November Wine Focus: What'll it be?

[Robin Garr]

Let's hear your nominations! Remember, please, we do best with wines that are fairly easy to find yet unusual enough to generate interesting conversations, and preferably of variety and/or region that will allow world-wide sourcing of the basic wine or at least an alternative close enough for discussion.

In the last iteration of this monthly debate, wasn't there some talk about Nebbiolo/Piedmont for November?

Also I think South American wines came up. Was David Bueker visiting South America in October or something?

I'm going all-in on retsinas. Who's with me? OPA!

Ok, ok. Have we had a Gewürzt month yet? It's still my favorite Turkey Day wine, so I always associate it with November.

There have been huge strides in South Africa so this country should be considered. Some great Rhone Ranger style reds, rapidly improved Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc..I could go on. OH, and Ernie .

I bought two bottles of a South African Gewurz for Thanksgiving dinner so that hits both the Gewurz and South Africa themes.

My first choice would be Rahsaan's suggestion, "Nebbiolo/Piedmont," actually Piedmont/Nebbiolo, as the Piemonte is where the action is. This is timely as Barolo, Barbaresco, and other Nebbiolo Langhes sing with the big birds. You haven't tried them with turkey? Trust me.

But that traditional turkey white wine, Gewurtztraminer, which Tom suggests, would be a good choice, and advice about their residual sugar content would be especially useful as the Alsace ones are so damn secretive about it. Nobody wants to be stuck drinking a near late harvest Gewurtz or one of the wimpier Italian ones with the Thanksgiving Turkey.

[Robin Garr]

My first choice would be Rahsaan's suggestion, "Nebbiolo/Piedmont," actually Piedmont/Nebbiolo, as the Piemonte is where the action is. This is timely as Barolo, Barbaresco, and other Nebbiolo Langhes sing with the big birds. You haven't tried them with turkey? Trust me.

My only concern, Clint, is whether these fairly pricey wines would limit interest from our QPR crowd (which to some extent includes me).

Come to think of it, though, Trader Joe's ...

My first choice would be Rahsaan's suggestion, "Nebbiolo/Piedmont," actually Piedmont/Nebbiolo, as the Piemonte is where the action is. This is timely as Barolo, Barbaresco, and other Nebbiolo Langhes sing with the big birds. You haven't tried them with turkey? Trust me.

My only concern, Clint, is whether these fairly pricey wines would limit interest from our QPR crowd (which to some extent includes me).

Come to think of it, though, Trader Joe's ...

If you do Nebbiolo, that leaves open all the regionals (e.g. Langhe nebbiolo) that are generally in the $15-25 range. If you broaden it to Piedmont, then of course you have plenty of more affordable choices like Barbera, Dolcetto and Fresia. Plus, I suppose Moscato d'Asti would qualify, and that is another affordable Thanksgiving winner from a different direction!

My first choice would be Rahsaan's suggestion, "Nebbiolo/Piedmont," actually Piedmont/Nebbiolo, as the Piemonte is where the action is. This is timely as Barolo, Barbaresco, and other Nebbiolo Langhes sing with the big birds. You haven't tried them with turkey? Trust me.

My only concern, Clint, is whether these fairly pricey wines would limit interest from our QPR crowd (which to some extent includes me).

Come to think of it, though, Trader Joe's ...

Well, we do not all have Trader Joes nearby or $50 for a bottle of young not-ready-to-drink Nebbiolo. I say go with S Africa .

Well, we do not all have Trader Joes nearby or $50 for a bottle of young not-ready-to-drink Nebbiolo. I say go with S Africa .

Surely you have $15 for a delicious young Barbera!

Although I don't want to push too hard, if folks want another region, so be it.

But I don't think price or availability should be the issue with Piedmont, which in my experience is one of the standard regions found in all US wine shops at a range of price points, not sure how that is in Canada. And of course Europe is a different story...

As Rasaan implies, most Barberas are inexpensive enough to make the QPR-focused happy. Dolcetto is even cheaper, and fifteen bucks can do the trick. So Piemonte is full of opportunities for the QPR centered, inluding many modestly priced generic Nebbiolo Langhes in the Barbera price range, some of which are better than a lot of Barolos and Barbarescos. And contrary to its reputation for Barolo-level pricing, there are lots of Barbaresco bargains. This morning I picked up from my neighborhood wine merchant a couple of 750s of young vine 2009 Paitin Barbaresco "Serra" that I encountered at a distributor's tasting last week and found drinking well now and cellar worthy. The price: $29.75. If that's too high to fit into a monthly discussion, then I agree, let's discuss something other than Piedmont.

[Robin Garr]

As Rasaan implies, most Barberas are inexpensive enough to make the QPR-focused happy. Dolcetto is even cheaper, and fifteen bucks can do the trick. So Piemonte is full of opportunities for the QPR centered, inluding many modestly priced generic Nebbiolo Langhes in the Barbera price range, ...

Yeah, I was a little worried about Nebbiolo alone, but broaden it to Piemonte and I think we've got it. Tomorrow's the first, and I'll post something early. Thanks, guys!

Piemonte would be good.

[Robin Garr]

Piemonte would be good.

Piemonte it will be! I'll go ahead and post it now.