New York Cork report had a good piece up a few days ago about what various local winemakers were having with their turkey. The choices were good — lots of rose sparklers, gewurztraminer, and cab franc. Rose sparklers go great with almost everything but red meat, gewurztraminer has a spicy element that goes well with all the nutmeg and cinnamon in some of the dishes, and cab francs (at least in the Finger Lake and Loire styles) have the body to stand up to the meat and the acid/spice to go with the side dishes.
The New York Times always recommends beaujolais for Thanksgiving, but I’m not so sure: the Duboeuf wines are awful and smaller producers’ beaujolais is a bit too fine — and expensive — to serve with candied yams and the like. Non-Dubouef beaujolais nouveau would be a great choice, but it’s almost impossible to find.
I’ll be having a cheap rose sparkler (Segura Viudas) and then some nice Oregon pinot (Soter, Archery Summit). I wouldn’t normally do something as nice as the pinots on Thanksgiving, but I’m in Oregon and that’s the only time I ever try that kind of thing.
What wine are guys drinking today?
Alexandra
Not in the US, but am cracking open a bottle of Cloudy Bay Sauv Blanc from New Zealand, given to me as a gift. Mmm.
DougJ
@Alexandra:
I love that wine. I like NZ SB in general and that one is a little drier than the others, so it’s a perfect style.
jafg
Brandy or Cognac is the only thing that makes any sense to me on occasions like this. Brandy in Egg Nog is good too.
Wine with turkey doesn’t really work for me. Only thing I like to drink wine with is pasta
JimPortlandOR
I’ve been having a gewurtraminer week – sampling all the various oregon and calif. wineries. Some are strong enough to compete/complete with turkey gravy, stuffing and whatnot.
I think the fruitiness and spicyness is perfect to T-day meals. Makes a nice break from bland whites on other occasions too.
schrodinger's cat
I got some cheap wine from Whole foods it was only $3 I wonder how it is going to be.
ETA: I am drinking some gin with lime right now, better than any wine, me thinks!
DougJ
@JimPortlandOR:
Which Oregon gewuztraminers do you like?
Bergo
I’m going with Oregon Pinot as well, but I find Archery Summit to be a little overpriced. I like the smaller producers. I’m thinking Brick House and Lemelson this year.
Alexandra
@DougJ:
It’s gorgeous but not something I’d buy for myself as it’s a bit pricey. Normally, I have a look around the chillers to see what Italian pino grigio or Aussie chardonnay might be reduced in price. If it’s a red, then Aussie merlot, usually. Not really that adventurous.
BGinCHI
Taking three things to dinner with friends/colleagues:
Large format beer from The Bruery (Autumn Maple)
White wine from Spain, a Portal (garnacha blanc, sauvignon blanc, viognier blend)
Italian red (dolcetto d’alba)
DougJ
@Alexandra:
Yeah, it’s touch pricey, I agree.
Chat Noir
I like Riesling, either Clean Slate or Relax.
BGinCHI
Oh, forgot to mention the greatest Thanksgiving drink of all, best had after the meal and sipped:
Calvados.
If you’ve never had it, you ought to try. Fermented apples never tasted so good.
DougJ
@BGinCHI:
Dolcetto is also a great Thanksgiving choice! I had totally forgot about it.
schrodinger's cat
@DougJ: Are there any Finger Lake Wineries you are particularly fond of? I liked the Riesling made by Wagner Wineries when I was there a couple of summers ago.
BGinCHI
Doug, if you haven’t tried pinot gris from Willamette, and even from up in WA, do so.
Some really excellent ones.
Perfect for dinner but also as an aperitivo.
Mnemosyne
They had a big sale at World Market yesterday and I ended up buying five bottles just to try them out: Coppola Sofia Rose, Coppola Rosso (which is our basic go-to gift wine), a malbec, an Italian primitivo (aka zinfandel), and another red I can’t remember.
We’re probably going to bring the rose to my brother’s house, plus G has his beer and I’m going to bring some Fox Barrel Blackberry Pear cider for myself. It’s like beer for kids!
MattF
Layer Cake ‘Primitivo’ is a tasty red zin that isn’t very expensive (maybe $12 for a bottle).
