What about that Turkey?

Oh the Holidays are here. To most people this means a time of culinary delights, festive parties, and family. Yea that all sounds fantastic. To me and people in all retail or service it is a time of crowded stores, long hours, little sleep and in general high blood pressure. But, the constant fast pace, and in my case, all that great wine I get to recomend and really interesting people who are looking for the perfect treat to compliment the Holiday table, it can be alot of fun. (How was that for a looong run on sentence).

So that brings me to the number one question I am asked, “What wine should I serve with…..?”. Now mind you the vast majority of people already have an idea of what they want, they just want an affirmation. But, when people do seriously have no idea what to serve the standard go to is Pinot Noir, Burgundy, or Riesling and because it is that time of year I must throw in Beaujolais Nouveau. These wines usually pair very well with turkey or ham and are usually easy drinking and will satisfy a majority. There are those you can never please, and to those I say NEVER INVITE THEM BACK. After all they are getting free wine.

Just a few basics for some of the most popular varietals.

Pinot Noir

One of the lightest red wines. It is usually fruity, strawberry, raspberry and light cherry with light tannins. Burgundian styles are usually earthy, and fuller bodied. Some can even develop that barnyardy style, but don’t let that fool you the flavor is fantastic.

Some of the best areas are in Califofrnia, Carneros and RRV, Oregon, the Willamette valley and in New Zealand. And of course France, the Burgundy region.

A favorite from the Willamette Valley.

Riesling

Often thought of as a sweet wine there are many great dry Rieslings. German Rieslings come in 5 sweetness categories; Kabinett- dry to off dry, Spatlese- sweet, Auslese-sweeter, Beerenauslese- very sweet, and Trockenbeerenauslese- super sweet. Alsace wines tend to be more dry to off dry. In the states Rieslings are more to the off dry with the exception of course of the LHR the sweet dessert wines. Washington State offers some of the best choices fro domestic wines, with New York state, and South Africa producing some very nice choices.

Sweet Rieslings have a nutty, honey flavor. A pepper or spice finish is common, and they are of course sweet. Dry Rieslings are crisp, light and elegant. They go great with turkey or ham and work well with vegetarian meals too. (Not that I would know, GIVE ME THE MEAT). Below is one of my favorites, an off dry from Germany, Dr. Heideman’s.

Beaujolais Nouveau is “The first wine of the harvest”. A Southern burgundy wine ( it was expelled from Northern Burgundy as an inferior grape). Made from Gamay it is light and fruity. It is not too sophisticated, but it can be quite good. Gewurtztraminer is another favorite. It is also dry, off dry and sweet. Hailing from Germany, Austria, Alsace and from California and becoming more common around the world. It is very aromatic and tastes of honey and a spice finish.

What it really comes down too is choosing what you like. Enjoying your family and friends and giving thanks for all your blessings. What ever wine you choose – count your blessings and be Thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving

Enjoy

A Bouquet of flowers…..Perennial Flowers 2010.

A totally unique blend. Pinot Noir, Syrah, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay to top it off.
The nose gives off reminders of the holiday. Orange, nutmeg, pepper and spice.
The wine hits your tongue and the complexity of flavors throws the mind into free fall.
Bright red fruit, cherry, strawberry and even a note of plum. I know plum sometimes gives that note of stewed fruit…kinda like that cabernet from Paso Robles.
Perennial is best known for pinot blends. I am not positive this blend works. It is a decent wine, but for the price I wanted more. I am not saying it is bad, and I would have it again, just not great.
$$$
Enjoy

Elouan, Pinot Noir

I just like saying the name Elouan. Kinda sounds like a mystical genie…Elouan.

And mystical it is. This is a new pinot from the Wagner family. Their foray into sourcing juice from Oregon. Part of the Copper Cane wine division, and they did a good job. This should not of course be compared to Meiomi, The very successful pinot that has just been bought. No, this one can stand on it’s own. I enjoyed this wine immensely. It may be of a lighter body, but it has lots of flavor. A great wine with a lighter meal, salad,chicken or pork, or just to drink by itself

The nose is fruity, raspberry and cherry notes are in order very pleasant.

The color is light, almost see through. Typical of pinot, but not off putting.

Now the flavor. Very fruit forward, you are hit instantly with raspberry, cherry, even a seemingly cola flavor, an abundant amount of fruit is present The spice comes at the end, cinnamon and pepper. The end lingers for a time, but not everlasting.

Light to medium body, the wine is proportionally balanced making it a very enjoyable. A nice alternative to some of the very light pinots coming out of Oregon.

Enjoy.

Don't compare to Meiomi, it can stand on its own — Don’t compare to Meiomi, it can stand on its own

Maysara Pinot Noir Jamsheed

Every time I think I have hit it big, I find a new favorite. Call me fickle. Four years or so ago, I could not stand Pinot, the reason of course, was that I had not had a good one. Now I know that Pinot can be lush, fruity and fuller bodied. Tonight I have had the pleasure of Maysara Jamsheed.

When I twisted the cap off, yes a cap, get over yourself… I was immediately hit with the aromas of plum, coffee, violets and a little hint of tobacco.

Feeling anxious, I wanted to believe that the flavor would be as good as the aroma was leading me to believe. That first little droplet hit my tongue… WOW, I couldn’t resist taking a full gulp. Swishing it around my mouth so that every sensor could get a hit. Disappointing. NEVER. Oh the tongue was tingling and the cheeks were watering. I was in my pleasure place. Chocolate, coffee, tobacco, fruit, cinnamon and spice at the end. And the end never really came…the lingering flavor still bouncing around. Rich, full, luscious… DEVINE.

Enjoy.

Ceja….vu

So before I talk about the #ceja wines let me tell you a little bit about their history. A family of immigrants (yes I am going there Trump), who through hard work, perseverance and the desire to live the American dream have succeeded in building one of the most respected and hi end wineries in Napa. Working in various jobs in Napa the family literally learned the business from the ground up. A true American success story..Amelia Ceja was named woman of the year in 2005, she and her daughter, Dalia, have graced the cover of many magazines and continue to build the brand in powerhouse fashion. From the beginning with the first 15 acres purchased by Amelia and her husband Pedro and family members Pablo, Armando and Juanita. Armando is now the winemaker at Ceja (and doing a magnificent job). OK enough gushing about the family and their success. (Just for the record.. I visited the vineyards a couple of years ago and was treated to a winetasting and food prepared by the matriarch yummmmm.

Now to three of their wines.

Ceja Chardonnay Carneros;

First that beautiful color, golden straw, sunset, you take your pick. Aromas that revel with citrus and green apple. The mouth is coated in refreshing light crisp citrus notes, followed by notes of tree fruits, pear and apple. Very well balanced. A perfect summer refreshing white.

Ceja Pinot Noir Carneros

A light ruby color. The nose is very floral, with hints of ripe red fruits. The wine coats your mouth with so many flavors wow the depth of complexity is amazing. Ripe red fruit flavors, plum and cherry followed by a spicy finish. Beautiifully balanced with elegant soft tannins.

Ceja Vino de Casa Red Napa

Everyone loves a great red blend, a common table wine. But this is anything other than a common wine. Dark red, not quite garnet. The bouquet erupts with aromas of violets and cherry. Very fruity on the palate. Rich red fruit, a long finish

Fruit and spice and everything nice.

….e.