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WTN: Wines in Georgia for Thanksgiving

PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 9:47 am
by Dale Williams
Tuesday we (myself, Betsy, her mom) made it to LaGuardia without incident. We had excellent burgers from the Pat LaFrieda stand, but no wine (but I was actually tempted/impressed by the lineup at Bar Brace in Terminal D- prices a bit high. until you remember its an airport, but interesting array of Italian wines by the glass). /Flight to Atl
was uneventful, good to be at parents.

Wednesday included a trip to Harrys/Whole Foods and Total, wine prices in Georgia are a big gulp for me, and selection in Alpharetta not terribly broad. But I ended up with a an interesting German, a US PN with familial connections, and a CA CS (trying to do mostly US for Thanksgiving, though I tried for Beaujolais till I realized most f of my choices were DuBoeuf).

Wed night with roast beef, “Asian cole slaw,” baked potato, asparagus, etc the 2007 Togni Tanbark Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. I find Togni’s main estate wine to be the runnerup to Dunn in accessibility, luckily the second wine is more approachable. Black fruits, cocoa, some new oak. I enjoy in a fairly typical CalCab way , but with some structure but am surprised that it basically falls apart overnight. B on night 1.

Thanksgiving of course was the big event. Dishes included turkey, ham, sage dressing, oyster dressing, corn, beans, cranberry relish, cranberry jelly, mashed rutabaga turnips, Brussels sprouts, roasted vegetables (kohlrabi, yellow and red beets, carrots, turnips), sweet potatoes, Caesar salad, pureed squash, rolls, and a bevy of desserts.

2010 Hans Wirsching Iphofer Kronsberg Silvaner Trocken
Grapefruit and pit fruits, mineral, moderate acids, just a hint of sweetness,.quite nice. over couple nights B++

2008 Foris Pinot Noir
I got this because I was wandering Total Wine and spotted this, and remembered Betsy’s late father’s double-cousin’s son (don’t try to chart that!) was owner.
Black cherry, light, fresh and bright, a good turkey wine, that holds up well over following day. B/B+

2007 Kistler McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay
This was sitting in cabinet of my parents’ kitchen since last Thanksgiving, when it wasn’t opened. Didn’t seem damaged, no heat or advanced notes. Vanillin oak,.but good acids and not much in the buttery range. Too oaky for me, but if the oak ever integrated this might be interesting, not gloppy or flabby. B-

Friday we went to my brother’s club,. food was actually quite good, , excellent
calamari and shrimp to start, then I had grouper with chevre grits and salad, along with
a glass of 2011 Berger Gruner Veltliner, light, peas and green plums over a light saline base, pleasant. B
(Betsy had scallops with a very good glass of Godello, that I liked ,more than the GVbut I neglected to note producer. Damn!)

Not a bad few days vinowise, but will be happy to be back to my cellar ( (and NY pricing).
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Re: WTN: Wines in Georgia for Thanksgiving

PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 2:05 pm
by Mark S
Dale Williams wrote:2008 Foris Pinot Noir
I got this because I was wandering Total Wine and spotted this, and remembered Betsy’s late father’s double-cousin’s son (don’t try to chart that!) was owner.
Black cherry, light, fresh and bright, a good turkey wine, that holds up well over following day. B/B+



I didn't know there was a family connection there. Cool. I have respect for Foris when they sent a replacement bottle of a corked upper-end cab blend to me some years after picking up a bottle while passing through the area. That was a class act. Unfortunately they were a little too off the beaten track to visit them during a short trip.

Re: WTN: Wines in Georgia for Thanksgiving

PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:49 pm
by Charles Weiss
Dale,
Like you, I try to do US wines for Thanksgiving (in marked contrast to what usually drink) and also like Gewurz with turkey, so finding a dry one worth drinking is always a challenge. I've found over the years that Foris makes a pretty good one when I could find it.
Charles

Re: WTN: Wines in Georgia for Thanksgiving

PostPosted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 1:27 pm
by JC (NC)
I have a bottle of the Foris Muscat Frizzante and may have some Pinot Noir but if so I did not get the Pinot listed on CellarTracker.

Re: WTN: Wines in Georgia for Thanksgiving

PostPosted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 1:29 pm
by Diane (Long Island)
Dale - I bring wines to my daughter in Minnesota rather than be at the mercy of local stocks. It works best for me that way.

Re: WTN: Wines in Georgia for Thanksgiving

PostPosted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 1:34 pm
by Dale Williams
the familial connection is a bit vague (Betsy has never met the owner) but thought it might make wine a bit more interesting for her mother. I've generally liked Foris's PGris even more than the PN, but not tried the Muscat fizz or the Gewurz, will look for.
Georgia pricing is vicious - this was $25, I generally pay $15-17 in NY.
Dianne, I often bring wine, but this time with Betsy's back surgery and helping her mom I was trying to reduce weight. Of course, on way back I had an extra checked bag- my brother loaded me up with frozen quail, chukar, and pheasant (he was expecting elk from a recent trip, but it didn't arrive in time).
My brother has a cellar, but it's heavy with Cali esp Kistler.
And the Frankenwine was damn good!