This time of year the question arises what to serve with Thanksgiving Dinner. There is advice in every newspaper and magazine you happen to open. What goes with such an array of flavors? Well the truth is that it is more wine than they would have you think. Sure a few wines might not be the best choices but a vast number of wines fit the bill just fine. Stop by the shop this Saturday when we’ll be pouring a flight of wines that we think will match your meal to a tee.
Case Bianche Prosecco Superiore DOCG Cognegliano Valdobbiadene Extra Dry $16
There is never a wrong time for bubbles and the Case Bianche is a very high quality Prosecco that has all the right letters. DOCG. It is round and supple with a dry-yet-fruity medium body, tangy green apple and mineral notes.
2013 L’Ecole Chennin Blanc $16
From our home boys in Walla Walla, this fresh and vibrant Chenin Blanc shows abundant expressive aromatics of jasmine, passion fruit, and orange blossom with flavors of star fruit and apple on a balanced, crisp mineral finish. They have produced this old vine, crisp and aromatic Vouvray-style Chenin Blanc since 1987.
2012 Soléna, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Grand Cuvee $24
The Grand Cuvee is a combination of vineyards from though out the Willamette including Domaine Danielle Laurent (Yamhill-Carlton), Grand Cru Estates (Yamhill-Carlton) Hyland (McMinnville), Zena Crown (Eola-Amity Hills), Willakia (Eola-Amity Hills), Bailey (Chahalem) and Monk’s Gate (Yamhill-Carlton). It has a full fruity nose with a hint of violet. The brightness shows up front the vivacity of the fruit with layers of black and red cherry. The structure is round with just enough tannin on a light creamy coffee roast finish.
2011 Giralamo Russo, a Rina Etna Rosso $25
Nerrello Mascalese
Russo’s a Rina is a truly delicious wine grown on the north slopes of Mt Etna. It has a nose of red fruits, pepper and wild flowers along with flavors of cherry, pomegranate, red current and a smoldering hint of smoke. One sip and you’re hooked.
2011 Soos Creek Sundance, Columbia Valley Red Wine $20
38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Franc
Sundance Red Wine uses fruit from the Charbonneau and Ciel du Cheval Vineyards. The wine is medium bodied, with a delicious purity of fruit with cornucopia of flavor nuances — juicy cherry, raspberry, herb, spice box and cedar notes.
Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.