Mark Fine from Gerard Bertrand is back in Montana and will be hosting a tasting at the Hamilton Wine and Liquor shop on February 11 from 5-8 pm. You will be able to taste and savor five Gerard Bertrand wines which will be served alongside an array of French hors d’oeuvers. Tickets on sale now are $25 single $45 couple and you can reserve a spot by calling 406.375.0007.
Mark Fine, Sommelier and Magician. Somehow he gets a playing card into a bottle of wine...even while I was looking.
Also, if I know Mark Fine he will also be putting on a show, being a professional magician and all. His acts are really quite spectacular and amazing… I witnessed them the last time he was here at The Keep restaurant. His humor combined with unscripted antics while drinking fine wine is quite the experience… and I warn you now, do not blink or turn your head as you won’t want to miss a moment of his magical tricks… I dare you not to be impressed and you might find yourself a little frustrated racking your brain on how he gets a playing card in a wine bottle!
A little about Mark Fine.
Mark Fine is the US director for Gerard Bertrand Wines. Mark is responsible for all marketing and sales for Gerard Bertrand Wines, the benchmark leader from the Sud de France Region.
Prior to joining Gerard Bertrand Wines, Mark spent 6 years managing St. Supery Vineyards and Winery (from the heart of Napa Valley) as Eastern Division Manager; and Eastern Sales Manager for Firesteed Cellars (from Oregon). For over 8 years Mark was a manager for a large wine and spirits distributor; and for 4 years an importer of Fine Wines from France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and Spain.
Close up of the playing card in the bottle of wine.
Another magic trick. Somehow he bent the stem of the riedel wine glass as he was talking to us about the wine. I hate not knowing how he did it.
“Gerard Bertrand has the same dedication and passion as I do.” “We are both committed to not just selling the wines from Gerard Bertrand, but to educate the consumers and trade about the great diversity the South of France has to offer” says Mark.
Mark has his Advanced Sommelier Certificate (from the Court of Master Sommeliers); a three part test including a blind tasting (the ability to confirm grape varietals, region, and vintage) and an in depth oral and written exam. Also, Mark has passed the Diploma of Wine (an intense written exam from the Master of Wine program).
Mark is currently completing his first wine book for both beginner and wine connoisseur; appropriate for consumers and trade.
Marks other passion is running and cycling. As a competitive athlete, Mark has finished three Ironman Triathlons and more than 40 other triathlons. In addition, Mark has completed over 30 marathons… one of Marks goals is to run a marathon in every state. “The more I run, the more I can eat… and I love to eat… and fortunately I get to eat at some of the best restaurants while drinking great wine (Gerard Bertrand wines, of course!).”
It is that time of year when I typically write about more affordable wines, knowing many of us turned our wallets and pocketbooks upside down and shook them out for all they are worth over the holidays. However, I am going to put it off because last week, I enjoyed a bottle of wine at the Silk Road with a good friend and it has since stuck with me, haunting me even, and all I want is more of it.
It has been awhile since I have had Gigondas. Typically, I drink this varietal at home, as the newer vintages are usually too young to drink and this tightly-knit powerhouse needs at least eight to nine years of aging. However, knowing that the 2007 vintage in the Southern Rhone was touted as the best vintage ever – or something like that – by Robert Parker, I figured I had a pretty good chance that the Domaine les Pallières “Les Racines” Gigondas would be all right.
It was better than that. I was so surprised by how much I loved this wine, it was as if I had discovered Gigondas for the first time. It also paired beautifully with the myriad flavors and textures that adorn the Silk Road menu – which by the way was also fantastic. And thanks to Silk Road wine steward Jeff Taylor, who swayed me to pick this over the Montepulciano.
Gigondas is actually a region in southeastern France that lies between Vacqueyras and Sablet at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains, which is made up of spiky limestone cliffs that separate the Rhone Valley from Mount Ventoux.
These limestone landscapes are a key ingredient for growing grapes in this region, as the vines love to sink their roots into the chalky, calciferous soil. It helps them not only drain water but also be nourished by the rich minerality of this terroir.
However, before the locals started planting vines, this landscape was dominated by olive trees until the destructive frosts of 1929 and 1956. The farmers’ livelihood were largely obliterated by these disasters, so they turned to the vines for income, mixing viticulture with olive- and fruit-growing and found great success in making well-structured, world-renowned wines.
