Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Three Wines--the Key to a successful dinner

Amid all of the preparations for the Thanksgiving feast comes the inevitable decisions about which wine or wines to serve.

We believe the key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner comes in a trio of wines. Consider this--the Thanksgiving feast is probably the largest eating experience most of us have during the course of the year. One wine will just not do it.
Pre-Dinner Whites

Thanksgiving dinner has three great opportunities to pair wine with food.

First, the pre-meal appetizers. The choice here is a light white or and possibly one with some fizz. A Riesling will suit the mood very well. We have also come across a sparkling Muscat which is a nice starter. We are choosing Oregon wines for this part of the meal.

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2013 Riesling - $12
Tulatin Estate 2012 Frizzante - $15

Then for dinner, especially a turkey dinner, we like a medium to light bodied red. Our preference is for a Cabernet Franc or a Pinot Noir. This is where we spend our wine budget for the dinner. This is, after all the main event.

Fess Parker wines
This year we're going to Fess Parker in Virginia for the Pinot Noir.

Fess Parker 2012 Pinot Noir Clone 2A Bien Nacido Vineyard - $55
Fess Parker 2012 Pinot Noir Pommard Clone - $38

We think these will even go with the cranberry sauce!

Finally, comes the dessert. Our choice is a port or port-style wine, but others like dessert wines.

This year the choices are from Virginia.


King Family Vineyards 2010 Seven - $26

Pearmund Cellars Vin de Sol NV - $23

We know, we wrote that three wines will do it--so it is easy, select one from each category. We'll probably take all six just because, as one friend says, "Nothing succeeds like excess."

Can you really ever have too much wine?

We think not. 

-- Bob and Christina Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Wine of the Evening - 2009 Keswick Vineyards Consensus

2009 Keswick Vineyards Consensus
Every so often one of those truly unique wines comes along and just screams: why couldn't there be thousands more cases of this wine.

The 2009 Keswick Vineyards Consensus is one of those wines. I opened a bottle this evening to check its progress and was truly amazed. The winemakers notes say it may be laid down for five years and, well, it has been five years!

The nose remains as vital and exciting as when this wine was blended. How do I know? Because I had a hand in blending this Gold Medal winning wine. I love the smokiness of this wine and many dark Virginia wines. This one is dark, too; no light escapes.

The taste is medium, but complex with some tannins and a good whole mouth taste with some acidity and a hint of minerality and dark fruit flavors.

This wine has been aging in my cellar and I still have a few bottles. It is sad, though, that there aren't more for sale. The wine is at its peak.

-- Bob and Christina Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Wine for the Holiday Gathering


Holiday time is upon us and with it comes the inevitable decision associated with which wines to serve.

There are multiple opportunities to serve wine during the holiday season, whether for meals or social gatherings with friends and family. Each opportunity presents its own special challenges. 

Wines are deeply personal. Each person has their own favorites and even among my wine drinking friends, although we generally enjoy similar wines, we have different likes.

For the holiday gathering I recommend a solid middle of the road white--a Viognier, a Pinot Gris, and maybe a Muscat with a bit of fizz in it. My specific recommendations are:

2011 King Family Viognier - $24
2013 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris - $14
2012 Semi Sparkling Muscat Frizzante Tualatin Estate - $15

On the red side, offer a dark red, shiraz or cabernet sauvignon and a lighter red like a cabernet franc or a pinot noir. 

2013 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir  - $22
2013 F Stephen Miller Shiraz Angel Reserve - $11
2013 King Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc - $24
2011 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon - $13

Keep the prices moderate and figure four glasses per person--you should have enough for the evening that way. Remember, each bottle contains five five ounce glasses of wine. Most people pour heavy resulting in six or seven ounce pours.

Most importantly, though, have fun and enjoy the wine!

-- Bob and Christina Doan, Elkridge, MD