I think that over the last couple of years, everyone has jumped on board with the whole Zinfandel (the red variety) with Thanksgiving idea. Zinfandel works well because it is quite jammy and juicy with some spiciness which is a nice compliment to the dry turkey. I do not care how proud your mom, grandmother or wife is of her bird, turkey is a dry meat. Also, the vast array of flavors in the meal itself seem to match up well with this wine. The only exception is cranberry sauce... I am not sure if any red can stand up to this beast. That is where the white such as gewurztraminer or Riesling comes into play. I am also quite convinced that grenache has a place on the Thanksgiving table even more so then the traditional pinot noir. Whether it is a garnacha from Spain or a southern Rhone red made predominately of grenache, I feel that the spice and richness of these wines would be an excellent compliment. That being said, here are just a few suggestions to help make your shopping just a little easier.

 ZINFANDEL...

2008 Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel... 21.99
This baby lives up to all the hype of zin. Rich and jammy with notes of dark raspberry, anise and black pepper. This gem is hedonistic but certainly not over-the-top. I haven't seen the Wine Spectator's Top 100 for 2009, but there is a good chance this one is in there so get it while you can.  (As of this article, I saw the Top 100 and did not see the Seghesio... could have missed it. #1 wine is not even available on the market...Why do they do that?)

2006 Klinkerbrick Old Vines Lodi Zinfandel... 16.99

Now this is an incredible deal in zinfandel. You do have to decant this one, but once it opens up watch out. This zin is intense with vibrant blackberry, dark cherry and some chocolate tones. There is actually some acid to this puppy and it will be a perfect match for food. The key is to let it open up because at first blush it is a tad tight. The best bang for the buck I have found in awhile.

PINOT NOIR...

2008 Montoya Monterey County Pinot Noir... 11.99

A lot of people love to have Pinot Noir with Thanksgiving. The light pinots are a nice compliment since they are not overbearing. Certainly a contradiction in approaches when you compare it to zinfandel. That is why I like this pinot.  A little juicier then most pinot noirs, yet it shows all the proper elements. Ripe strawberry and raspberry notes come through nicely on silky smooth tannins yet this pinot is not ripe.... just has that nice riper feel on the palate. This is new world pinot for sure, and very well done. A winner, winner for turkey dinner.

OTHER RED...

2008 J Lohr Wildflower. Valdiguie... 7.99

I am really jazzed about this wine. I have always liked it, but this vintage rocks! A few years ago they called this Gamay Beaujolais. The FDA stepped in and told producers that they could no longer use this made up name and had to call it by it’s varietal... Zap! Valdiguie! This wine took me back to the days when my mom made plum butter. I have asked around and no one seems to know what I am talking about. My mother made something like plum jam with spice in it like cinnamon, nutmeg and ... well you get the picture. This wine fills your palate with crushed black plums and warm spices. The tannins are very smooth but there. The finish on this wine is pleasant and decently long. This wine is going to be on my table for Thanksgiving and I am very curious to see the reaction of my guests... I believe it will be one of their favorites.

WHITES...

2007 Highway 14 Columbia Valley White... 9.99

This is a blend of pinot gris, chardonnay and viognier and is surprisingly rich and viscous especially considering this silly price. I thought this would be a nice addition to Thanksgiving.. a little stretch to the wild side. Smokey elements on the nose with hints of honied peaches and white flowers..(Imagine that with a stuffing filled with wild mushrooms and oysters. Wow!) Nice weight on the palate with notes of pitted fruits and anise leading into a finish of toasty pears and hints of after dinner mints. I am drooling on my keyboard as I write this out. All the elements of this wine match up nicely with many of the dishes served during the Thanksgiving meal. Don’t let the ugly label fool you, this is great wine at a super good price.

2008 Clean Slate Riesling Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Germany... 9.99

In most cases it is hard to go wrong with Riesling, especially when you buy one from Washington State. It is a little different story when you go into other regions. Sometimes you can get one with heavy petroleum notes that may be off-putting to many people. A lot of times it reminds me of brand new rubber boots. Your Thanksgiving meal is not a time to take chances like this. Clean Slate is quite simply a perfect Riesling if you want to satisfy everyone at the meal. Very clean and fresh on the palate with the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Notes of peaches come through nicely on an intense balanced palate followed by hints of minerality. This wine lingers on the palate for some time. Riesling seems to be the no-brainer wine for Thanksgiving. But make sure you have a red around for those “I don’t drink white wine” folks.

2007 Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Alsace France... 16.99

Like the folks who will only drink pinot noir with Thanksgiving, the folks who drink white prefer gewurztraminer. That being said, how many of you have tried a gewurz from Alsace? I am sure that there are a few of you who have, but let’s admit it. It is real easy to walk over to the Washington gewurztraminer section and pick out a decent one for around seven bucks and problem solved. Right? I am here to tell you that with all the effort you put into this fabulous meal, why not bump up the level of quality you put into the purchase of your wine? This gewurztraminer from Lucien Albrecht will blow you out of the water! This one jumps out the glass, smacks you in the face and says “ Hey, look at me”! Very intense on the palate with loads of nutty flavors along with tropical and pitted fruit notes that coat your palate and linger on and on. The balance of fruit and acidity (yes, I said acidity) is amazing leaving your mouth clean and refreshed in the end.  I cannot remember the last time I got this excited about a gewurztraminer but as I dive into this region of producers, I am sure it will not be the last. This wine will compliment every aspect of the meal, and even though it is a star onto itself it will gladly sit back and let the meal take the stage.

Well, there you go along with just one little side note on reds. I am thinking that grenache based reds from the Rhone valley in France might be the next zinfandel or pinot noir for Thanksgiving. These wines can be light like a pinot or a little heavier like a zin depending on the wine making style and producer. I am going to play around with this at my dinner table going with a Gigondas,  Vinsobres Cotes-Du-Rhone Villages or a red from Rasteau. I will let you know my thoughts on this afterward.
Have a great Thanksgiving with your  family and if you have any experiences you would like to share, post them on Stan’s Wine Group www.facebook.com.  

You and I are taking the “Snob” out of wine.   Stan