Tasting Thanksgiving Wines with Food: Thanksgiving Eve (2017)

When choosing wine for Thanksgiving, go with a combination of white and red. There are so many different dishes  so a variety of flavor profiles works best.  Plus you will guests with different wine preferences.

In general, chose wines that are higher in acid, avoid harsh tannin and strong oak, a little residual sugar is good as is low alcohol.  Say yes to herbaceous and bright wines. Below are wines my friends Dianne and Jan sampled with me on November 22, 2017 along with our tasting notes and other information about the wine.  I purchased all of the wine at Trigs in Minocqua, WI.

The Varietals and The Wines


Gewurztraminer. 
P. J. Valckenberg Gewürztraminer 2015, abv 10% $14.00

Gamay.
Domaine de la Charmoise Touraine Gamay 2012 Loire, France 12% abv $21.99

Cabernet Franc
Domaine Filliatreau Saumur Champigny 2015
Loire, France abv 12.5% Medium body. $22.99

Maguis Cabernet Franc 2014 from Colchagua Valley, Rapel Valley, Chile 14% abv $19.99

Grenache
M. Chapoutier Banyuls (500ml) 2009

Languedoc-Roussillon, France $24.99 16%abv  90% grenache $24.99

NOTE: some other wine varietal options: Viognier, a sweet Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Pinot Noir.

The Menu

Tasting Notes
First up was Gewurztraminer. We tasted this one from the Pfalz region of Germany. P. J. Valckenberg Gewürztraminer 2015, abv 10% $14.00.

I would say medium sweet, low tannin, medium body, low acid, medium finish. Beautiful lemon color with aromas of rose petals and nectarines. The taste was of honey, melon, ripe pineapple and pear. Ever so slight cinnamon spice. 

This wine paired perfect with the Curried Carrot and Apple Soup.  The soup actually gave the wine a little more zip.

Gamay seems a perfect Thanksgiving wine. We tried. Domaine de la Charmoise Touraine Gamay 2012 from the Torraine region in the Loire Valley in France 12% abv $21.99

I just smile when I smell a gamay wine.  There is an intensely sweet smell of red cherries, banana and bubble gum, Bazooka to be exact. 

There is much more intensity in the taste. Off dry, medium tannin and acidity, light body.  A beautiful ruby color.  Lots of wonderful fruit flavors.  For me it was red cherry and blackberry with so spice and a little green pepper.

I liked this wine with the cranberry salsa and cream cheese.
Remember to serve slightly chilled.



Cabernet Franc
We tried 2 very different cabernet franc wines, one from France and one from Chili.

My DeLong Wine Grade Varietal Table describes the cabernet franc grape as aromatic, green peppers, cherries, black currant, pencil shavings

Domaine Filliatreau Saumur Champigny 2015 from the Loire, France ABV 12.5% Medium body. $22.99

I am working hard to develop an appreciation for this wine.  I am put off by the aroma.  For me I am hit by barnyard, leather and mushroom. The flavor is better with some blueberry, stewed fruit and white pepper. So somehow I am missing the cherries, strawberry and black currents that so many others taste.

I actually liked this wine much better with the pasta dish, Pasta with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce & Toasted Hazelnuts.  Jan and Dianne appreciated this wine far better than I did. 

Note: this wine could also be served slightly chilled.

Maguis Cabernet Franc 2014  from Colchagua Valley, Rapel Valley, Chile. 14% abv $19.99

I much preferred this cabernet franc. The nose was blueberry, licorice, 
a little vegetal with a hint of nutmeg, It is much drier than the French 
cabernet franc but no leathery barnyard taste. The taste is more black
licorice, blueberry a little coconut. I think the 8% Petit Verdot gives it a
hint of black pepper spice and adds a little violet to the aroma.
The tannin were much more intense as this wine spent 1 year in oak.  
You will also find high acid

Also a good pairing with the pasta.

Grenache
Now for dessert. M. Chapoutier Banyuls (500ml) 2009 Languedoc-Roussillon, France 
$24.99 16%abv  90% grenache 

This was a perfect way to end the wine tasting. We paired this with a caramel apple gelato

but it really didn't need a food to compliment that wonder taste. There were warm aromas of blueberry jam and stewed fruit. On the palate it was rich, full of fruit baking spices and chocolate.

I would also love to try this with blue cheese someday.

Test your knowledge of French regions and wine varietals.