Happy Thanksgiving Day, everyone!

[Robin Garr]

Whatever your feast of choice, whatever you're particularly thankful for today, may this holiday be a time of joy and gratitude for us all.

I am surprised no-one here is asking which wines will be opened on this noble day? Over at the other place there are over 100 posts on this subject alone.

[Robin Garr]

I am surprised no-one here is asking which wines will be opened on this noble day? Over at the other place there are over 100 posts on this subject alone.

Well, that wasn't really what I asked, Bob. Just wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I'm not sure what "other place" you mean, but maybe here we're more about friends and family and celebration.

I do hope everyone has wine they enjoy, though. I just came from a place that was pouring Woodbridge from magnums with a traditional feast ... not a geek wine by any measure ... but consumed with good food and good friends, it was fine.

In a few moments Mary and I will go enjoy another gathering with another group of friends. They're not really wine geeks, either, although I expect we'll take something a little nicer to enjoy with people we've known and cared about for years.

I don't know. I know we're here to talk about wine, but it's not always just about the wine, you know?

So be it.

I thought it might be nice to hear which wine forumites are opening for this occasion.

Wishing all a zinderful Thanksgiving!!

[Robin Garr]

So be it.

I thought it might be nice to hear which wine forumites are opening for this occasion.

So, what wines are you opening, Bob?

Probably go with a Zin!

Well, I opened a 2010 Beringer Res. Chardonnay and a 2011 Mendoza Vineyards Gran Res. Malbec with a wild turkey and all the fixins today and although a small and quiet gathering it was a fine feast.

I am the only wine lover in my family. True, DNA only goes so far...so, I can entice my little family with off dry bubbles and anything sweet. Pre-dinner warm up was Dom.Ste Michelle blanc de blancs bubbly; with the duck entree' Torii Mor PN (only me) and dessert wine of 2009 Eiswein from Rheinhessen for them...I was still nursing the PN.

My family encourages my wine explorations and tolerates the wines I thrust upon them...for this I am truly thankful.

Cheers!
JB

Nice times. We did pretty well. First course was 2012 Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay with jumbo lump crab cakes with cilantro/parsley sauce. I almost never drink CA Chardonnay let alone Napa Chardonnay! But my mother-in-law likes the stuff and I had been wanting to see what Arnot-Roberts could do. And we were all pleased. A nice full wine but with plenty of verve and I would definitely drink it again, although given my long list of other wines to drink I probably won't be rushing out to buy more for regular drinking.

Main course was fresh red lima beans (some sort of obscure but delicious variety from farmers market) in a tomato sauce, cornbread, macaroni and cheese (gorgonzola dolce, taleggio, emmentaler and parmesan), sauteed chard and kale, and carrot salad. All went well with 2009 Louis Boillot Chambolle Musigny. Some folks say this wine needs time, and maybe it will be more exciting in the future. But the silky young fruit is plenty fun for me right now.

We had a very nice day yesterday and I hope everyone here did, too. Proud to say we did not go shopping. (I actually read Thanksgiving Day referred to a Black Thursday!!!)
We started with a NV Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne, moved to a 2008 Bishop Creek Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir and then the 2004 Lagier Meredith Syrah from a signed bottle which, as you know, makes the wine taste even better. For the white wine drinkers we had a Picpoul available.

Went to a friend's for turkey/ham and the fixin's. A couple of vintages of Mollydooker the Boxer were served to those interested. Our host/hostess gift was an "anti-Mollydooker" bottle of 2001 Jamet Cote Rotie for them to hopefully enjoy in the future.

CurleyTurkey.jpg

I have recovered enough to contemplate the things I am truly thankful for. Yesterday was spent preparing a massive dinner for 11: munchoids; pumpkin soup, 3 kinds of turkey (stuffed roasted, smoked & BBQ); the usual veggies and 4 different pies. I severed my 2011 Riesling, 2010 Pinot Noir, 2011 Gamay and 2012 Gust of Sun Chardonnay (the latter was opened late during dinner and only one glass was poured for a guest, so I'll indulge a little later and report back with a TN. During dessert, it occurred to me that I totally forgot to cook the Brussels sprouts (nobody noticed), so I will steam and freeze them for a later day.

Howie, recovered from what? Anyway, glad to hear you are recovering. Also, I hope you served your wines rather than severing them. That would have been a waste of good wine!