DougJ
@schrodinger’s cat:
Yes, here are my favorites:
Hearts and Hands (pinot, rose sparkler)
Ravines (pretty much everything)
Shalestone (cab franc, Lemberger-based blend)
Herman Weimer (rieslings, especially, but other stuff too)
And also:
Damiani (sauvignon blanc, riesling, syrah)
Bloomer Creek (gewurz, cab franc, riesling)
BGinCHI
@Mnemosyne: If you live in a place where you have other cider choices, I have recommendations. You can do better than Fox.
Big cider fan. Real cider.
noodler
agree that the Duboeuf is scheisse, need a sipcy zin, or an oak-y pinot methinks. bginchi has a good suggestion with the d’alba. I’m partial to a sicilian nero d’avola these days. oh for a barolo or brunello. thanks for the cork report link too. nice site.
BGinCHI
@DougJ: Love Hearts and Hands.
Lived in Ithaca (and before that, Buffalo) before moving to Chicago. Lots of great wineries around the lakes, and also some good places to eat while tasting and exploring.
I’ve heard that in the past several years there have been a lot of new wineries and other places opening. Need to get back there. I miss that landscape.
BGinCHI
@noodler: The neros can be good for the money, but I’d spend a little more and get a good Priorat (from Spain) if you like that gnarly kind of experience. Some Priorats are very pricey, but you could get a really drinkable one for around 12 or 15. Let it breathe lots though, or it will eat you up.
Mnemosyne
@BGinCHI:
I have very few cider choices in LA. It’s very sad. It’s usually all Woodchuck, though I can get Strongbow and Magners if I trek out to BevMo. No Crispin at all, though I’ve had it when we’re in Chicago and I really like it.
I’ve been told that my fondness for Magners means I’m not a real cider fan since it apparently tastes like barnyard piss, so there’s that.
Mnemosyne
@MattF:
I’m pretty sure that’s the exact one I bought at World Market — glad to hear I picked a good one.
BD of MN
@BGinCHI: I really like the Crispin Honey Crisp, if you know of anything better than that, I’m all ears…
going to the sister-in-law’s where $4 sweet white (or maybe pink) crap will be served, I’m bringing beer…
FlipYrWhig
Blatant liberal elitism, all y’all. :P
S. cerevisiae
There are some excellent wines out here in OR but right now I am watching football with a Deschutes Jubelale.
stannate
It may only be easy to find in Illinois and Missouri, but Chambourcin is a hybrid that resides somewhere between Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, and Zinfandel, depending on who produces it. I’d call it a medium-bodied dry red that holds up well with sweet potatoes, most stuffings, and especially the dark meat of a turkey.
BGinCHI
@Mnemosyne: These are really “ciders.” Like a quotation or paraphrase of the real thing.
First, find a bottle of Clos Normand. It’s French and usually large format (like a wine bottle, with a cork). Not expensive at all, and a proper cider. Usually easy to find and I’m pretty sure BevMo carries it. I was just out there but can’t remember.
Any French cider in a large bottle is, generally, going to be the real thing. This also holds true, more or less, for any large bottle from, say, MI or WA. You might also try some of the English ones, but they can vary.
Your rule of thumb should be that if it comes in 12 oz bottles it’s going to be overly sweet and fake tasting. If you can get the large bottles of Crispin, get the black label, which has yeasts in it. Very nice and dry and with perfect apple funk.
LA has good liquor/wine stores. But you have to do some looking. Perhaps others will know good spots. One of the best wine stores on the planet is in Costa Mesa.
BGinCHI
@BD of MN: Try the orange label and especially the black label! Big bottles.
If you can get Scrumpy from MI, it’s good too. And cheap.
Perfect for today!
Also, anything French. Or from Somerset or Herefordshire in England.
quannlace
Jesus, do I feel like a philistine. Yes, Beaujolais is sitting on my kitchen counter right now.
******************
Calvados always tastes a tad too refined for me. Applejack, now that’s the ticket! Wonderful for cooking as well. A drop or two went into the cranberry sauce and the gravy today.
Mnemosyne
@BGinCHI:
I had Scrumpy this summer and I didn’t really like it. It tasted almost exactly like Martinelli’s apple juice to me.
:(
Linnaeus
Irish coffee at first. Then a Two Vines Sauvignon Blanc later (it’s inexpensive and a Washington product, and I like to buy local when I can).