Domaine les Pallières has been situated at the base of these limestone mountains since the 15th century. It was owned and operated by the Roux family, with the land passing from father to son for nearly 600 years. However, in 1998 the Bruiner family, owners of the highly esteemed Chteauneuf-du-Pape property, Vieux Télégraphe, and prominent wine importer, Kermit Lynch, got together and bought the estate, rejuvenating the property from the vines to the winery.
Made from the oldest vines on the estate of 60 years and older, the 2007 bottling “Les Racines” is a blend of 80 percent Grenache, 8 percent Syrah, 7 percent Cinsaut and 5 percent Clairette. I don’t know if it is because it was a great year, or if it is the talents of a great producer, or if it is because I haven’t had the wine in awhile, or perhaps all of the above, but I found this wine incredible. I would go so far as to say that it is the best Gigondas I have tasted. The wine was perfectly balanced. It was robust with memorable layers of spiced fruit, stewed figs and blackberries, licorice, coffee and rose petals on the palate. All this was framed by earthiness, minerals and tannins that created a full-bodied, soulful wine with sensational structure, length and freshness.
Be sure to decant this wine to allow all the brilliant nuances to open up.
As I mentioned earlier, I paired this wine with a multitude of tapas served at the Silk Road and it never disappointed. However, I have since picked up a few bottles and would opt for dishes as robust and rustic as the wine, which is perfect for this time of year. Try beef or game stews, rack of lamb roasted with Provencal herbs, French onion soup and hard aged cheeses. Check this wine out at the Silk Road for $52 or pick it up at the Good Food Store or Worden’s for $36.
If we have ever dined together or I have brought a bottle of wine to share, there is a good chance it was a La Spinetta wine.
I actually hesitated to write this column for fear that you, too, will enjoy these wines as much as I do, prompting an exodus off the shelves with none left for me. However, in the spirit of the holidays, I’ve reconsidered and am happy to share with you. I cannot think of a better time of year to enjoy these very special wines. Should you come to agree, suddenly you will find yourself searching for a glimpse of the Rhinoceros that dons their label when you are peering along the cases at wine stores.
I hope one day soon to return to Italy and actually visit La Spinetta; it would be the first winery on my tour. I look forward to the day I can shake hands with scion winemaker Giorgio Rivetti, who has somehow captured the essence of traditional Italian wines. He produces wines that are classic to their regions and posses the capabilities of longevity (cellaring), while offering the modernistic touch of being riper and more accessible at a younger age. For me these wines are perfection: elegant but approachable, interesting to the palate and beautifully paired with a myriad of dishes. Each of the wines I have had in their line-up is magnificent, rich, compelling and memorable – much like a favorite opera or movie character.
The Rivetti family story begins in the 1890s, when Giovanni Rivetti, grandfather of the three Rivetti brothers, Carlo, Bruno and Giorgio, left Piedmont for Argentina. Like many Italians of that time, he dreamed of returning a rich and powerful man, perhaps even one day able to make a great wine in his homeland.
He never did, though his son, Giuseppe (nicknamed Pin and father to Giorgio) did move back to Italy where he bought vineyards and began to make wine. In 1977, the family took up residence at La Spinetta (“top of the hill”) in Castagnole Lanze. It was the heart of Moscato d’Asti country, home of the rather light and simple dessert wine that they still make today.
After doing very well with their Moscato, in 1985 La Spinetta decided to make its first red wine, Barbera Cà di Pian. After this, many great reds followed and they acquired a great deal more vineyards, expanding over the borders of Piedmont and into Tuscany to make three different Sangiovese wines.
While La Spinetta has over twenty different wines, below is just a sample of what we have in this market. These four are a great sample of what Spinetta has to offer in their portfolio. I would be surprised if anyone couldn’t find something within their portfolio to rave about. You can find all these wines at Wordens.
2009 Moscato d’Asti Biancospino ($20). The bouquet of this wine is beautifully fresh with a hint of melon and a touch of mandarin orange. This wine surprises the palate with its remarkable freshness and brilliant fruit flavors evocative of fresh peach, apricot, pear, apple and honey notes with a touch of sprizt and a nice bit of acid to hold it together. This sweet wine makes for a delicious quaffer since it is so low in alcohol, about 5.5%. Kick off your holiday parties with this as an aperitif or a refreshing splash with brunch. It will also be a lovely dessert with an Italian panforte.