I took five different wines to a communal Thanksgiving dinner after the noon church service. The first one finished off was the 2009 WILLIAMS SELYEM CENTRAL COAST (CA) PINOT NOIR. Flavors of cherry cola, spices showing strongly on the finish, and perhaps some sassafras. This was good with the turkey and probably with the cranberry sauce although I missed seeing the cranberry sauce on the buffet table so didn't have any on my plate. For a white wine I brought the 2011 PAUL CLUVER GEWURZTRAMINER, SOUTH AFRICA. I didn't like it quite as well as when I first tasted it in the wine shop but others liked it. I have one bottle remaining and will post a note when I open that second bottle. There was a little more than one glass left of the 2009 DOMAINE DE LA CHAPONNE MORGON, BEAUJOLAIS CRU so I finished that at home. Dark purple color; opaque. Pleasant, but seems a bit one-note and lacking in depth. We barely got into the 2007 JOSEPH SWAN MANCINI RANCH ZINFANDEL, RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, CA but I will be drinking it tonight and tomorrow. One guy at church liked it and asked where I bought it (it was from the winery.) I will post notes later this weekend. I also brought a SANDEMAN 20 YEAR TAWNY PORT (Portugal) to go with the pecan and pumpkin pies but most people didn't try the dessert wine so I will have a small pour each day until I finish it. So far I am liking it just fine.
We had probably about 30-40 people at the dinner. Some were celebrating at home with their family members and others were going to another dinner after the one at church. We had one infant and two or three toddlers--one had a turkey hat on briefly--very cute, and another had an orange knit hat that looked like a pumpkin top. We had roast and fryer turkeys, ham, ham with pineapple, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli casserole, cauliflower casserole, collard greens, corn, oyster dressing, pecan pie, chocolate pecan pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie, gingerbread, etc. There were leftovers of many dishes for take home, but not much turkey left.

Howie, recovered from what? Anyway, glad to hear you are recovering. Also, I hope you served your wines rather than severing them. That would have been a waste of good wine!

Woops - Recovering from a day being on my feet, prepping food. No health concerns.

Nice times. We did pretty well. First course was 2012 Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay with jumbo lump crab cakes with cilantro/parsley sauce. I almost never drink CA Chardonnay let alone Napa Chardonnay! But my mother-in-law likes the stuff and I had been wanting to see what Arnot-Roberts could do. And we were all pleased. A nice full wine but with plenty of verve and I would definitely drink it again, although given my long list of other wines to drink I probably won't be rushing out to buy more for regular drinking.

Main course was fresh red lima beans (some sort of obscure but delicious variety from farmers market) in a tomato sauce, cornbread, macaroni and cheese (gorgonzola dolce, taleggio, emmentaler and parmesan), sauteed chard and kale, and carrot salad. All went well with 2009 Louis Boillot Chambolle Musigny. Some folks say this wine needs time, and maybe it will be more exciting in the future. But the silky young fruit is plenty fun for me right now.

That's strange it seems like the Arnot Roberts wines are easier to find on the East coast than here in CA. I really like them but for our store very difficult to buy enough to satify our customers. Little oak + low alcohol. Their Syrahs are very tasty also.

Nice times. We did pretty well. First course was 2012 Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay with jumbo lump crab cakes with cilantro/parsley sauce. I almost never drink CA Chardonnay let alone Napa Chardonnay! But my mother-in-law likes the stuff and I had been wanting to see what Arnot-Roberts could do. And we were all pleased. A nice full wine but with plenty of verve and I would definitely drink it again, although given my long list of other wines to drink I probably won't be rushing out to buy more for regular drinking...

That's strange it seems like the Arnot Roberts wines are easier to find on the East coast than here in CA. I really like them but for our store very difficult to buy enough to satify our customers. Little oak + low alcohol. Their Syrahs are very tasty also.

We have at least 5 of the AR wines here at my local NC shop, and I always had a feeling I would like them, for the reasons you mention. It's mainly a matter of finding the time. And while I'm sure the syrahs are fine value all considered, they are not cheap so that also slows down my urge to finally try them.

Rahsaan, which shop? I will be up in Triangle area Dec. 3 and 4 (ticket for "We Will Rock You") so might pick up a couple to try although I am trying to slow down on wine purchases until spring.

Rahsaan, which shop? I will be up in Triangle area Dec. 3 and 4 (ticket for "We Will Rock You") so might pick up a couple to try although I am trying to slow down on wine purchases until spring.

Cave Taureau. They have this Chardonnay, a couple Cabernet Sauvignons, a couple Syrahs, and maybe one other.

Thanks for the info. That was my guess. The thing I don't like about shopping at Cave Taureau is the parking situation. Sometimes I luck out and find a nearby parking spot and sometimes I don't.

Thanks for the info. That was my guess. The thing I don't like about shopping at Cave Taureau is the parking situation. Sometimes I luck out and find a nearby parking spot and sometimes I don't.

FWIW, there is a lot behind the shop on Ramseur, for which they will validate during the week (weekends and evenings it's free).