Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
2015 Thanksgiving Special
#nb-45-15
It is always difficult to select the perfect wine for Thanksgiving, because the table offers such an array of aromas and flavors, but here are a few guidelines which will make this dinner more memorable than ever.
If you like Chardonnay, choose one which is not bone dry, but rather one with a strong fruit presence. Sauvignon Blanc is also a good choice if you like dry white wine with your meal. The fruity, but dry finish of a good Pinot Grigio is perfect for that dry white meat turkey which did not turn out as juicy as you had hoped for. If you like red wine with your meal, choose a lighter style Pinot Noir, or other red, such as the Carmenere mentioned below.
Below is a list of wines which I have written about this year which would be good choices for your Thanksgiving Dinner.
2013 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay - Score: - Price: $14-$18
This is a classic Chardonnay for an everyday price. The bouquet reminds one of a basket of apples fresh from the orchard, accompanied by a spray of wildflowers. The flavors are abundant with apple being the most assertive, with a touch of tropical fruit, graced by a hint of citrus in the background. This is a well rounded Chardonnay which has the mineral backdrop characteristic of the chalky soil, and has a creamy mouth-feel leading into a crisp, but lingering finish.
2013 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay - Score: 91- Price $16-$21
The aroma bursts out of the glass and grabs you with the scents of apple and honeydew. The flavor is complex, and yet simple, with the basic components of Chardonnay, that explode with apple and pear, with a little peach and a mild citrus breeze. The balance is almost perfection, as the wine finishes with bold fruit and good acidity in a harmonious union of pleasure, leading to a crisp and clean ending which begs for another sip!
2013 Acrobat Pinot Gris - Score: 92 - Price: $13-$16
The wine opens with a flowery bouquet laced with a lemony citrus breeze, and a hint of melon. The flavors swirl with an abundance of green apple and melon, with a complex background suggesting lemon zest and a trace of vanilla. The wine highlights the perfect balance between big fruit and crisp acidity, and sails on into a clean and lingering finish.
2014 Wild Horse Viognier - Score: 92 - Price: $15-$19
The bouquet is framed by a dry peach scent, accented by light citrus, and a bit of Muscadine vine. The flavor is forceful with a strong presence of tropical fruit, spicy mineral notes, and a heady dose of tangy lemon zest. This is a big powerful wine with a lot of complexity and gobs of dry ripe fruit. It reminds me of a cross between Chardonnay and Gewurtztraminer.
2013 Mark West Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - Score: 90 - Price: $20-$25
This is a light style Pinot Noir that is no lightweight when it comes to delivering a quality signature. The color is a brilliant red with excellent clarity, and the bouquet jumps out of the glass to broadcast an array of aromas, highlighting cherry and strawberry. The flavors swirl with cherry and plum, with an under-current of strawberry, and just a touch of cranberry. It is simply delicious!
2012 Root One Carmenere - Score: 92 - Price: $10-$14
The color is a most beautiful inky shade of purple, and when you open the bottle, the aroma leaps out of the bottle and grabs you by the nose and won't let go, filling the room with the essence of blackberry jam and Brer Rabbit's briar patch. Speaking of jam, the flavors abound with a thick jammy character smacking of blackberry and dark cherry, with a hint of black current. The finish is spicy with a bit of pepper, and just a touch of earthiness which lingers until the next sip. The wine is good in both complexity as well as character, and is in perfect balance between the fruit and acidity.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND ALL OF YOURS!
Norm
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