Wine the most important Thanksgiving choiceIf you want some international flair at the table, try the tangerine-and-herb profile, dry Copain Tous Ensemble 2018 Rose, which sounds like it should be from France, but is really from Mendocino County in California.
La Crema’s more entry-level bottlings always tend toward beefiness, and this expression is no exception, kicking off with a somewhat tough and decidedly meaty character that feels like it will never let up. Give it some time in glass, and the picture changes, albeit slowly. Notes of blackberry and blueberry cobbler emerge, alongside notes of sweet tea and some baking spice notes. The finish is brambly, classic Russian River stuff, with hints of cola and a bit of clove.
The 65 Best Summer Whites, Rosés and SparklersWinemaker’s Notes: The Tradition Sauvignon Blanc elevates the purity of the variety through stainless steel fermentation and ten months of sur lie aging. The result is an expression of bright citrus such as lime peel, white stonefruit, and green apple fragrances.
Oregon was the first state in America to grow Pinot Gris and WillaKenzie has wisely made it part of their portfolio. Their 2018 WillaKenzie Pinot Gris from Willamette Valley has a nose that is full of ripe green apple, melon and honeysuckle aromas. The slightly creamy mouthfeel supports luscious flavors of green apple, pear and tropical fruit. The textured finish is long and crisp with hints of tangerine acidity on the back of the palate.
This Bordeaux-style wine is a study in contrasts, and a super delicious one at that. The 2018 Capture Pine Mountain Sauvignon Blanc has lush tropical flavors of lychees and kiwi, super sharp acidity and flinstone-like minerality. And somehow it all ties in really well together. It begins with aromas of exotic fruit, leads to an explosion of citrus flavors, and finishes on a chalky limestone note. Sam Teakle, Winemaker recommends some great pairings, “This wine pairs beautifully with oysters. Or, if you’re building a cheese board—the laserbeam acidity cuts through the richness of goat cheese, fresh and dried fruit to make the notes of the wine pop, and fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to complement the aromatics of the wine.”
Dark rich plums, brown sugar, mint chocolate chip, and vanilla bean swirl together like a cotton candy machine at the state fair in this very approachable red blend from Bootleg. The creamy oak flares up on the nose like whipped cream atop a chocolate chip sundae with blueberry syrup and a cherry on top. Sounds dangerously good, right? The bold black and blue fruits absolutely dominate here, and that’s the front runner, with all sorts of tug-of-war tannins that grapple in your mouth. But it’s the hint of chalky dark chocolate squares that are irresistible on the palate. It’s concentrated but not dense, berry blasted but not overly fruity, cocoa coated but not milky. A final mint leaf liveliness sneaks across the finish line with precision. The big brooding deviance is real with this one and I suspect the masses will love it.
36 Of The Best Pinot Noirs Willamette Valley Has To Offer2016 WillaKenzie Terres Basses Pinot Noir delivers bold notes of black berries, black tea, forest floor, and cured meat, layered and complex, firm shoulders.
36 Of The Best Pinot Noirs Willamette Valley Has To Offer2015 Zena Crown ‘Slope’ Pinot Noir bold notes of dark fruit, spice, black tea, dusty earth, dried tobacco, slate, worn leather, a cab-lovers pinot, powerful tannins, yet elegant, stunning *sold out, 2016 vintage available.
36 Of The Best Pinot Noirs Willamette Valley Has To Offer2017 Penner-Ash Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir explosion of red fruit, warm baking spice, fresh herbs, lavender, damp underbrush, sweet tobacco, layers, poised, silky tannins, long finish.
36 Of The Best Pinot Noirs Willamette Valley Has To Offer2017 Gran Moraine Pinot Noir offers red and black berries, crushed red flowers, dusty earth, cured meat, and black tea, bold yet sophisticated, fresh, driven.
Cleanliness, acidity and profound, ripe fruity flavors present immediately. One picks up notes of apricots, papayas and limes and hints of white flowers.
Siduri Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2017 is another superb Siduri effort. Nice oak notes and delicious red fruits. Supple, silky. Wine gains complexity with time in glass. Ten percent whole cluster fermentation to add tiny—and appropriate—notes of herbaceous, complexity, earthiness, and a dollop of tannin. Nice acidity on the finish. Pair with seafood—salmon, red snapper, swordfish; charcuterie; patés and terrines; lamb; pork; mushrooms; mild cheeses. This also works as a solo sipper with neutral wine crackers during engaging conversations, or even sipped when you are alone with a good book or while binge watching Netflix.
We can always give thanks for wineThere’s a rich spice note that comes with the ripe cherry, blueberry, vanilla and leather aromas of this Pinot. It’s medium-bodied, with bright red berry and cherry flavours, underlying blueberry notes and a white pepper and earthy component on the slightly warm finish. Slightly heavier and more approachable than lighter, savoury/funky Pinots, the La Crema should still satisfy those who are more well-versed in the grape.
Created from three vineyards in the AVA, this is a richer Pinot than the Copain, showing riper fruit flavours such as black cherry, root beer, blueberry, thyme, wild raspberry, vanilla, violet, black tea and orange. A delicious, riper Pinot.
Copain’s entry-level Pinot, the Tous Ensemble, which means stronger together, offers enticing aromas of violet, sandalwood, black cherry, black tea and wild strawberry. It’s medium-bodied, with bright acid, moderate tannins and vivid fruit flavours.
Wine recommendations to ease you into fallFor Chardonnay fans, the Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve 2018 combines fruit from four prime growing regions delivers a nose of banana, mango, vanilla and buttered toast that lead to flavours suggesting nougat, almond and pineapple all wrapped around a ripe, balanced core.
The first sip of the wine will let you know that La Crema is not fooling around. It has rich cherry pie flavors with subtle baking spice aromas. It is difficult finding a quality pinot in the $20 range. I sampled both the 2018 and 2019 vintages of La Crema with this dish. Both years were delicious.
...but if you prefer something a little creamier, there’s the 2019 Matanzas Creek Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, a fragrant wine with melon and pink grapefruit flavors and an appealing texture.
Grapefruit, grassy, floral aromas. Melon and grapefruit on the palate. Good.
Lemon, lime, apple, grass aromas. A bit of ginger and some salty, stony minerality on the palate. Aromatic, dry, with refreshing acidity and lingering finish. Very good.
These 4 Products Will Give You A Relaxing, Fabulous Thanksgiving to RememberGive Thanks to RoséPSA: We’d love for you to consider including the versatile La Crema Monterey Rosé on your table this year. Not only is this Pinot Noir Rosé pretty in pink, it is also a deliciously crisp wine that will take you from appetizers right into dessert. Try pairing this wine with your favourite cut of turkey, as it works well with white meat, dark meat and everything in between.
The Best Wines For Thanksgiving, All Under $25Here are nine wines under $25—red, white and fizz—that play well with turkey:Bright whitesWhen it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, some chardonnays work better than others. I look for a lightly oaked or unoaked version such as Carmel Road, which is fresh and citrusy with a mellow finish. Save the well-aged, rich and buttery chardonnays for another occasion—there’s enough fat on the table without them. Carmel Road is a certified sustainable pick from Monterey, California, but if you can’t track it down, look for a young, cool-climate option from Canada.
La Crema 40th Anniversary Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, Sonoma County 2018: Exceptional wine; 20-30% whole cluster.
4 stars. A sauvignon blanc that’s light on its feet with breezy notes of papaya, white peach and jasmine. It has nice acid, with a crisp, refreshing finish. It’s solid and balanced, yet delicate. It’s a pretty embodiment of sauvignon blanc.