icewine, should help wash down the pie. Do this before the coffee.

Above all else-  It is a time for special consideration of the King of all Creation who came to Earth to redeem all who put their trust in Him. Raise a glass to a Thanksgiving table complete with wine!

Epicuro Nero D'Avola 2023

Garnet hue with gentle aromas of cherry fruit and tea.

Palate--Mouth watering acidity with a somewhat constrained fruit foundation, with savory spice and lip smacking finish that is fleeting.

Nero D'Avola--pronounced NERo da VOLa is a lively, fruity grape from the sicilian region being its signature grape. What is nice about this wine is that these are generally quite inexpensive and even at the upper end they are rarely going to exceed $25. 

This isn't the best example of the grape but it's not bad for the money.  At Trader Joe's I think I paid around $8 for it so it is a definite "raise a glass."