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By The Glass
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Thanksgiving dinner
calls for worthy winesLooking for a good red wine for Thanksgiving or the cornucopia of holiday feasts to follow? Amazingly, it is again that time of the year. To make shopping easier, here are some wines well worth seeking out.
2001 Palacios Remondo Rioja "La Vendimia": A very elegant, suave, contemporary Spanish red based on the tempranillo grape that will work as well with holiday dinners as most Californian pinot noirs. At roughly $12 a bottle, how can you go wrong?
2001 Melville Pinot Noir "Estate": From one of California's rising stars for chardonnay, syrah and especially pinot noir. The 2001 "Estate" is very sleek, remarkably refined and sophisticated. It clearly reflects the passion and care this winery has for its vineyard in the extremely cool confines of Lompoc, Calif. About $24.
2001 Bricco Buon Natale Barbera: A bright-eyed and bushy tailed Italian look-a-like from Santa Maria Valley, Calif. The 2001 is very tasty, brightly fruited and zesty, with a slightly rustic, Old World edge. A great value at $12 a bottle.
2001 Ojai Pinot Noir "Santa Barbara": If you haven't had the Ojai wines, you are really missing out. Winemaker/owner Adam Tolmach is making some serious, world-class wines down south, just above Los Angeles. The 2001 has terrific intensity and concentration, with a seamless flow on the palate and an Old World edge that reminds many of Burgundy. At $23 a bottle, it is a terrific buy.
2001 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir "La Bauge Au-dessus": Owner Jim Clendenen is without a doubt one of California's finest pinot producers. Wine critics don't always seem to agree with that, but perhaps they aren't taking the time to fully appreciate finesse. Clendenen's wines are very much about finesse and subtleties. His wines have a lot to say, but quietly. The 2001 La Bauge is such a wine. At $30 a bottle, this is Clendenen at his world-class best.
A toast to you all.
Chuck Furuya, Hawaii's only master sommelier, is a consultant for Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar. This column is a weekly lesson in wine pairing written by a rotating panel of wine professionals.
This column is a weekly lesson in wine pairing written by a rotating panel of wine professionals. Write to features@starbulletin.com
