Thanksgiving Day 2012 Wine Lineup

Joh.Jos. Prum Riesling, 1999, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Clos Fourtet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 1999, France
Turley Howell Mountain Zinfandel, 2008, Rattlesnake Ridge, St. Helena, California
Warre's Vintage Porto, 1994, Portugal

It is incredibly awesome to me that my uncle continues to provide me with exceptional wine experiences even though he no longer walks the earth. I miss him so very much at Thanksgiving especially, so it is bittersweet-wonderful to be able to continue to savor the delicacies from his cellar.

No matter where you are at in this life, richer or the poorest of the poor, happy or the saddest of sad, surrounded by loved ones or all alone or far away, look in your heart and find just one thing to be thankful for, even if it is just as simple as the sun is shining wherever you are. Bask in it, feel it's warmth on your weary bones and realize, even if on the slightest level, that that is something.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Domaine de L'Herbe Sainte Chardonnay

2008
Famille Greuzard
France


I couldn't stand it anymore. I broke down. I've been on an elminiation diet for 8 weeks now to try to determine if I've got food allergies. It's a strict diet with no dairy, no wheat, no sugar, no chocolate, no alcohol (NO WINE!), no garlic, no peppers. All vegetables and fruit and poultry are to be organic, salmon should be wild, and only well-treated, grass-fed beef (if I were to eat beef). I have done 85% well as I have been eating mostly organic fruits, vegetables and poultry (and wild salmon) for quite some time now. I was allowed a couple of times to go off for one special meal or invitation, but I was to not have it be two days in a row. Except for two wine tasting events, and my mother's birthday, (oh and a Fashion Show I just remembered - SHOOT!) I have followed it completely . But tonight, I broke down and opened a bottle of French Chardonnay I've had chilling since Christmas.

All I wanted to do was add a bit to my California Basmati brown rice along with some organic chicken broth to give it a more gourmet flavor. I opened this bottle, and the tropical aromas made me salivate. I told myself I'd have just one glass and ended up having almost two. Nice pear and citrus flavors with a hint of thyme and ever so slight mineral notes and a creamy finish. It was really good.




She's just the way she is, but no ones told her that's OK.

And she would change everything, everything just ask her.
Caught in the in-between, a beautiful disaster,

And she would change everything for happy ever after.
Caught in the in-between, a beautiful disaster.

--Jon Mclaughlin--




8.25 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$15 / 750 ml. bottle

Chateau Les Vallees Bordeaux

2005
Grand Vin De Bordeaux
Gironde - France

We got this at Christmastime and decided to open it tonight for my mom's birthday as our opening wine. Although it was disappointing for me on first sip, it tasted much better with roasted cashews. It at first had a watery-musty brief finish but it became much more meaty and enjoyable with the nuts.

Not bad for the price.


$12 / 750 ml. bottle
8.0 out of 10
13% alc. by vol.

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

2007
Red Rhone Wine
Domaine Du Vieux Lazaret
France

67% Grenache
22% Syrah
5% Mourvedre
6% "others"

As a child, I loved the "old" Christmas Carols (Perry Como, Glenn Miller, Doris Day, the Andrew Sisters, Benny Goodman). I still do today and find it harder and harder to find any station that plays the original stuff that makes Christmas extra awesome for me.

Christmas is like a wedding - lots of planning and excitement leading up to the event, then it's all over in a whirlwind and there's this feeling of "where'd it all go"? It is truly my most favorite time of year - I LOVE presents and I love giving presents. I love the food and WINE and family gatherings that I crave so much (and never seem to have enough of).

New Year's Eve is my second most unfavorite time of year (Halloween being first). So, I found a religious radio station that continues to play Christmas Carols for 12 days after Christmas and they have been making my week this week. THIS is the week I spiral into a depression. I can't help it. But this station is playing the most awesome eclectic old stuff mixed with some real good newer stuff (think Harry Connick, Jr.) and I am slightly more happy because of it. And, thanks to receiving almost 3 cases of wine in gifts this year, I have something to look forward to every day (or at least every few days!). I just have to come up with the food pairing. We have old friends coming for dinner Saturday and we are going to new friends for the big countdown tonight. So I am hanging in there. :)

My brother brought a couple of bottles of this wine (and I miss him now), and I enjoyed it more with him here with his aged cheddar cheese. However, it was still enjoyable on its own (and with him gone home).

Although I have not previously given much value to decanting, I did buy the Guy a decanter for Christmas and we have been enjoying how the wine aroma fills the room upon doing so. Well, I was blogging after Christmas and my brother decanted this and left it in front of me and left the room. My mouth started watering and I couldn't wait for us to pour it into glasses. We had some aged cheddar with it and had an awesome afternoon together tasting the two. This wine has a stone cherry scent and flavor and is one of the few French wines I thoroughly enjoy. Not a bad value for the price.

