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Give me a T
What you got? Turkey Getting the "right" turkey wine is always a bit tricky. It is going to relate to what your serving with the turkey, along with your own stylistic preferences. Having said that, in terms of red wine, as a basic rule most big, heavy, tannic wines are usually not good matches - especially with the more delicate white flesh. Be it Bordeaux or a Brunello, the tannins from oak aging and dried plum flavours tend to be overpowering. A better idea is to go for a lighter, brighter reds. Gamay when it's done right will work, while a decent Pinot Noir (meaning not in the $10 range) is even better. The latter will usually have some cherry-berry flavours along with good acidity, which is perfect to cut through the gravy. If you are able to find juicy examples of Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, Argentine Malbec, even the occasional Cabernet - they too will also work well.
If you are looking for something less expensive and yet tasty, let me recommend the red trio from the same producer. At a recent survey of new vintage reds from the excellent 2005/2006 vintages, I was impressed with the crisp, gently juicy, medium-light boded, ripe plum, dried strawberry flavours of Bouchard Pere & Fils 2006 Beaujolais Villages (G 665448) at only $13.20. The really nice thing about this 100% Gamay is its harmony and absence of any shrill, peppery, acidity. A definite winner. Beside it the softer, baked ripe plum flavours of the Gamay-based Bouchard Pere & Fils 2006 Macon Rouge (G) makes it a choice for those looking for greater accessibility. Beware, it tends to tighten up in the glass with some breathing. Another good value is the Bouchard Pere & Fils 2005 Bourgogne Pinot Noir La Vignée (G 605667) at $17.75. It is focused on ripe plums and dried red cherries with a medium-light bodied, tangy finish.
In the white wine department, I lean towards a Chardonnay but not ones that have too much tropical and/or vanilla flavour. It must be balanced with good acidity. A great best buy still in Vintages is the single estate Chilean Casablanca Valley Santa Rita 2005 Medalla Real Chardonnay Reserva Especial (V 303628) at $18.95. A big (14.5% alcohol), flavourful white that has a distinctive, intense, rather cedary, rhubarb-tinged, ripe lemon meringue pie nose. On the palate it is intense, well structured, slightly spicy, ripe lemon and key lime pie flavours with a lingering, slightly cedary, high acid finish. Terrific value here.
As a Riesling fan, I find that a dry, albeit ripe, Riesling also hits the spot. For instance, New Zealand's Matua Valley 2005 Marlborough Riesling (G 27078) at only $15.95 is truly terrific, with its rich, mineral tinged, ripe, lemon-melon-apple flavours. Also, a big winner with appetizers.
If note overly dry, some sparkling wines can also work. I was particularly impressed with the tasty, sweet, Tenuta Neirano Brachetto d'Acqui (V 47225) at $16.95 with only 6.5% alcohol making it fairly safe (don't drink a bottle) for those navigating their way home after dinner. It has a fairly deep red dark rosé colour and very attractive, gently sweet, honeyed, ripe, plummy, Muscat nose. Effervescent, sweet and lively with ripe, plummy, Muscat flavours and a crisp finish.
Fruit wines can also be great. Problem is that the fruit wineries have not provided me with updated vintages to taste. As a result, I can't make recommendations. The only one that cut the mustard was the Ontario's Stoney Ridge 2006 Cranberry Wine (V 392191) at $14.95 with 10% alcohol. It has a very bright medium red colour; fresh, bright, ripe crancherry nose and dry, attractive, medium-light bodied, ripe crancherry flavours with a lingering, very faintly sweet, tangy finish. This 2006 vintage is distinctly superior to the 2005 released last December. Here are some still-available recently recommended releases from Vintages: White A recommended best buy is Peninsula Ridge 2006 Viognier (V 662601) at $13.95. This fine effort has a VQA Niagara Peninsula designation and fairly intense, ripe, spicy, Anjou pear nose. Dry, crisp and medium to medium-light bodied with very lively, melon, rhubarb, dried pear and ripe lemon flavours. Rosé Vineland Estate 2006 Pinot Meunier Rosé (V 53470) at $14.95 has a light salmon-pink colour. It has a slightly spicy, juicy, ripe strawberry nose and fairly dry, spritzy, medium-light bodied, slightly sweetish, strawberry flavours with a lingering, crisp finish. Vibrant and quite delicious, it would be perfect served slightly chilled with your turkey. Red From Germany's Baden region comes a perfect Pinot Noir - the estate bottled Salwey 2005 Spätburgunder Trocken Oberrtoweiler Kasleberg (V 43380) at $24.95. Only medium-deep red in colour, it has very attractive, plummy, tangy, ripe red cherry flavours with a lingering, slightly cedary finish. Delicious and ready to drink.
Copyright: Food & Beverage Testing Institute
of Canada 2007 |
For Pinot Noir fans it's going to be hard to beat the classic 
From Ontario, it's hard to beat 
From Chile's I have been especially impressed with the surprising juicy
fruit flavours of 
Lighter and more elegant comes from Italy's Trentino 
I was smitten with another Italian white - the recently released Friuli
Rosé can be very enjoyable as well. There have been a number of
excellent, reasonably priced, Ontario rosés. 
From Spain's Cataluña comes the light reddish coral coloured 
If you want something drier, don't miss 