Have you already chosen your Thanksgiving wines? Great! If not, there are plenty of articles that offer terrific suggestions at a variety of price points. But how about wines to pair with your leftovers? If turkey pizza, cornbread and chicken casserole, sweet potato bread, grilled cheese and cranberry sandwiches and more are on the menu, consider pouring the following wines (sent as samples) that will level up the weekend-after-Thanksgiving experience. Trust me, “Turkey Day” will be a distant memory.
Picayune Cellars, located in Calistoga, California, offered two wines that I’ll choose again and again. The owner and winemaker, Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf is originally from France – the name “Picayune” means “a little bit” in French. Picayune Cellars is a negociant-style winery and Claire doesn’t own vineyards. Instead, she sources grapes from quality vineyards, uses a production facility for winemaking and pours wines from her portfolio in a dedicated tasting room.
Albarino Rusty Gate Farm 2021 ($34) is of Albarino, an indigenous grape from Spain, that was cultivated in one of only two planted Albarino vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Fermented in French oak, I found intense aromas of citrus and salinity, flavors of rich fruit, spice, and herbs… and bright acidity. Padlock 2018 ($37), Claire’s flagship wine, is an elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. Balanced with plenty of dark fruit notes, food friendly acidity and moderate tannic structure, the wine can be enjoyed throughout the meal, regardless of the dish, and even while cooking!
St. Michael-Eppan Fallwind Sauvignon 2021 ($25) hails from the Oltradige region with its stony limestone gravel soil and cool winds. In fact, the name “Fallwind” means “downdraft” – it refers to the winds that blow over the vineyards each day. Delicate and fresh, I found aromas of pineapple, peaches and a hint of honey leading to a refreshing palate bursting with minerality and lively fruit notes. Nals Margreid Punggl Pinot Grigio 2019 ($20) was intensely aromatic with notes of stone fruit, apricots, honeysuckle and minerality. On the creamy palate, bright acidity lifted flavors of citrus, herbs and chalk. Delicious.
One sip of FEL Chardonnay, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley 2020 ($52) reminded me that when produced “right,” Chardonnay should always be on the table. Bursting from the glass were aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, lemon peel and chalk and on the lush palate, I found notes of green apple, lime zest, mango, a touch of spice, the slightest hint of oak – and of course snappy acidity. Likewise, FEL Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley 2020 ($75), the brand’s signature Pinot Noir, was textured and complex. Notes of dark plums, black cherries, wood and earth on the nose were a rich introduction and led to stunning flavors of dark berries, figs, dates, raspberries, currants, florals and dried roses.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