2007 Barbera d’Asti Ca Di Pian ($28). This wine has an intense bouquet with aromas of tart red cherries, blueberry, black currents, plum, cassis and oak. The nose translates to the palate with a blast of fresh raspberry and lots of fresh fruit with pleasant, toasty vanilla notes and balanced by nice acidity and solid tannins. This wine is extremely versatile and is a great bottle to adorn a host’s table or to with a variety of holiday appetizers and soft cheeses. You can also enjoy a glass of this at Caffe Dolce. Try it with their pappardelle with braised beef short rib ragout and pecorino.
2007 Langhe Nebbiolo Starderi ($32). This wine is simply beautiful with notes of crushed flowers, red cherries, spices, sweet fruit and minerally aromas. In the mouth, this wine brings lots of cherry and oak notes with hints of the flowers. This wine is full-bodied with outstanding poise and balance of tannins and acidity that finishes exceptionally well. This wine definitely warrants more elegant dishes, like creamy risotto with porcini, roasted pork loin or chicken cattitore served alongside a creamy polenta with fontina cheese.
2005 Pin Monferrarto Rosso ($50). This Super Piedmont is a blend of 65% Nebbiolo and 35% Barbera. This has long been a favorite of mine and I rarely visit the Ranch Club without a bottle of this at the table. It never disappoints. I also keep a case on hand at all times; when I drink one it is immediately replaced. The engaging aroma of this wine offers currant flowers, tobacco and fresh herbs. The palate is luxurious with a silky texture. Layered flavors of ripe red fruits, dried flowers, mocha and soft oak notes fill the mouth and give way to a perfectly balanced wine. This wine will be a star at your table. Have it with your holiday dinners; it will beautifully complement a roasted beef tenderloin with mushroom ragout or mustard rack of lamb with dried cherry, shallot and Port wine sauce.
These approachable yet age-worthy wines will capture attention and your heart. In the spirit of giving, don’t forget: once you are hooked you can thank me with a bottle of any one of them. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night of drinking good wines!
Every year in November, the French have a tradition of celebrating the harvest by drinking Beaujolais Nouveau, the very young wine made from the first pressings of Gamay grapes picked only a month or two earlier. Over a million cases of this wine make their way to all parts of the world and according to French law; Beaujolais Nouveau is to be released on November 18…the third Thursday of November, just in time for our Thanksgiving feast. While American Thanksgiving Day fare is about as far from French cuisine as mashed potatoes are from fries, still every November our two countries find reason to toast each other’s harvest celebrations. You will also find that many have made Beaujolais Nouveau a Thanksgiving tradition claiming it pairs best with the cornucopia of flavors that adorn your holiday table.
Hamilton Wine and Liquor Retail shop is celebrating the arrival of the Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Nouveau with a tasting party at their shop this Friday, November 19. The Nouveau is being shipped straight from France in a wine cask in which they will raffle off at the end of the party. Tickets are just $12 which includes both the wine tasting and a selection of French hors d’oeuvres. They are also asking each attendee to bring a non-perishable item as this will also be a fundraiser for the Haven House, which is an emergency shelter for children and families.
For those of you unfamiliar, Beaujolais Nouveau is an easy to drink, fruity red wine, best drunk when chilled which makes for a festive wine to be gulped rather than sipped. This year’s vintage is described by Frederic Drouhin as having an appealing red-blue color, a nose evoking red currant and cherry, and refreshing acidity.
To make Beaujolais Nouveau the winemakers use a technique called carbonic maceration, in which whole grape clusters are thrown into a tank. The tank is then sealed, trapping the carbon dioxide from the fermentation process inside. After three weeks in the tank, the free-run juice is collected, filtered and bottled. The resulting red wine is light-bodied, acidic wine with fresh cherry, raspberry and fruit flavors accompanied by a distinctive banana aroma.
If you are a Nouveau enthusiast, I suggest you get your bottle(s) right away as it tends to be snatched up quickly. The Hamilton Wine and Liquor tasting is also a great way to try out the newest vintage and celebrate the harvest season. And when you do get it, don’t wait too long to open your bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau, it should be drunk as quickly as it came! If there are leftovers after Turkey Day, this wine is great for making a coq au vin or beef bourguignon.
