With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up I wanted to offer suggestions of wines that I believe will pair with the traditional dishes served during this time. A wine should complement the meal you've slaved over and enhance the enjoyment of it. Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving weekend.
Kim Crawford
2012 Unoaked Chardonnay (195172)
New Zealand
$16.99
The philosophy of the Kim Crawford wines is to keep things uncluttered. Something that has been attained in those Crawford wines that I've tasted. What's interesting about this winery is that Kim and wife Erica started it in 1996 as a virtual winery. That is, the grapes were bought from contract growers and the wine was made in rented space. None of this stopped its Sauvignon Blanc from appearing several times on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 list. Goes to show that there are many ways to create and fulfill a dream. Kim and his family have since moved on and Kim Crawford Wines is now owned by Constellation Brands.
The 2012 Chardonnay is unoaked and certainly uncluttered. It is a pure and simple expression of a Chardonnay. In the glass, it is a soft gold colour and on the nose fresh cut grapefruit, apple and some tropical pineapple fruit. On the palate, I found it fresh with apple and peach in a creamy texture, with a pleasant citrus finish. I might not serve this wine with glazed ham but with turkey it will pair very nicely.
Wild Goose
2012 Autumn Gold (414755)
British Columbia VQA
$19.00
About a year ago, after a story on CBC, I had customers coming in looking for wines from the 2012 vintage. The radio piece was about the 2012 growing year in the Okanagan and what an exceptional year it had been. We've had to wait a year, but we are finally seeing some of those 2012 white wines being released. The Wild Goose in Okanagan Falls is one of the first I've noticed.
Since its establishment in 1990 Wild Goose has received countless awards and accolades for their wines, and I'm sure this Autumn Gold won't be an exception. This is a blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc. Even while pouring it into the glass I could see it had body. With a warm gold colour it poured heavily into the glass. The aromas were a cornucopia of fruits, flowers and spice. Apple, pear, peach with roses and spice you will get from a good Gewrztraminer. On the palate, it's loaded with fresh and ripe tree fruit flavours, a touch of sweetness, but with enough acidity to finish clean with lingering fruit flavours. I enjoyed this glass of wine very much and it will match up with either the glazed ham or stuffed turkey this Thanksgiving.
Casa Silva
2011 Carmenere Reserva (750612)
Chile
$17.99
While thinking about Thanksgiving, and knowing people are often looking for a red wine to serve with the traditional fare, I thought that a Carmenere might be suitable. I've often noticed a honey flavour in Carmeneres but not really any sweetness in these wines. If you're looking for a straight Carmenere, you look to Chile. This grape has become a signature grape of this country and with great success.
Casa Silva's Reserva is a cuvee of grapes from the Colchagua Valley. While it is a Carmenere, it comes from vines that have slight genetic differences and so they call it a cuvee. In the glass, it has a dark purple appearance with some density and plenty of legs after it was swirled around the glass. The aromas are strong and defined with black fruit, such as black cherry, blackberry and ripe black plum. There was that hint of honey and dark chocolate and coffee. In the mouth, it has a touch of that jammy quality with its black fruits, a touch of fine tannin and acidity with a fairly long finish. Yes, I think this is a good choice if you're looking for a red wine for Thanksgiving dinner.
