In the previous post, several types of wines were suggested for your quest to complement the turkey and trimmings on the Thanksgiving table. Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris were a few of the higher recommendations. As promised, you’ll now find out the two wines that I’m having on turkey day. And just to keep you on your toes, they are not any of the types previously mentioned. Sometimes you have to think outside the box!
The Red: Columbia Winery Merlot
15.99
N: Strong, forward, attractive nose. At first this wine seemed a little closed, however after letting the bottle sit for about an hour after opening and pouring out two glasses, the nose opened up quite a bit on the next pour and showed more complexity. Sweet blackberry and raspberry fruit, distinct earth, roasted green bell pepper, touch of vanilla spice and sweet tobacco hints.
P: Smooth as glass texture. Soft and supple in the mouth. Fruit-forward and jammy, with flavors of black and red raspberry, mild sweet earth. Acidity is mild to medium, tannins are soft to medium; both elements and the alcohol level are appropriate for the amount of fruit throughout the palate and through the finish. In other words, this wine is very well balanced.
Don’t confuse this winery with Columbia Crest — this is light years ahead of that plonk. At around fifteen bucks, it’s a little more expensive than most wines I review, but it is worth every penny. And hey, it’s Thanksgiving, it’s OK to spend a little extra for the holiday. After Thanksgiving, match it with ground turkey (tacos!), leaner meats such as chicken or roast pork and meaty fish (salmon, swordfish).
The White: Weingut Kofererhof Kerner 2004
22.99
N: Fresh, ripe, vibrant fruit aromas of peach, citrus, red delicious and green granny smith apple.
P: Fresh, ripe array of apple and ripe peach flavor. Almost like a fresh fruit salad, with apples, peaches, green grapes, pineapple, and even a touch of maraschino cherry and some citrusy lime … but not sweet as it finishes bone dry. Touch of mineral and the slightest hint of sweet grassiness adds nice complexity. Good level of acidity holds things together and provides the support for matching with a number of foods. Smooth as glass texture.
Before you pass this wine off as a “German” wine, let’s get something straight: this wine is from ITALY. And in fact, it is more like a wine from Austria than Germany. So what the hell is Kerner, and how do you say Kofererhof? It comes from the Alto Adige region in northeast Italy, the same place that brings us Pinot Grigio, believe it or not. And if you think Pinot Grigio is a good white wine, this bottle will blow your mind. I highly recommend it as an aperitif, and suggest you match it with fish, poultry, and pork prepared simply or in white/wine – based sauces. It will also be a fine match for veggie dishes, and Asian cuisine (it cries for Thai and Indian). I only wish it were under twenty bucks, but hey, you get what you pay for … and what’s a special occasion if you can’t splurge a little? Open this up right after the kickoff of the Falcons-Lions game, and enjoy it through the appetizers and the first few tastes of turkey.