Batocchio
I picked up a Riesling and a Cabernet (not a perfect pairing, but it was a good one on sale, and drinking isn’t contained to the meal itself).
ruemara
Water. You decadent leftists on the coasts and your wine. Besides, real black people drink grape juice with their mac and cheese thanksgiving.
DougJ
@ruemara:
Is grape juice a black thing?
DougJ
@quannlace:
As long as it’s not Dubeouf, it’s still a good choice.
BGinCHI
@Mnemosyne: Hmm. It’s not the best, but better than Magners and Woodchuck and that kind of shit. Crispin is definitely better, and the French stuff is especially better.
Keep hunting.
John Cole
I’m serving Riesling and Pinot noir.
BGinCHI
@quannlace: Fightin’ words.
Pistols at dawn? Or after a hearty lunch?
Lojasmo
When I drink wine, I drink willamette pinot.
Today, like most days, I am drinking surly furious IPA.
BGinCHI
@DougJ: When the name means “from cows,” it’s gotta be good.
/smuckers
BGinCHI
@Lojasmo:
They should really be a sponsor for this blog. Perfect fit.
Cole, how bout some product placement?
Some guy in Austin
Did turkey last weekend with the extended family. Today it’s prime NY Strips with a Hop Kiln Zin that was a gift from a cousin who recently went on a CA wine tour vacation
After that I’ll have a couple of New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.
@DougJ @Alexandra – The NZSBs are the best, the only white wine I drink
Finally, some Caol Ila Scotch to watch the UT / A&M game.
Amir Khalid
I’ve decided not to have any wine today.
BGinCHI
OT, but please read the first para of this news report. You want to know who votes in that fabled 27%?
http://www.suntimes.com/news/crime/9044182-418/man-walks-into-police-station-with-loaded-assault-rifle.html
Mr Stagger Lee
VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!!! No WINE!!! GRINGOS!!!! RON Y JOSE CUERVO, VAMANOS!!!! (Ok maybe some Zinfedel and Reisling )
VIVA LA REVOLUCION !!!!!
cay
Acacia Pinot with dinner and Black Maple Hill Bourbon post-bird.
Mnemosyne
@BGinCHI:
See, I like Magners better than Scrumpys because Magners has that fermented/musky taste to it. I don’t feel like I’m just drinking sparkling apple juice.
I may be hopeless.
schrodinger's cat
@John Cole: What kind of Riesling? Riesling is one of my favorite wines since it pairs so well with spicy food. One Riesling I liked, was from Germany, I forget the name, it had a black kitteh on the label with a bottle brush tail.
DougJ
@cay:
That bourbon sounds good. I’d like to try it sometime.
Xenos
I am stepping up the house Côtes du Rhône to a Châteauneuf-du-Pape — much like Mistermix could always step up to a Beaujolais Village with a matching or complementary Mâcon-Villages for those who do not care for reds.
This is all pretty cheap on this side of the wine lake. A drinkable Rhone goes for 6 Euros and up, and a low end CNdP is just twice that, here at the local Delhaize/Food Lion. The turkeys from Lidl are just 4 kilos each, and were barely edible last year when I did not brine them. I had a couple Italian families over for that Thanksgiving and there were very polite given how appalling the German turkeys were.
BGinCHI
@Some guy in Austin: I like Hop Kiln. Good stuff.
On the white wine subject. I love NZSBs. Great acid and zing. Perfect with spicy food (esp Thai or Viet) or pasta with a heavy/creamy sauce. The acid is the key.
A really good alternative to SB is Torrontes from Argentina. No one else really does that varietal. It has good zing but a little more fleshiness. Kind of like Viognier but not nearly as peachy.
Also, you can get great Torrontes for under 10 bucks. Try Maipe or Urban Uco, or Susanna Balbo’s Crios label.
Maxwel
Victory Prima Pils.
BGinCHI
@Mnemosyne: No, I get that. If Magners does that for you, you’re on the right track.
You definitely want to try some of those larger format ciders I mentioned above.
Hang in there, grasshopper.
schrodinger's cat
@DougJ: Have you ever tried Fenee? a cashew liqueur from Goa.
