Wine, etc.: Wines to be thankful for

Kitchens will be abuzz with activity in the next couple of weeks as household chefs prepare for the onslaught of dinner guests. Even the most honorable dieters seem to put aside moderate consumption at the Thanksgiving Day feast as if tomorrow was the start of a nationwide famine. The word "gluttony" comes to mind.

So what? You stuff a turkey - why not yourself too? Mounds of turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes have to be chased by some liquid - why not wine?

Given the challenges associated with this rotten economy, there is more of a compelling reason to share the dinner table with family and friends. The supportive nature of being surrounded by those close to us is often the therapy we need to keep our spirits alive.

Turkey remains one of the best values on the markets and it's healthy too. If turkey is your choice for the festivity, then choosing a wine is relatively easy because of the neutral flavors of fowl.

So here's the deal this year. You have a crowd who may not appreciate an expensive wine? Or do you have a special dinner for a few friends and want to bathe in luxury?

We've got you covered.

Our red choice this year is beaujolais. Made with gamay grapes in France, beaujolais is a fruity red wine that pairs well with turkey because of its simplicity. Don't waste your time on beaujolais nouveau - more of a marketing gimmick than a real wine. Look for one of the crus beaujolais that identifies a particular village, like Brouilly or Morgon. Louis Jadot and Georges Dubouef make respectable beaujolais and most are under $15.

Good red alternatives are pinot noir and zinfandel.

As for white wine, chardonnay is still a good choice. You can spend a significant amount of money on a reserve chardonnay from California or Burgundy, but there are many good reasonably priced chardonnays too.

Here are some other recommendations (check our column on HometownAnnapolis.com for locations):

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir Carneros 2006 ($20). Nice deep ripe cherry nose with a bit of earth and candied fruit. In the mouth this is a nice mediumbodied cherry flavored pinot that goes well with barbecued chicken and pork dishes. Not overly complex, but pleasing.

Frontier Red Lot 82 ($15). Made by the Fess Parker winery, this wild blend of red grapes is a great drink and an even better value. Syrah (76 percent), grenache, cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah and mourvedre go into the wine to give it juicy blackberry fruit with dashes of spice, chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla.

Cat Amongst the Pigeons Grenache 2007 ($13). This fruit bomb is hard not to like at this price. Gobs of simple strawberry flavors.Marc Kreydenweiss Andlau Riesling 2007 ($30). This top drawer riesling from the village of Andlau has lemon and peach notes with good acidity and a distinct mineral thread. A great wine for the turkey.

Chardonnays

You may not think of chardonnay as a refined elegant wine, but there are some terrific ones out there that will make an impression. Although expensive, these wines will wilt away those negative thoughts and mark a special celebration:

The Leeuwin Estate Artist Series Chardonnay 2006 ($60). This is a very elegant wine with pear and ripe peach flavors, excellent balance and very well made.

Louis Latour Le Chardonnay de Chardonnay 2006 ($17). French wine producers rarely identify the grape variety on their wines, preferring instead to use the name of the village where the grapes are grown. Surprising to many, there is a village called Chardonnay in the Macon region that until now has been rather obscure even though it may have been the first to grow chardonnay. What a testimonial this is. It's a beauty and reasonably priced. Generous citrus aromas, tropical fruit flavors, crisp yet round in the mouth. Delicious by itself or a good companion to fish or fowl.

Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2006 ($35). We love the silky, soft feel of this unctuous chardonnay from one of the most respected California producers. Expressive tropical fruit flavors with a hint of lemon and butterscotch.

Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet 2006 ($65). This Burgundy region produces one of the most exotic, refined chardonnays in the world. This one has a lot of elegance with exotic fruit flavors, a floral nose and balanced acidity to complement food.

Patz & Hall Hudson Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay 2006 ($55). The cooling fog of San Pablo Bay gives Carneros a fertile area for some of California's best chardonnay. Patz & Hall, one of the most dependable chadonnay producers we like a lot, scores a hit with this single-vineyard beauty. The producer uses wild yeast and sur lies aging to juice up an exotic, multi-layered chardonnay with bold citrus and apple favors, allspice and clove aromas with a long, clean finish.

Morey Blanc Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2006 ($55). This region is just north of Puligny-Montrachet and offers a bright, young profile with peach aromas and full-bodied tropical fruit flavors.

Talbott Diamond T Estate Chardonnay 2005 ($63). Fog from Carmel Bay cools this Monterey County chardonnay and leaves those lucky enough to afford it with a wine equivalent to most burgundies. Dazzling citrus and pineapple notes with a bold mineral note leads to a melange of tropical fruit flavors with a touch of vanilla on the finish. Great structure for the holiday dinner.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Chardonnay 2006 ($32). In the big and bold chardonnay category, this Washington wine is a steal. Rich mouthfeel, creamy finish and soft tropical fruit flavors with a dash of spice.

Here are locations of wines featured in Wine Etc. The vintages listed in the wine column may not be the same at what is sold in stores. The list is subject to availability and prices listed in the column vary from store to store. Store owners can special order wines they do not carry.

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Do you have a question or suggestion for a topic? Write to the authors in care of this newspaper or e-mail tmar quardt@capitalgazette.com.