Valckenberg Gewurztraminer

2006
Germany

Would drink again.

The Bro was here for Labor Day weekend and birthday celebrations. He came with (4) reds and (4) whites. He is not a white wine lover, but he went out on a limb and gave them his best attention. He did not leave a white wine lover, but we did have fun.

I really enjoyed this Gewurztraminer though he did not, nor did The Guy. The Bro's biggest complaint was that he likes a wine he can enjoy on its own without requiring food to enhance the flavor. This wine was on the sweeter side, which was no surprise to me, but it didn't go over well with The Bro or The Guy. We had it with grilled marinated chicken breast, roasted garlic and pecan grains, and broccoli and carrot slaw. I thought it accompanied the tangy flavors of the meal well. And I felt the meal brought out the best in the wine.

Nutmeg, peach and an undisclosed floral scent and flavor. This was my first floral wine experience and I liked it. This wine is flavorful and right on with the budget. Low in alcohol content, it's enjoyable well-chilled on a warm summer day, especially following a LONG hike and you won't get hammered after a couple of glasses.


8.0 out of 10
$10 / 750 ml bottle
10.5% alc. by vol.


Rain it on down.
What else can you throw at me I haven't heard before?
And tear me on down.
I am unforgivable.

So why don't you just tell me
What you really think of me?
And scream me on down
I am so forgettable
Yes, I know.

And shoot me on down
Don't you think this isn't killing me?
But it's no more than I deserve.

I don't care what you call me.
Because it won't hurt any more.

David Ford / I Don't Care What You Call Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybt26QmzZ6U

Thanksgiving Wine and Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer

2006
Columbia Valley
Washington State

Will drink again.

See Thanksgiving wine discussion below.

This was the first time I tried Gewurztraminer. I didn't really care for it the first night I had it. It was reminiscent of cider at first, then some citrus flavor came through in a light finish. But I really enjoyed it more last night with dinner. I had it alone and with dinner (I can't remember what I made but I think it was chicken of some sort) the first night and wasn't that impressed with it. At that point I decided I'd probably not purchase it again.

But accompanying last night's dinner it was a different story. I noticed more fruit and less bite - pear with a little nutmeg or similar spice. I sauteed shrimp in sesame oil with garlic and put that over brown rice. I had a cesaer salad (with garlic croutons) and a pumpkin muffin that I'd made the day before. It was SO good with dinner, especially following the pumpkin muffin, leading me to believe that this might be a good Thanksgiving wine with the sweetness of many traditional recipes served (in our house it's parsnips and carrots, sweet potatoes, acorn squash, cranberry sauce, etc.). I think a much drier wine would be completely drowned out by all the sweetness.

Speaking of Thanksgiving: What to drink? Thanksgiving is the biggest wine drinking day of the year. Researching this very subject I found the more popular wines served are Beaujolais Noveau for red and Reisling for white. The biggest reason for this combo is the typical diversity of the meal itself. So many different dishes are served in various households. But a large part of the meal is associated with the sweeter tasting foods. Reisling goes well with sweeter dishes, as well as salty - and Thanksgiving dinner also tends to have a lot of natural saltiness. Beaujolais is a lighter red and therefore better accompanies many of the lighter dishes served (mashed potatoes, turkey, and stuffing though heavy weightwise, are on the lighter side of flavor intensity). A heavier cab might be wasted on such foods.

Personally, I haven't found a Beaujolais I really like. And, the Noveaus conveniently come out just around Thanksgiving, so from a marketing perspective, it makes sense it's the "recommended" Thanksgiving accompaniment.

In the past, my uncle has traditionally brought Reisling and Sauvignon Blanc before dinner, Pinot Noir and Red Zinfandel with the main meal, and Port with dessert (especially Pumpkin Pie). It's always been a good pick no matter what. This year, sadly, he won't be coming. When I found out there was a chance he wouldn't be coming, I set out on determining what I would serve. I had decided on Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and a Pinot Noir or Syrah. Tonight I received an E-mail from my aunt that my uncle wishes to forward a wine selection in his absence. I will have some of my own wine on hand, but I can't wait to see what he sends and write about what I ultimately serve. Stay tuned.

Interesting Fact: Beer is actually the best accompaniment to Thanksgiving dinner and was the drink of choice at Thanksgiving tables of long ago.

BOTTOM LINE RECOMMENDATION: Drink what YOU like best.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Candlight flickers and glows,
heads bowed for grace.
Toasts are made,
as the wine freely flows.

Sweet, savory food in abundance,
dances on the tongue.
Dishes passed amongst laughter and smiles,
later the first Christmas Carols will be sung.

It is my favorite time of year,
families and friends gathering, warm fires burning,
Thanksgiving is once again here.

7.75 out of 10
$8.99 / 750 ml
12.5% alc. by vol.
http://www.ste-michelle.com/