Xenos
@Mnemosyne: You know where the Coppola wines come from, right? Coppola bought out the Inglenook operation. Major increase in quality…
BGinCHI
@Xenos: Now I’m thirsty for Lirac.
becca
When I was a kid my parents always had Cold Duck and a treacly Mogan David. We kids all got a glass and we loved that stuff.
My taste for wine never really developed beyond that.
Gordon, The Big Express Engine
Boone’s Farm 2002 Autumn Sunset (it’s a blend).
Gordon, The Big Express Engine
@Xenos: We’ve been to the Vineyard. Really cool place (if the crowds are light). Wines are very good and the history of the place is cool. FF Coppola pieced back together the original lands of a defunct vineyard from decades ago.
DougJ
@schrodinger’s cat:
No, is it good?
j
Tabor Hill Cranberry wine; made from Michigan cranberries. I usually serve their Traverse City cherry wine, but starting last year they started producing cranberry wine. Now the cherry wine is used for Christmas. I swear to GOD it is like drinking a cherry pie!
It’s worth the several hour trip to the southwest Michigan Wine Country to pick up a case or two. (The bottles of wine also make excellent “hurry up” gifts for when people drop by with a present. I keep a bag of cheap stick-on bows next to the wine rack and just slap one on a bottle and say “Happy Holidays”).
http://www.taborhill.com/
DougJ
@Xenos:
They always had some very good vineyards.
Some guy in Austin
@Maxwel: I love everything from Victory
Brian S
I went with a decent but less expensive Pinot Noir and a Vouvray for the potluck we’re going to in a bit. I thought about a Riesling or a Gewürztraminer, but the ones we had worth drinking at the store were all north of twenty bucks, and I don’t have the money to spend on it right now.
Speaking of the Oregon Pinots, we don’t get many here in Iowa, but I really love the ones from Sokol Blosser and Willamette Valley Vineyards. Wish I could afford the Sokol Blossers.
schrodinger's cat
@DougJ: It can be pretty good. I am not sure if you can buy it in the US.
BruceFromOhio
A micro-brewed porter and an ale for the football sequence, later will be a nice California reisling and a companion zinfandel to go with the food. If I had a pinot noir, we’d definitely be drinking that, but, alas, it didn’t make it to today. Perhaps my bro-in-law the lush will bring one…
Kola Noscopy
As Flyp noted above, this thread is elitist and with a nod toward ABL, quite likely racist in some way…
…oh, and this thread also discriminates against alcoholics in recovery…
…but other than that, it’s all good. :D
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dan
Some random crisp white before dinner with the hors d’oeuvres and definitely a nice Oregon Pinot Noir with dinner. Probably a Chehalem or Sineann (shuh-NAY-an), or both. Or mabye a Beaux Freres.
WereBear (itouch)
RUM. Gold rum on the rocks with mango juice and a dash of rum.
Not great rum; been lean times at Casa WereBear. But you know that old saying; even lousy rum is good.
WereBear (itouch)
Heh heh–I meant to say “dash of lime”!
WB +2.5
Ruckus
@ruemara:
Wine is just grape juice with foot prints.
Svensker
We’re doing turkey day in Canuckistan and have a nice Pillitteri cab franc from Niagara-on-the-Lake. Good stuff.
DougJ, look for some of the northwest reislings while you’re out there. St.Michelle (WA) has a fantastic reserve riesling.
If I were a die-hard Lions fan I’d be looking at drinking anything I could get my hands on right about now.
Ruckus
@DougJ:
It better be good – price online $160.
Per bottle.
Ruckus
OK you guys convinced me to break out a small glass of Piont Noir ($5-6 at Safeway!) and some cheese. Normally I use Cab for cooking but tried this for a change.
And it is swill.
I think Gordon’s Boones Farm might be better.
normal liberal
@schrodinger’s cat: I used to drink Zeller Schwarze Katz reisling – I’d sort of forgotten about it. Ive been on a minor gewurztraminer jag lately, but I was too frazzled with cooking to think to break it out with the bird.
Mnemosyne mentioned World Market – ours went under a couple of years ago, and I miss it still. On the bright side, the space was occupied by a Fresh Market, which is crap for wine selection, but has lots of other good stuff that the local mass market grocery stores ignore. Much of Thanksgiving dinner was sources there.
