Tasting Room
Thanksgiving WhitesWINE OF THE WEEK
Conundrum
2005 White Table Wine, Rutherford - Other white wines ($28)
A great turkey pick. The sweetness and weight of the wine marry well with the bird. Showy,with tropical flavors. Notes of orange blossom, oak and anise. Balanced.
2004 Alsace - Gewurztraminer ($18)
An appealing wine. Notes of honeysuckle, white peach and spice. A seamless pairing with pumpkin pie.
2005 Anderson Valley - Gewurztraminer ($17)
Floral aromas of honeysuckle. Flavors of Fuji apple, honey, mint and spice. Good with turkey. Too dry for pie.
2005 Anderson Valley - Gewurztraminer ($14)
Aromas and flavors of melon, vanilla and mineral. Tastier with pie where it serves as a good palate cleanser.
2005 Alsace - Gewurztraminer ($19)
Controversial. Proponents said it was floral and charming. Detractors said it was too cloying. Divided on turkey issue.
2005 Sonoma Coast - Pinot Gris ($20)
A crisp palate cleanser style. Flavors of pear, green apple and mineral. An average match with turkey.
2005 California - Viognier ($9)
Showy. Notes of peach, pear, mandarin orange, orange blossom and lemongrass. Panel divided on turkey issue.
2005 Russian River Valley - Pinot Gris ($15)
A refreshing pinot gris. Notes of grapefruit, pear and lemon zest. Nicely balanced. An average match with turkey.
2005 Rheingau Spatlese, Germany - Riesling ($36)
A luscious honeyed riesling. Notes of apricot, melon and orange blossom. Tasty with pumpkin pie.
2005 Mosel Kabinett, Germany - Riesling ($20)
A lovely riesling. Floral, with notes of tangelo, Meyer lemon, orange peel and honey. A great turkey and pie match.
2005 Russian River - Gewurztraminer ($35)
Dry and balanced. Notes of apple, pear and mineral. Slightly undermined by green notes.. Tasty with turkey.
TASTING PANEL: Dan Kosta, Kosta Browne Winery; Tom Simoneau, KSRO's Wine Guy; Stefen Soltysiak of Rodney Strong; radio's Ziggy Eschliman, the Wine Gal; and Press Democrat wine columnist Peg Melnik.
CRITERIA: The panel samples eight to 12 wines a week in a blind tasting. Wine of the Week is based on quality, value and availability and is not necessarily the top wine of the tasting. Price is suggested retail; actual price is often lower.You can reach Staff Writer Peg Melnik at 521-5310 or e-mail pmelnik@pressdemocrat.com