To purchase tickets to the release party at Hamilton Wine and Liquor you can call the store at 406-375-9071
The 2006 and 2007 Monchhof Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett Riesling made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wine of the Year and the 2008 does not disappoint. This Kabinett , on the sweeter side, is simply a delightful wine. Rich, sweet perfume on the nose but dry on the palate with pitch perfect balance between fruit and acidity. Juicy citrus, pineapple, pear fruit and spicy peach complement a delicate slate minerality on the finish. It has great weight and texture and pairs just beautifully with a the Thai Coconut Soup recipe below from my friend and fellow oenophile, Twila.
Thai Coconut Soup with Shrimp
Yields 8 cups
2 cups med. grain white rice or Thai sticky rice
1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined. (20-30)
Heat 2 Tablespoons veg. oil and saute’
1 T. garlic, minced
1/4 cup shallots, sliced
1 Tablespoon minced ginger
1 Tablespoon lemon grass, minced or lemon zest
Add and simmer:
4 cups chicken stock
2 cans coconut milk (14 oz each)
1/4 cup fish sauce
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1-2 thai or serrono chili,thin rings
Add shrimp…cook until pink
Serve over rice and garnish with: chopped cucumbers, red bell pepper, chopped dry roasted peanuts, mint leaves, basil, cilantro and then a squeeze of lime. Yummmy!!
On Saturday, October 23rd – 10 am to 5 pm Mission Mountain Winery will be hosting an Ocktober Fest party with a Pinot Noir vertical tasting you don’t want to miss at their beautiful location in Dayton, on the west shore of Flathead Lake.
This event is a part of the winery’s continuing program to educate the community about the pleasurable synergies created by the pairing of food and wine. Keeping in spirit with Ocktober Fest, they we will be serving a large variety of sausages and chocolates. Sausages will come from the local M & S Meats in the Flathead.
While Mission Mountain will be pouring all their wines, the vertical tasting will be the highlight of the festival. A vertical tasting gives you an opportunity to taste many vintages of the same wine side by side for comparison – this is a rare and unique opportunity and a great way to really learn about the nuances of a wine over time. Tom Campbell, owner and winemaker will be there on hand to kick off the vertical tasting with his 1996 Pinot Noir and leading up to his current vintages and even showing a bottle that has not yet been released.
“This tasting provides an opportunity to showcase the Pinot Noir grape and how it has aged and changed over time, especially now that the vines are older,” said Campbell. “Each vintage is remarkably different due to the short growing seasons, the seasonal differences with some being hot and others cold, as well as the influence of the forest fires,” added Campbell. Forest fires were prominent in 2003 and 2006 so those vintages you will want to pay close attention to and see if you can find forest fire nuances since wine grapes absorb soak up the environment.
It’s the social event of the year: local and national wineries and winemakers presenting wine of every vintage and variety imaginable, Missoula chefs offering up all kinds of food, and a colorful backdrop of Montana art created by local artists. It is the Western Montana Wine Festival and it only comes once a year. Though a fundraiser for the Grizzly Scholarship Association, this festival has grown over the past four years to become a major event on the Missoula food and wine calendar. And whether you are a serious wine connoisseur or just an interested novice, this is the place to see and be seen. Held at the Hilton Garden Inn Ballroom from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8th.
The festival also bestows an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to more than 200 wine choices from around the world and a unique chance to learn directly from the winemakers and/or wine representatives. There will also be a limited selection of wine available to purchase and I am sure at a discounted price so be sure to check that out. Below are a list of winery’s/importers who will be making an appearance.
Tickets are $50 per person and the proceeds of this event sponsor the Grizzly Scholorship Association. Tickets are available at the GSA office in the Adams Center, Worden’s Market or online at www.gogriz.com. To order by phone call 243-6481.
WINERIES/IMPORTERS Star Imported Wines
Trinchero Family Estates
Palm Bay Imports
Southern Wine Group
Panther Creek Cellars
Schmidt Sohne
Don Sebastiani and Sons
Trapper Peak Winery
Banfi Vintners
King Estate Winery
Youngs Market Co.