I’m envious of all the wine knowledge – I’m a complete idiot on the topic, of the “I know what I like, but have no idea why” variety.
Dad23g
Belgian raspberry lambic ale goes perfectly with Thanksgiving food.
sullyVan
@Kola Noscopy: It “Outed” the true essence of the joint.
Over paying for wine.
Saw a article in “Slate”, I believe, most folks do better with cheaper was the gist.
DougJ
@sullyVan:
If it was in Slate….
abo gato
Well, way back in the day (when we had more money, day) Latour came out with their 1990 Grand Vin de Chateau Latour Bordeaux. Wine Spectator gave it a 100 rating and said it was the wine of the century or some shit like that. We ended up buying a case of this stuff. (At that time, we got it for $60 a bottle, which we thought was highway robbery, but anyway) We also have a 500 bottle wine refrigerator and it’s been in there since. We’ve consumed about half the case and the last time we had a bottle of it, about a year ago, honestly, it was not ready to drink yet.
I’m making a venison backstrap wellington with homemade puff pastry. The wine should be fantastic with this. The puff pastry has been kind of fun to make. I started it yesterday afternoon and it’s chilling now for the last time. Next time it comes out of the fridge, I’ll roll it out and use it to wrap up the backstrap. I’ve also made a brown butter tart to have with cranberries on top and a sweet potato/gorgonzola gratin is in the oven now. Oh, and some King Arthur pull apart rolls are rising now as well.
Gonna go chill for a bit.
JimPortlandOR
@DougJ:
I guess I like the St. Joseph’s the best – I rank lower the really dry ones. WA state also has some good ones. Columbia Crest is good and not expensive. But I’ve never been a wine eliter (ooo and ahhing over the tones of pear or chocolate or whatever.)
If you are from the PNW, Fred Meyer (big stores) has the widest variety of Gewurtz at good prices. One near me had at least a dozen.
Svensker
@abo gato:
Imma gonna come hang out by you.
Donut
@schrodinger’s cat
Those cheap-ass $3 bottles from Whole Foods are surprisingly drinkable. I recommend starting with your good stuff, obviously, but once your in your cups a bit, they go down fine. The Chardonnay is probably the best one.
My pops is bringing wine tonight, no idea what, but he has good taste, so I’m not sweating it.
j
@WereBear (itouch): I liked the first recipe.
sullyVan
@DougJ: It ain’t Economists View, but still fitting for this discussion.
BGinCHI
@sullyVan: Philistine.
sullyVan
“I’ll always remember me Dear Old Dad’s saying”.
Got people in Oz.
Went to visit a time back.
Real “Aficionados”, good Aus wine, great Oysyers, best Fish.
Had a Dinner, “Fresh NZ Oysters” mate. Best I reckon.
Broke out me bottle of “McIlhenny’s Louisiana Hot Sauce”, that was 1 thing I brought. Don’t know why.
“Gasp”, you are ruining them.
“What is this abomination you put on such fine fare?”
“Try it…..”
“Could You send Us some when You return?” Haaa!
sullyVan
@BGinCHI: Not from Philistia, thx.
ruemara
@DougJ: I’m really not sure. I prefer ginger ale or real ginger beer. I hate grape juice too. Well, not hate. Just not like.
abo gato
@Svensker, come on. I love to feed people.
sullyVan
Heh, killed another one, thread that is.
HE Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist
Drinking locals — one red and one white from the Santa Cruz Mountains region.
waratah
@sullyVan: I was surprised to see that in the supermarket in Sydney, while visiting family.
Also had a trip to Hunter Valley in NSW and had some very good red wine in a small family winery.
billgerat
Doug, since you’re in Oregon, try to find a bottle of Domaine Drouhin 2003 Pinot Noir (or any vintage for that matter}. It’s the best Pinot Noir I’ve ever tasted.
sullyVan
@waratah: When was that? I was over in ’97. They never heard of such a thing. Loved it.
Plus, I was in Melbourne with that lot.
Australia was quite primitive, by our standard, Grocery wise.
And especially from region to region.
But, “Ahh, of course Sydney, so Cosmopolitan”. Haa!
waratah
@sullyVan: I was there in 2008, stayed six weeks giving my sister a break from taking care of my parents. I still managed to have a lot of fun.