Happy New Year.


My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too?

Where are you Christmas?
Do you remember
The one you used to know?
I'm not the same one
See what the time's done.
Is that why you have let me go?

Faith Hill



8.5 out fo 10 (when served with OLD cheddar cheese)
8.0 out of 10 on its own
14.5% alc. by vol.
$17/750 ml. bottle

Chateau Andriet

2003
Bordeaux Superieur
France
75% Merlot / 25% Cabernet Franc

Will drink again.

I really enjoyed this full-bodied wine, though I don't remember much about it as it's been a week since I had it! I know it had a distinct flavor and I liked it on its own as well as with food. It was slightly earthy, but more herb-like (thyme especially).


At the age of 13, I don't believe I had quite the maturity level, nor vocabulary, as my first born child does at the same age. I am in awe of her abilities and wisdom. We struggle, she and I, but I love her so VERY much. The world is totally her oyster and I wish I had the power in myself at that age that she has.

This is hers:

"ROSE"

Bud opening its eyes for the very first time
Crimson petals soft as silk,
A beauty so rare.

Roots stretching their legs
Growing and spreading; never-ending,
Reaching down to the earth's fiery core.

Thorns jutting out in every direction
Screaming bone-chilling agony,
A disease spreading up and down its stem.

Dewdrops resting silently in its dark radiance
Crying for its magnificence,
A mystery within.




8.0 out of 10
$13 / 750 ml bottle

Drouin-Marmet Reserve Champagne

Drouin-Marmet Reserve
Champagne
France (Mais Oui!)

Would drink again.

I'm not really a champagne fan except for in a breakfast Mimosa. But this was rather light and had no sweetness. Although there wasn't a whole lot of flavor, I enjoyed it very much as an accompaniment t0 strawberries and chocolate. And I didn't get a headache. :)


Remember gentlemen, it's not just France we are fighting for, it's Champagne!
~ Winston Churchill, WWI

I drink Champagne when I win, to celebrate…and I drink Champagne when I lose, to console myself. ~ Napoleon Bonaparte


7.75 out of 10
12% alc. by vol.
(No further info could be found as far as price, etc.)

Contrastes

2003

Red Languedoc

Saint-Chinian

France

Would drink again.

Not bad, just not as full as I had hoped. It's bouquet was inviting and I thought it would be very good. It reminded me (in scent) of a Barossa Shiraz. But it was much lighter in taste than I had hoped. The flavor was good. It was earth and olives for me. It took on a spicey finish following a bite of pepperoni bread. Overall, enjoyable though not as I had anticipated following the scent.

I have made a new friend from France. I am excited as he has friends with vineyards and he knows I am partial to Merlot. He is going to gather some info for me and recommend a wine or two from a region whose wine is comprised mostly of Merlot grapes. So stay tuned.

No thoughts, no poems, just a good day with two of my girls resulting in another "song of the day". It was one of those days I dreamed about when they were younger, but didn't know if it would ever happen. We went clothes shopping, got ourselves some Starbuck's drinks and drove home with the radio blaring (one of my juvenile behaviors I've been unable to let go of when I hear a song I like), all three of us singing at the top of our lungs, looking at each other and laughing. Priceless. I like a lot of different kinds of music, but I always thought my children's tastes and mine would never coincide. However, they have been patient listening to my favorites, and I have done the same for them, and sometimes common ground is found - like today.

I've got a way of knowin' when something is right

I feel like I must have known you in another life

Cause I felt this deep connection, when you looked in my eyes

Now I can't wait to see you again

The last time I freaked out

I just kept lookin' down

I st-st-stuttered when you

Asked me what I'm thinkin 'bout

Felt like I couldn't breathe

You asked what's wrong with me

My best friend Leslie said, "Oh she's just being Miley"

The next time we hang out

I will redeem myself

My heart, it can rest 'till then

Oh woah woah I, I can't wait to see you again

"See You Again" - Miley Cyrus

8.0 out of 10

$12.99 / 750 ml. bottle

13% alc. by vol.

Chinon

2004
Clos Du Chene Vert
France

Would drink again.

Another wine sent home with me from my uncle. The color when poured was a bejeweled ruby. I loved the scent of this wine and couldn't wait to taste it. I smelled Brie and strawberry and smoke. Although the taste was less berry than I would have liked, I did taste a slight Brie-ness and smoke. But it was a little on the drier side than I normally like, and, not enough big flavor for my total enjoyment. It was more light to medium body, leaning more on the light side. It did accompany Dill Havarti and wheat crackers nicely though.

In my humble amateur opinion, the tannins need softening on this one. A bit tart and would probably do well to stay in the cellar a couple more years.

Go, little book, and wish to all
Flowers in the garden, meat in the hall,
A bin of wine, a spice of wit,
A house with lawns enclosing it,
A living river by the door,
A nightingale in the sycamore!

-Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)Underwoods, I. 1, 'Envoy'

8.0 out of 10
12.5% alc. by vol.
Approx. $22 / 750 ml bottle
http://www.charlesjoguet.com/

Chamarre Grande Reserve Pinot Noir

2006

France

Will drink again.

(FYI - There should be an accent mark over the last "e" in Chamarre but I can't manage it here - pronunciation therefore is "sha-ma-ray".)

Chamarre, en Francais, means "bursting with colors - bursting with flavor". This was a nice Pinot Noir. Black cherry, vanilla, slight oak and licorice. The finish was slightly peppery. Very enjoyable. I have found most Pinot Noir wines I've had to be "light" or "weak". This was not - it had a lot of flavor and was full bodied. As it was only $9.99, it was a really good deal in my opinion.

What is better than to sit at the end of the day and drink wine with friends, or substitutes for friends?

---James Joyce

8.0 out of 10
$9.99 / 750 ml
12% alc. by vol.

http://www.chamarre.com/

Kiwi Cuvee 2006 Sauvignon Blanc

2006
Sauvignon Blanc
France

Will drink again.

Very enjoyble, easily drinkable wine when well-chilled. The scent was of Dijon Mustard meets Granny Smith apple. It's taste was very much tart apple, follwed by a hint of vanilla, then dryness, then . . . mustard. It was good alone and good with take-out barbecue chicken and red onion pizza.

No poetry tonight, just the chorus of one of the few 80's songs I actually love very poignantly floating around in my head:

"Wish I knew what you were looking for, might have known what you would find."
The Church
Under the Milky Way Tonight

7.5 out of 10
12% alc. by vol.
$9.99 / 750 ml
Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France

Parallele 45

2005
Cotes du Rhone
France

"Wine is a living liquid containing no preservatives. Its life cycle comprises youth, maturity, old age, and death. When not treated with reasonable respect it will sicken and die."

Julia Child

I am forever in search of a French red to rock my world (albeit on the cheaper side). But I didn't find it, yet again. One of the guys at work told me "You can't go wrong with a 'Parellele 45' ". I don't know if it's just me or what. But this was disappointing. It's bouquet was very earthy - which I love (The Guy said it smelled more to him like someone's feet and then he launched into this whole thing on Europeans tending to not bathe very often and what if someone's unbathed feet were used to press the grapes, etc. Please, no offense if you're European and reading this - take it with a grain of salt. I myself don't agree). It also smelled a bit like Kalamata olives (another of my food loves). So I thought I was headed in the right direction. Initial mouthful was of Brie (again another preferred food dish for me) and I thought, "Oh, this is good." But then it became suddenly weak, watery, and faded totally away. There was no distinct berry flavor for me. And not much of a finish. It was definitely dry - not enough berry sweetness for me, but heading into it, the Brie and earthy - olive combo got my hopes up in spite of not much full berry flavor.

7.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$11.99 / bottle (on sale from $13.99)
Paul Jaboulet Aine
La Roche de Glun, France

Les Trois Poules Rose

2005
France
100% Grenache

"Wine brings to light the hidden secrets of the soul, gives being to our hopes, bids the coward flight, drives dull care away, and teaches new means for the accomplishment of our wishes." --- Horace (the leading Roman Lyric-Poet during the time of Augustus)


If "Mr. Pink" (Jeff Morgan, http://www.solorosawines.com/) is out there, I want to give you a heads up that I let the "Patel" family (liquor store owners, wine buyers, operators of http://www.getwines.com/, and Sommelier and Sommelier-in-training) know that I am interested in having them purchase your wines for retail at their local store. I don't know if anything will come of it, but I hope they at least make it possible for me to purchase it from them. (I know I can get it direct from your site, but I thought if I could get others interested, the better for you.)

Tonight I tried "Les Trois Poules" Rose. Slightly sweet strawberry followed by a sudden "disappearance of sweetness" and a light bitter edge. It was fairly good as long as it remained well chilled. I had a glass outside with me as I grilled dinner and the humidity and warmth of the air quickly took the chill away. It had a slight metallic taste at that point.

I grilled pork loin that I had marinated all day in "Bone Suckin' Sauce"
(http://www.bonesuckin.com/). The wine tasted "thin" following a bite of meat. But, it was good again following a bite of my parmesean-encrusted mashed potatoes. It was even better when I added my salsa concoction to my pork. (I chopped up cantaloupe, red onion and fresh mint and let it ferment together awhile and then put it over the barbecued pork.) The wine tasted really good following a bite of the the salsa and pork together.

All that said, it was a better Rose than the Tegernseerhof but not as good as the Turkey Flat. I still need a Rose that rocks my world.

7.25 out of 10
13% alc. by vol.
$13.99 / bottle
http://www.les3poules.com/