Rodney Strong Wine Estates
Mission Mountain Winery
Fosters/Treasure Estate
Charles Krug and Ck Mondavi
Delicato Family Vineyards
E & J Gallo
Steele Wines
WJ Deutsch & Sons
Constellation Wines
Domain Napa Wine
Antares Wine Company
BEERS Kettle House
Glacier Brewing
Deschutes Brewery
Boston Beer Company
Flathead Lake Brewing
Bayern Brewery
Sierra Nevada
ARTISTS Tim Joyner
Jodi Monaghan
AM Stockhill
Julie Chapman
Mike & Kim Williams
Thom Coffman
Coby Johnson
Silpada Jewelry
This Saturday, October 2nd the Bitterroot is celebrating their 2nd annual Harvest Festival. Travis Goff from Pepper Bridge Winery and sister winery Amavi Cellars will be pouring her wines and pairing them with the culinary creations of Caffe Firenze in Florence. Pepper Bridge is known for their ultra premium, world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines that showcase its Walla Walla Valley estate vineyards. Amavi is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Semillon. In 2005 Amavi’s Cabernet Sauvignon was ranked 42nd in the top 100 wines by Wine Spectator. Amavi, reflects three Latin words: amore, for love; vita, meaning life; and vinum, for wine. Jean-François Pellet is the winemaker for both wineries, they are leaders in the practice of sustainable agriculture in their appellation and since their first vintages these wineries have both received widespread acclaim. If you haven’t tried these wines before this is a great opportunity. For those who have, this is also a great opportunity to check out their newer vintages.
The event will be held at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton from 5:30 -700 pm. The cost is $60 per person for the 5 courses of food and wine, along with a souvenir wine glass. To purchase tickets visit the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce site at www.bvchamber.com. Seating is limited.
Wine Spectator (WS) pops the cork on a new and free app for your iPhone/iPad. Android users no need to fret the app is coming soon. The VintageCharts+ app provides you WS ratings on wines from around the world, with over a decade of vintages. Users can access an index of vintage years by selecting a map or a list wine regions, where there you can choose a specific wine type. In addition to basic recommendations such as “drink or hold,” “past peak” or “drink,” each chart listing opens up to a larger description of the vintage.
Additional features, include in-depth harvest reports for recent vintages, Google Maps of wine regions and a selection of editorial content. The app also provides a live news feed for wine lovers that will be universal to all future Wine Spectator apps. VintageChart+ is the first of an entire suite of cross-platform Wine Spectator wine apps in development.
I have only recently downloaded the app to the new IPad I bought just last week, which I am a little obsessed with right now. In all the wine apps I have come across thus far on my IPad, the +App seems to be the most useful and intelligent app for oenophiles. I am still trying to figure out the WS 360 features as there seems to be some bugs that need to be worked out, which could also be user related! I have struggled with signing up for features and some links are not yet HTML5 (web ready for IPad) – and I seem to struggle to get back to the home page after viewing a story or video as well.
Nonetheless this app is pretty nifty. Having the rating and vintage data at my fingertips will help make some wine purchases much easier and more efficient. Even at restaurants, when perusing through wine lists, this app will help ensure that the $75 bucks you are dropping on a bottle of wine is worth it. With wine regions growing and wineries popping up all over the world this app is sure to be super useful and beneficial to the entire wine world from vintners to distributors, retailers, sommeliers and consumers.
While Wine spectator tends to be one of the gold standards of the wine industry to evaluate which wine to sell, purchase and drink; one needs to remember it is not the final word. There can never be any substitute for your own palate nor any better education than tasting the wine yourself. So use this app as a resource and guide only. I also suggest you download the Wine Ratings Guide app by Nirvino. This app actually allows you to log your own ratings on the wines you like, keeping a log of what you have tasted at your fingertips.
Proprietor and Vice President, Violet Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate in California will be visiting Missoula with her world renowned wines and is teaming up with Chef Pearl Cash for a Vintner Dinner September 30, 2010 at The Pearl Café.
Five wine and food pairings will be presented and Violet will be there to tell about the winery’s fascinating history and discuss the fine nuances of her organically grown and biodynamic estate wines.
Chef Pearl will no doubt exploit the best of seasonal flavors with her French inspired menu that will delight the senses and commemorate a very special evening. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. Reservations are required and limited, so you will need to call the restaurant at 406-541-0231 to confirm your table. Cost is $110 per person, gratuity is included.
Hope to see you there!
