A Vegetarian Thanksgiving Day Wine Perspective

If you are looking for a very good write up on Thanksgiving Day wines and how to make that last minute selection, see this post by NW.

If, however, you have alternate dietary requirements, whether by choice or by necessity, read on.

Thankfully(!) wine is a holiday staple that is usually not restricted from most diets. But pairing it is often the challenge. My family has been vegetarian for well over 10 years now. But we never fail to have some wonderful wines with our Thanksgiving Dinner and for that we are truly thankful. Here is what is on the wine menu this year:

Starters:
Trevisiol Prosecco Veneto Extra Dry. This sparkling white Italian wine comes from Valdobbiadene. It will make a versatile aperitif with the various munchies we will have out - aged cheeses, olives, crackers and spreads. - about $12

Main Course:
Bottle 1: Sawyer 2004 Bradford Meritage. This is a Napa Valley (Rutherford) Red. It has some age on it and will be a mature and robust addition to our thank-full meal full of traditional side dishes and a delightful quorn roast. - about $25

Bottle 2: Fetish "The Watcher" 2008 Barossa Valley Shiraz. This is a robust, big, bullish wine. This is an example of where what you like is what you like and you go with it. For our family, the fetching Mrs. Billy simply adores Aussie Shirazes. So she will enjoy this wine even with the lighter fare that we vegetarians typically enjoy on meat-centric holidays. - about $25

All in all there are many reasons to be thankful this year. These three wines will be a delightful addition to the vegetarian meal. Raise a Glass!

Clary ranch Grower's Reserve 2006 Shazzam! Syrah Sponsored Review by Billy

Nose: Earthy, Stony, and Vegetal. Jammy asparagus and wild mushroom nose. Interesting for a Syrah.
Palate: Pepper emerges on the palate. Good balance of smooth tannin and acid core for a lush mouth feel.
Finish: Long with jammy plum and pepper after time.
Overall: This wine was provided to The Wine Cask Blog free of charge by Clary Ranch. The usual syrah/shiraz flavor profiles are swapped in this 2006 Clary Ranch Shazzam! for more vegetal, earth centered flavors. The flavors of the land are much more prominent here than in other Syrah wines which makes this unique. The rich jammy character of this wine combined with good crafting yields a great mouth feel with an interesting nose and flavor profile. If you are looking for a Syrah that is unique while still well crafted, raise a glass of Clary Ranch Grower's Reserve 2006 Shazzam! Sonoma Coast Syrah.

Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2006 Sponsored Wine Review by Billy

Nose:Deep jammy plum, cherry and cracked black pepper predominate. Cedar and leather undertones provide complexity.
Palate: Excellent balance with good acid structure and tannins that are not overbearing or underyoung. Hints of vanilla and cherry emerge on the palate.
Finish:Soft and lingering vanilla cherry cola taper off to a slight tannin pucker.
Overall: This wine was sent to The Wine Cask Blog free of charge for review. However, I have seen it online in the $9-$15 price range. It is a deep inky red in the glass showing youth and character. 2006 was a good year in South Australia for the wineries and this 2006 Jacob's Creek shows it. The crafting is solid allowing the best characteristics of the Shiraz to emerge without overcomplicating the wine. This is a very affordable hearty wine that is worth having on hand. Easily as good as wines 2 or 3 times the price. It will stand up to and complement hearty fall and winter dishes.

Raise a glass to this Jacob's Creek Reserve 2006 Shiraz

Tapestry Shiraz 2006 wine review by Billy

Nose:Jammy plum and an almost sweet strawberry layer. Peppery, nutmeg and cedar spices are wonderful.
Palate: Warm balance that spreads evenly throughout the mouth giving a full, warm and spicy feel. Soft tannins that are well balanced against an even acid core makes this a delightfully well crafted and even drinking wine.
Finish:soft and slightly acidic. blackberry and plum with some chocolate and spice hints briefly make an appearance.
Overall: This is the bakers gully vineyard from Mclaren vale Austrailia. I paid about $26 for this bottle. A wonderful bottle at a moderate price. Definitely get a bottle or three to have on hand for nice dinners - even if you are dining alone. Worth it!

Layer Cake 2008 Shiraz Wine Review by Billy

Nose:jammy blackberry and plum with some spice and loam
Palate: Limp and flabby in the mouth
Finish: weak finish

Overall: I paid about 17 for this and an unsatisfied. For a South Australian Shiraz at that price point it should have a bigger mouth feel instead of being like a cold wet noodle. The big fruit forward nose is heavy on the fruit and too light on the spice that should accompany a big shiraz.

If you see this in the bargain wine rack, maybe think about buying it, otherwise pass it by.

Either way, raise a glass!

Heath Wines Southern Sisters Barossa Valley 2004 Shiraz wine review by Billy

Nose: earthy, jammy prunes, black pepper.
Palate: bold fruit-forward in the mouth. Very light tannins and acid are in good balance but definitely resting on the fruity core. Hints of oaky spice tease at the back of the palate and segue nicely to the finish.
Finish: Lingering with ripe strawberry and red apples.

Overall: a well crafted wine. Not as spicy or intense as some other shirazes but more elegant than other Australian's at this price point of about $18. A nicely accessible shiraz. It is fruity in the mouth without becoming a bomb. The 2004 Southern Sisters shows earthy character on the nose and has a pleasing finish.

Raise a glass!

Fox Brook Shiraz 2006 Wine Review by billy

Nose:Surprisingly, there is some black cherry. Is this a shiraz?
Palate: surprisingly round. fruity.
Finish: surprisingly smooth and even.

So why is this wine surprising? Because I paid only $2.99 for this wine. Yes it was on sale. But it was on sale from (I believe) about $6. So when you get a wine for $2.99 and it even has a nose, some fruit, and a finish that doesn't make you clench your sphincter, it's a really nice find. This is a very fruit-forward wine. While not the world's best example of the varietal, it is definitely drinkable (I am even now finishing up the bottle that was opened last night). Paired with grilled burgers or served to someone just as a "red wine" it's definitely drinkable.

So remember that just because it cheap doesn't (necessarily) mean that it's bad. Many times it is, but when you find a quaffable wine for 3 bucks, hey, who can argue. And I'll raise a glass to that!