NewsletterThanksgiving, 2008
A Wine-derful Thanksgiving Feast at Delicious Prices!!!Ah...Thanksgiving, America’s two-fisted feast. The caloric intake from the food and wine would impress a Frenchman. In this spirit, we’ve put together a selection of wines for the feast that should complement your delicious dishes and also aren’t high in cost. We were looking at that ol’ "price/quality ratio." We think we may have succeeded. Certainly there are wines here that will get you "over the river and through the woods." Hail to the ChefsThe chefs certainly should not go dry while firing the stove and preparing the feast. There are many thrifty sparklers that maintain high spirits and keep the chefs’ focus. A flute of these sparklers is also perfect for observers and advisers alike. Mont Marcal Cava, Regularly $14.99/Thanksgiving $12.99—Earthy, dry, Spanish sparkler, nice while making stuffing. Bugey-Cerdon Sparkling Wine, Patrick Botax $23.99/Thanksgiving $21.99—From France’s Jura region. Rose in color, not quite completely dry. But it certainly isn’t sweet. Tasty raspberry notes. Delightful at any time during the cooking. B-Deville Chevallier Grand Cru Champagne, $35.99/Thanksgiving $30.99—A Grand Cru Champagne for $30.99? It’s toasty, elegant and shockingly fine. Dom Perignon isn’t even a Grand Cru. This is the Champagne we drink in our kitchen.
Where the Boys AreThe "boys" are usually in the living room, watching a football game or some other sporting event on TV before the feast begins. But dad often has some traditional culinary duty such as carving the turkey or making cranberry relish. The boys need some quaffers to prevent dehydration from their difficult labors. 2007 Miraval Rose, Coteaux de Province, $17.99/Thanksgiving $15.99—It doesn’t sound very "boy-like," but this is a dry, light, yet complex quaffing rose that actually would be dandy with a turkey too. It was our favorite rose of the season. 2006 Saint-Veran, Cave des Grandes Crus Blancs, $14.99/Thanksgiving $13.99—If you are a Pouilly-Fuisse lover, but bridle at the costs, this is your baby. It’s made next to the villages of Pouilly and Fuisse, and tastes better than many with Pouilly-Fuisse on the label. 2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, $17.99/Thanksgiving $15.99—A zingy Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc with some complexity too. It begs for popcorn shrimp and cleanses the palate when partaking in crab dip. 2006 Einaudi Dolcetto di Dogliani, $17.99/Thanksgiving $16.99—Einaudi has the knack with Dolcetto. It’s a velvety red with plum flavors. Try it with pre-dinner cheeses or with the big bird itself.
Let’s RumbleWell, Thanksgiving can be like a martial arts competition. There are so many different dishes and often a lot of hungry eaters. For the volume of dishes and numbers of eaters the options in wines are virtually limitless. 2006 Schleret Gewurztraminer, Herrenweg, $29.99/Thanksgiving $27.99—Probably the most appropriate white wine we can think of for a turkey and all the fixins. It has the body weight to handle both white and dark meat. And it has the spice and viscosity for the flavor packed side courses. Plus, it is one of the best Alsatian Gewurztraminers we’ve tasted in years. 2006 Leitz Magdalenenkreuz Riesling Spatlese, $19.99/Thanksgiving $16.99—Josef Leitz is one of the most esteemed winemakers in the Rheingau region of Germany…we have never tasted a wine from him which we didn’t love. He gives exact acid/sugar balance in this racy white wine. And riesling handles the variety of flavors and spices in a Thanksgiving meal soooo well…it’s one of our favorite matches. 2006 Rhea Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $19.99/Thanksgiving $16.99—A new and dandy Pinot from Oregon. A superb turkey wine. It has some force, but grace. It would enhance most of your side dishes as well. 2006 Roessler Bluejay, Pinot Noir, $32.99/Thanksgiving $28.99—A lush pinot from the Anderson Valley with rich, dark bing cherry flavors. Some pinot noirs are a little light for the multitude of flavors in a Thanksgiving feast, but this one has the depth to stand up well to the sweet potatoes, dressing, cranberries, turkey etc. Bring it on! 2005 Pesquie, Quintessence Rouge, $29.99/Thanksgiving $26.99—This blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache may make you think you’re drinking Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The syrah for this cuvee comes from a single block of old vines grown on soils similar to Chateauneuf but located in Cotes du Ventoux. The exquisite blend of earth, fruit and minerality makes this complex wine a perfect match for a Thanksgiving dinner. Post Feast AnalysisThe finish, dessert, can be the best part of the meal. And the wines can make the desserts taste even better. Yalumba, Antique Tawny Museum Reserve Dessert Wine $17.99—Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family owned winery. This tawny port like wine, made from shiraz, is dark amber in color with smooth rich caramel and toasted almond flavors. A great match with pumpkin pie. 2007 Saracco, Moscato d’Asti, $15.99—This semi-sweet sparkler from Italy’s Piemonte is refreshingly light and low in alcohol… the perfect wine after consuming a filling Thanksgiving dinner. It would be ideal with hazelnut cake drizzled with zabaglione. 2005 Cast Diva, Cosecha Miel, $25.99/Thanksgiving $23.99—From Alicante, in southern Spain, where the Greeks planted the vines amid orange groves. This, too, would work well with pumpkin pie. It’s a little lighter in style than the above Yalumba Tawny.
THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN WINE: DON’T FORGET THE BEER!!!Oud Beersel, Framboise, Belgium $8.49/375ml—A mouthwatering way to start the day or bridge the time between dinner and dessert. The fresh raspberry nose will blow your socks off, but the totally dry finish will keep you coming back for more. Delicious! Victory, Prima Pils, Pennsylvania $8.99/Thanksgiving $7.99/6pk—Made with whole-flower European hops & fine German malt, this mighty beer is not your typical domestic pilsner. Perfect with the main course! Zywiec, Porter, Poland $2.99/500ml—An old-world porter brewed in the traditional style with caramel and molasses flavors. A touch of sweetness will complement your holiday desserts – or be one! Flying Dog, Double Dog Pale Ale $8.49/4pk—With double the hops found in most pale ales, this tasty treat will warm the hearts of those who enjoy big, rich beers. It’s a sipper: at 10.5% ABV, it packs a punch! Dogfish Head, Raison D’Etre, $10.49/6pk—A unique dark ale brewed with Belgian beer sugars and raisins. Try this with your holiday fare and experience one of the top craft breweries in the country. Awesome!
OUR INFAMOUS ANNUAL
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COALTRAIN
Wine & Spirits
330 W. Uintah
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
719-475-9700