The supermarkets have become more American and I really hate that and the malls. I missed the small shops of my youth, fresh from the grower fruit and vegetable shops, butcher for meat, fish shop, and the most wonderful bakeries.
I agree Sydney is very cosmopolitan, I love it.
AnneW
@stannate: I love Stone Hill Winery’s Chambourcin. It’s lovely.
Southern Beale
We had a nice Pinot Noir and a nice Syrah and when I say “we” I think it was mostly me, which caused a few raised eyebrows and snickers.
Ah fuck’em.
Seriously, I was in charge of wine. I was filling everyone’s glasses but I think the teetotallers in the family assumed I was filling my own every time.
Bill Arnold
My sister brought the wine, and I wasn’t paying a lot of attention. There was some California wine that was devoid of grape variety identification, that was sort of like a cross between a young zin and a beaujolais, with a slight bit of purplish foam on top, not dry, and quite drinkable. And a malbec from Argentina(?).
Anne
God, I love visiting with you people. Son brought a Beaujolais Nouveau. It was surprisingly drinkable this year. Also had a Dao Cabriz.
smintheus
We had our own 11 month old blackberry wine, which finally has settled down and softened into a lovely bright dry wine that’s somewhat reminiscent of beaujolais – though much higher in alcohol (18%). It has gorgeous color, and goes surprisingly well with turkey.
When we bottled this in June it was barely drinkable because of the high alcohol content…called it our jet fuel. Now we’re thankful (yes) that is has become quite mellow with just a few months more aging.
Peter
We had a 2010 Gros Noré Bandol rosé (because I couldn’t find the rosé Champagne I wanted) and since it’s all light weights this year that was most of it. (Unremarkable Champagne to start).
Regarding the non-Beau Nouveau, I’m a huge fan of some cru Beaujolais being made now. I had a 2010 Coquelet Chiroubles V.V. recently that killed. For $20, this region is my new go-to in the Age of Austerity™, though the Loire also compels.
smintheus
@stannate: There are some great Chambourcins now being grown in PA. It’s my favorite Pennsylvania wine. My neighbor has produced some lovely vintages in his basement, using grapes from a friend’s new vineyard.
Lex
Had some Pinot Evil last night. Pretty good, and $7/bottle at Aldi. As a starving grad student, I’ll take that.
DougJ
@Peter:
I love cru beaujolais. I don’t do it with turkey because I feel it’s a little too fine.
JMG
We did a Hugel Pinot Gris from Alsace with our bird. The one with the label drawn by Ralph Steadman. How could anyone resist? In general, I prefer white to red with turkey. Sancerre works, too.
Peter
@DougJ: No turkey here. I made quail stuffed with duck that I ground with sage, chestnuts, and blackcurrant vinegar. Sous vide for 2 hrs at 150˚, then floured and deep fried them. Everyone got one, plus cranberry pudding, burdock gravy, and sorrel-frisée pesto.
I was trying to get Thevenet’s Morgon, but couldn’t make it to the city. Life in the sticks sucks sometimes.
Steeplejack
@BGinCHI:
I like Calvados anytime.
dollared
For our little gathering, Sparkling Shiraz and Columbia Gewurtztraminer.
Doug, anything from Owen Roe rocks, and they have a great big Cab Franc for not too much money.
tesslibrarian
We didn’t do Thanksgiving this year, since we are preparing for the cat/house sitter and doing laundry prior to taking our first ever real vacation, starting Sunday.
However, it was clear, bright, coolish outside this morning at 11am, and I had a strong urge for a glass of pre-relative-arrival prosecco. Who knew one’s body clock/survival instinct could work on a year-round schedule?
lol chikinburd
I rolled the dice on an $11 bottle of 2010 Crios Rosé of Malbec with today’s turkey. It actually kind of worked.
EIGRP
A little late (early) to the thread… we had Bogle and Turning Leaf. Both reds, but good for drinking before the turkey (and after)
We also found a cranberry wine by Montezuma Winery. That is quite delicious.
Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to move on to the eggnog. Get the kind from the Pittsford Dairy. It is awesome.
Eric
smeagol
Also a bit late, but we did a Cotes du Rhone with the turkey. It’s a lighter red that seems to go well.
Agree with the Calvados comments! Great afterdinner drink.