Ding-dong. Whether you’re receiving guests or you are one, I’ve got an answer for that annual late-November question: What kind of wine should be served on Thanksgiving? I’ve got four picks—two whites, two reds—that, put together, should please everyone around the pleasantly overcrowded table. These wines are food-friendly, approachable and priced so that you can save some pennies for holiday shopping.
The consistent quality of the 2006 Miner “Simpson Vineyard” Viognier ($21.99) from California exhibits massive aromas of Froot Loops along with ripe peaches, vanilla and lemon zest. Full-bodied and round, with great texture that lends itself well to roasted fowl and fruit-based sauces.
The unique 2006 Trimbach Gewürztraminer ($19.99), from France’s Alsace region, is a study in funky wine. Floral and spicy, with a nose full of roses and lychee nuts with bold, ripe stone fruits, its hints of sweet red apples and lemon curd fill the palate with a soft, oily mouthfeel and a sharp, spicy finish. Bring on the turkey.
For something in the red department, check out the 2007 Mark West Pinot Noir ($11.99) from California, with enticing aromas of rich cherry pie, raspberry preserves and ripe plums with barrel notes of exotic vanilla, golden molasses and shortbread cookie. Inexpensive and good, this pinot rarely fails to deliver. Juicy fruit on the finish helps this wine sing with lighter, drier proteins like turkey and ham.
Last but not least is the 2008 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau ($12.99–$14.99). Duboeuf is one of the primary producers of Beaujolais Nouveau—one-fifth of his yearly production is for this wine. General word is that this year was one of the better years in the past decade for Beaujolais wine. It’s released on the third Thursday of November, just in time for Thanksgiving.
The wines described above are widely available throughout the metropolitan area. All are available at
Friar Tuck’s (9053 Watson, 314-918-9230, friartuckonline.com).
