Jane's Weekly Wines 
from the Atlanta Wine School

PRINT AND GO VERSION
December 21st, 2006
Special Holiday Dinner Wines
	
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Laetitia Brut Cuvée NV
San Luis Obispo County (54.2%) and Santa Barbara County (45.8%), CA

Medium-bodied dry sparkling wine; medium pale straw. Delicate white fruit 
(pear/melon) aromas; flavors showcase white fruits with a finishing citrus edge; 
nice acidity, yielding a long, crisp finish. Complex and elegant. Small, 
persistent bead. Grapes: Pinot Noir; Chardonnay; and Pinot Blanc. 
Awesome value. Serve chilled, about 45 degrees, in tulip-shaped flutes.

Great holiday brunch wine: eggs Benedict; shrimp and scallops in garlic 
cream on grits; corn (or other) bisque; spicy crawfish salad; curried 
chicken dishes, such as Country Captain and curried chicken salad; liver 
pâté; seafood mousses; delicately smoked salmon. Aperitif for Christmas or 
New Year's dinner: taramosalata; marinated artichokes; crab cakes; lightly 
salted potato chips and French onion dip; pistachios; triple cream cheeses

Empire Distributing
92
$22

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Arnaldo Caprai Grecante D.O.C. 2005
Colli Martani, Italy

Medium-bodied dry white wine; medium straw.  Pear/white melon fruit aromas with 
companion flavors that bloom gracefully in mid palate, then continue into a clean, 
crisp, long finish. Well balanced. Not complex, but very pleasing and well done. 
Classic food wine in the Italian tradition. Grape type: Grechetto. Stainless 
steel. Drink now; not a keeper. Serve well chilled, about 45 degrees, in tall 
tulip-shaped white wine glasses.

Great food wine: Smoked salmon mousse; white asparagus hot with melted butter 
or cold with garlic mayonnaise; marinated artichokes (surprise!); grilled 
garlic shrimp with Rémoulade; grilled bacon- or pancetta-wrapped scallops 
with (or without) honey mustard mayonnaise; shrimp, scallops and grits with 
garlic cream sauce; veal ravioli or gnocchi with butter and fresh herbs; 
roast turkey breast (even cold with homemade mayonnaise); mild triple cream 
and firm aged cheeses.  

Empire Distributing
90
$19

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King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2004
Oregon

Medium-bodied dry white wine; medium pale yellow.  Aromatic pear/Asian pear apple 
characters; flavors pick up a suggestion of brown aromatic spice, along with white 
fruits (pear/melon). Clean, elegant, long finish. Stainless steel; lees stirring. 
Silky texture. Lovely work. Certified organic. Grapes from blocks of 10-11-year-old 
vines, all estate-grown fruit. Serve moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in large 
tulip-shaped glasses.
 
A full meal deal, but prefers delicate flavors: Seafood (shrimp or crab) mousse; 
crab cakes; Lowcountry shrimp and grits with garlic cream sauce; white asparagus 
with (or without) homemade mayonnaise; butternut squash- or pumpkin-filled 
ravioli with unsalted butter and minced Italian parsley and chives; grilled 
chicken apple sausage; poached or baked salmon; roasted turkey breast; lightly 
curried chicken or turkey salad; ripe brie de Meaux

 National Distributing Co.
91
$22

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Glen Carlou Grande Classique Meritage 2002
Paarl, South Africa

Full-bodied dry red wine; deep purple red.  Elegant, compelling, intense aromas of 
dark fruits, especially plum and black currant; with flavors that evoke the same 
fruits. Silky but definite tannins. Good acidity keeps finish flowing. 
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Malbec; Cabernet Franc; Petit Verdot. 
Use of new and one- and two-year-old French oak leaves no heavy oak imprint-
the right way to go. Awesome value. Optimal condition now through 2010, 
according to winery. Serve moderately cool, about 65 degrees, in tulip-shaped 
Bordeaux glasses. 

Smoked liverwurst (Patak); peppered liver pâté; rilletes of pork or duck; 
roast duck; rack of lamb; rib roast of beef; furred game; creamy blue cheeses, 
such as Cambozola, dark chocolate with cherry or other black fruits

Empire Distributing
91
$21

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Ferrari-Carano Trésor 2002
Alexander Valley, CA

Full-bodied dry red wine; deep purple red.  Aromas launch with fresh ripe dark 
berry fruit, especially black currant (cassis), plum, and black raspberry; 
then acquire a singularly vinous character, with hints of juniper berry. 
Flavors, embraced by soft tannins, capture the same dark fruit characters. 
Lively, luscious fruit, with a clean, snappy finish. A blend of all Bordeaux 
varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet 
Franc. Mostly new French oak. Serve at cool room temperature, about 60 
degrees, in large, tall tulip-shaped glasses. 

Rilletes of duck or pork; peppered liver pâté; prime rib; rack of lamb; 
beef or lamb steak; lamb chops; Stilton cheese; dark chocolate with cherry. 

Georgia Crown
91
$50

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Taylor's 20-Year Tawny (NV)
Oporto, Portugal

Medium-bodied sweet red wine; translucent medium amber-edged ruby color.  
Aromas of caramel, toffee, burnt sugar, with flavors that capture what the aromas 
promise, with suggestions of crème brûlée, toffee and dark aromatic spices 
(cinnamon; allspice; nutmeg). Rich, but with a crisp, clean finish. 
The traditional grapes: Touriga Nacional; Touriga Francesa; Tinta Roriz; 
Tinta Cão; Tinta Barroca. Hefty alcohol: (20%), so serve small portions 
at cool temperature, about 60 degrees, in small tulip-shaped glasses.

Milk chocolate with almonds or hazelnuts; crème brûlée, fruit cake, pound 
cake, steamed puddings; panettone, stolen; fruit cake, panettone, pound cake, 
fig almond cake, Stilton cheese with walnuts, dried fruits 

National Distributing Co.
93
$47