Vintner Dinner Menu
• Fumé Blanc 08′ paired with Shellfish Salad – Fennel – Mache – Passionfruit Vinaigrette
• Chardonnay 07′ paired with Rabbit – Sweet Corn Soup – Crispy Chanterelles
• Merlot 06′ paired with Duck Confit Cannelloni – Celery Root Mascarpone – Roasted Radicchio – Herb Salad
• Cabernet 06′ paired with Braised Local Lamb – Lamb Sausage – White Beans – Porcini – Black Kale.
• Violetta Late Harvest 08′ paired with Pears – Pastry – Triple Cream Cheese – Honey – Almonds
It is that time of year when I typically write about more affordable wines, knowing many of us turned our wallets and pocketbooks upside down and shook them out for all they are worth over the holidays. However, I am going to put it off because last week, I enjoyed a bottle of wine at the Silk Road with a good friend and it has since stuck with me, haunting me even, and all I want is more of it.
2009 Moscato d’Asti Biancospino ($20). The bouquet of this wine is beautifully fresh with a hint of melon and a touch of mandarin orange. This wine surprises the palate with its remarkable freshness and brilliant fruit flavors evocative of fresh peach, apricot, pear, apple and honey notes with a touch of sprizt and a nice bit of acid to hold it together. This sweet wine makes for a delicious quaffer since it is so low in alcohol, about 5.5%. Kick off your holiday parties with this as an aperitif or a refreshing splash with brunch. It will also be a lovely dessert with an Italian panforte.
2007 Barbera d’Asti Ca Di Pian ($28). This wine has an intense bouquet with aromas of tart red cherries, blueberry, black currents, plum, cassis and oak. The nose translates to the palate with a blast of fresh raspberry and lots of fresh fruit with pleasant, toasty vanilla notes and balanced by nice acidity and solid tannins. This wine is extremely versatile and is a great bottle to adorn a host’s table or to with a variety of holiday appetizers and soft cheeses. You can also enjoy a glass of this at Caffe Dolce. Try it with their pappardelle with braised beef short rib ragout and pecorino.
2007 Langhe Nebbiolo Starderi ($32). This wine is simply beautiful with notes of crushed flowers, red cherries, spices, sweet fruit and minerally aromas. In the mouth, this wine brings lots of cherry and oak notes with hints of the flowers. This wine is full-bodied with outstanding poise and balance of tannins and acidity that finishes exceptionally well. This wine definitely warrants more elegant dishes, like creamy risotto with porcini, roasted pork loin or chicken cattitore served alongside a creamy polenta with fontina cheese.
2005 Pin Monferrarto Rosso ($50). This Super Piedmont is a blend of 65% Nebbiolo and 35% Barbera. This has long been a favorite of mine and I rarely visit the Ranch Club without a bottle of this at the table. It never disappoints. I also keep a case on hand at all times; when I drink one it is immediately replaced. The engaging aroma of this wine offers currant flowers, tobacco and fresh herbs. The palate is luxurious with a silky texture. Layered flavors of ripe red fruits, dried flowers, mocha and soft oak notes fill the mouth and give way to a perfectly balanced wine. This wine will be a star at your table. Have it with your holiday dinners; it will beautifully complement a roasted beef tenderloin with mushroom ragout or mustard rack of lamb with dried cherry, shallot and Port wine sauce.
Every year in November, the French have a tradition of celebrating the harvest by drinking Beaujolais Nouveau, the very young wine made from the first pressings of Gamay grapes picked only a month or two earlier. Over a million cases of this wine make their way to all parts of the world and according to French law; Beaujolais Nouveau is to be released on November 18…the third Thursday of November, just in time for our Thanksgiving feast. While American Thanksgiving Day fare is about as far from French cuisine as mashed potatoes are from fries, still every November our two countries find reason to toast each other’s harvest celebrations. You will also find that many have made Beaujolais Nouveau a Thanksgiving tradition claiming it pairs best with the cornucopia of flavors that adorn your holiday table.
The 2006 and 2007 Monchhof Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett Riesling made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wine of the Year and the 2008 does not disappoint. This Kabinett , on the sweeter side, is simply a delightful wine. Rich, sweet perfume on the nose but dry on the palate with pitch perfect balance between fruit and acidity. Juicy citrus, pineapple, pear fruit and spicy peach complement a delicate slate minerality on the finish. It has great weight and texture and pairs just beautifully with a the Thai Coconut Soup recipe below from my friend and fellow oenophile, Twila.
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