Non-Traditional Wine Pairings for Thanksgiving

This entry is Part 3 of 3. See Part 1: Wine Recommendations from a Wine-lover and Part 2: Traditional Wine Pairings.

Maldonado Chardonnay, Parr Vineyard, 2007

Here is another wine you will find on my table Thursday.  You can find other Chardonnay’s with the characteristics of this wine, however you will be paying over $100.  This is the best value of any wine I have tried all year.  Unfortunately, the professional critics are giving it high marks, which means it may not keep its price tag next vintage.  Very complex, rich and creamy which makes it very opposite of a traditional white paired with Turkey, but I don’t care.  I love it.  Available at Trelio Restaurant for $25.

HDV, Napa Valley Red Wine, Carneros, 2003

I served this exact wine last year for Thanksgiving.  It was a huge hit.  It is a blend of mostly Merlot and some Cab.  This wine never gets great scores as it is not ever typical of what professionals think a wine from Napa should be like.  It is much more subtle and soft, which actually makes it pair quite well for this holiday.  It has a lot more old world characteristics then new world.  If you allow me to be sexist for a moment, women usually go crazy over this wine.  Always a crown pleaser with the ladies.  Available at Old Doc’s for $55.99.

Ancient Peaks, Oyster Ridge, 2006

Many of you may be familiar with Ancient Peaks.  They make a pretty decent daily drinker at a decent price.  However, I fell in love with this wine the first time I had it.  If a Sommelier paired this with Thanksgiving dinner, he might get fired.  It is much bigger than traditionally paired wines.  You may get away with it with the Syrah and Zin in the blend going well with the cranberry sauce.  However, this crazy blend of Cab, Zin, Syrah, Petite Syrah rocks my palate every time I drink it.  It was my favorite wine I had for the first time in 2009 that was under $50.  Available at Old Doc’s for $43.49.  It is also at other local wine retail shops if wish to pay more at $55.

Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac (Bordeaux), 2001

If you are like me, then you might be intimidated by French wine.  For a long time I ignored it existed for several reasons: 1) I couldn’t pronounce any of them 2) Just didn’t know where to start 3) Didn’t know where to get any.

Luckily, I have had some generous people in my life that have shared wonderful Bordeaux’s and Burgundy’s from their collection with me.  I will start by saying Bordeaux’s are usually only a red meat wine.  You already know I don’t care about that so much.  But let's look at the super high scoring Bordeaux vintages (1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2005).  The ones that we should be drinking right now are probably the 1982’s.  But guess what? I was still wearing a diaper and didn’t have the ability to buy and store those wines for the past 28 years when it was time to buy those.  The ones that are “off vintages” like this 2001 are not bad wines.  They are usually much softer and don’t age as well.  Wait a minute.  Softer to pair with turkey, drinkable early?  Isn’t that what we want for THIS THURSDAY!!!  So this will be on my table.  It is an “off vintage” that will be a little lighter than the Bordeaux’s I love, but will go better with our Bird!  Decant for 2 hours.

The great thing about Old Doc’s is you can walk in (Cedar & Nees) and buy these older vintage wines at no markup! He stores it at proper temperatures for years and you can go buy it years later (at the same price). It is sitting right next to the 2000 vintage that is 3 times the price and shouldn’t be consumed for 15 more years.  $64.99 in the back temperature controlled room at Old Doc’s.  Now go impress your friends and family with your French wine!