Jane's Weekly Wines 
from the Atlanta Wine School

PRINT AND GO VERSION
November 9th, 2006
Thanksgiving
	
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Graham Beck Brut Rosé NV
Western Cape, South Africa

Medium-bodied dry sparkling rosé; medium coppery color. Yeasty aromas with a 
touch of honey--think warm brioche with honey--backed up by red fruits; 
full-throated red fruit flavors, with a crisp, long finish. Medium persistent 
bead. Nice depth of flavor, rich and complex. Grapes: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, 
whole-bunch pressed together--a bit unusual. At least 36 months on lees, 
accounting for its considerable complexity. Serve moderately chilled, 
about 50 degrees, in tall tulip-shaped flutes. 

All sorts of appetizers: crab cake with Rémoulade sauce; shrimp/crab/red 
pepper mousse; Thai-style shrimp with lemongrass; crawfish salad; 
whole-grain mustard lemon shrimp; curried chicken or shrimp salad; 
Serrano ham. The rest of the meal: roast turkey (especially the dark meat); 
classic bread stuffing or sausage stuffing; roast Cornish hen with 
crabmeat/bread stuffing; roast duck with bread stuffing studded with dark dried fruits

Georgia Crown
$19
90

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Morgan Finot Gris R & D Franscioni Vineyard 2005
Santa Lucia Highlands, CA

Medium-bodied dry white wine; pale straw. Clean white fruit aromas; sweet white 
fruit (melon/pear) favors with a touch of the taste of honey and definite minerality, 
crafting a complex and flavorful wine. Clean flavors, long finish, citrus zest notes 
throughout. A wine for all palates. Whole-bunch pressed. Cold fermented in stainless 
steel preserves fruit flavors. 2005 a cool vintage. Serve moderately chilled, 
about 55 degrees, in tulip-shaped white wine glasses. 

Crabmeat cocktail; grilled garlic shrimp; shrimp/crab/red pepper mousse; 
crab cake; grilled bacon-wrapped scallops with honey mustard/mayonnaise 
dipping sauce; crabmeat-stuffing in roasted Cornish game hen; deep-fried Cajun 
turkey breast with apple/cranberry chutney. Aftermath: lightly curried turkey 
or chicken salad; turkey tetrazzini. One flavor it didn't like was tarragon. 

Atlanta Wine Wholesale/NDC
$16
91

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Gunderloch "Diva" Riesling Spätlese 2004
Rheinhessen, Germany

Medium-bodied slightly sweet (4% residual sugar) white wine; medium pale yellow. 
Delicate aromas of pear with very slight diesel character (typical of Rieslings as 
they age); sweet white fruit, focused on pear, with peachiness, and some citrus. 
Fairly straightforward delicious, juicy fruit. Perfect for anyone preferring a 
sweeter wine for Thanksgiving. Easy alcohol: 10%. Convenient screw cap closure. 
Serve slightly chilled, about 55 degrees, in tulip-shaped white wine glasses.

Crab cake with Rémoulade sauce; Serrano ham with pear; lightly curried shrimp 
or chicken salad (excellent); pumpkin or squash filled ravioli, brown butter. 
Rest of the meal: roast Cornish hen with crab meat/bread stuffing; roast 
turkey (especially white meat); slightly spicy deep-fried Cajun turkey. 
Other stuff: Asian fare with moderate spice.

Prestige Wine Wholesale
$19
87

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J. Vidal-Fleurie Côtes du Rhône 2004
Côtes-du-Rhône, France

Medium-bodied dry red wine; medium garnet red. Somewhat shy initial aromas develop 
as the wine aerates; flavors hit on black cherry, while the mid-palate picks up 
some brown spice to add to the red fruits. Lovely weight and texture, with easy 
tannins and a long finish. Should have broad appeal for many palates. Grenache 
noir dominates (60% in this wine) Côtes-du-Rhône, an appellation declared in 
1937 but Syrah (30%) and Mourvdre (10%) also play roles. Serve moderately cool, 
about 60 degrees, in medium tulip-shaped glasses.

Pâtés and terrines; mushroom ravioli with garlic, olive oil-butter sauce and 
fresh parsley; salami and similar cured meats; grilled ham steak or baked ham; 
roast duck; rosat turkey with whole berry cranberry sauce and bread stuffing; 
roast pork loin stuffed with dark fruit bread stuffing; creamy blue cheeses 
(such as Cambozola)

Georgia Crown
$11
89

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Brac de la Perrière Domaine des Gatilles Chiroubles 2003
Chiroubles, Beaujolais, France

Light- medium-bodied dry rd wine; medium dark cherry red with violet tones. 
Aromas of dark cherry and spice lead to refined red fruit flavors, with a 
spice-rich, full-flavored mid palate. Easy tannins. Long finished. 
Well-integrated components. Chiroubles, one of the nine cru Beaujolais, is an 
ideal introduction to the genre. A wine to enjoy, not to discuss. 
Grape type: Gamay. From a wicked hot vintage, well done! "Gatilles" are tiny 
lizards that populate the vineyard's almost 15 acres. Serve moderately cool, 
about 60 degrees, in medium tulip-shaped red wine glasses. 

Smoked liverwurst, grilled ham steak or baked ham, roast turkey with cranberry 
apple chutney, roast pork loin with dark fruit bread stuffing, deep-fried 
Cajun turkey, roasted boneless turkey breast stuffed with ham and Fontina 
cheese; grilled Cornish hen brushed with melted dark fruit jam thinned with 
red wine; firm aged cheeses

La Fayette Selections
$19
91

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Churchill's 10-Year-Old Tawny (NV)
Oporto, Portugal

Full-bodied sweet dessert wine; medium ruby amber color. Aromas of toffee 
and caramel brown spices; silky-textured with brown spice, caramel and 
toffee flavors.  Nice depth; good acidity. Balanced. Grapes: Touriga Nacional, 
Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Cao, all from 
Grade A vineyards Average 10 years in wood. 
Serve moderately chilled, about 50 degrees, or at cool room temperature, 
about 60-65 degrees, in small fluted glasses. Family-owned Churchill's 
was founded in 1981, one of the youngest of the Port houses.

Serve chilled as an aperitif, perhaps with liver pâté or foie gras. 
For dessert, with hazelnut- or almond-studded milk chocolate; creamy 
blue cheeses (Cambozola especially and hard cheeses (Manchego/ Parrano/Cheddar); 
dried fruits; nuts. Also nice with pumpkin pie; pecan pie; apple strudel; 
fig/coconut bars.  

Grapefields
$30
90