, The Wine Novice
Did Thanksgiving just sneak up on us this year? I don’t know about you, but I’m off by a week. To me, Thanksgiving always seemed to fall on the last Thursday of November but this year it arrives a week early — on Nov. 22.
Whatever, it’s time for the annual Thanksgiving Day wine list from my experts, Andrea M. Lewis at Andover Classic Wines, located in the Shawsheen Plaza on Route 24, and Sam Messina of the Wine ConneXtion, located in the First and Main Plaza in North Andover. If you get a chance, stop by their outlets, which feature weekly wine tastings and a wonderful selection of American and international wines.
Andrea M. Lewis
Wine & Store manager
Andover Classic Wines
Chateau Pegau Lone 2017, $18.99: Off dry white that gives an enough fruit to appeal to everyone but is definitely dry. Lots of green apple and notes of white stoney fruits.
Francois Pinon le Vouvray 2016, $27.99: This white wine comes from a beautiful little organic Domaine in the Loire Valley and is made from 100 percent Chenin Blanc. It has a classic bouquet of quince, apple, chalky soil tones, bee pollen and a top note of white lilies. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, focused and complex
Domaine Schlumberger 2015, $34.99: It features a dominance of fresh and fruity scents: citrus fruits, lemon zest, lime and white flowers. The airing enhances the previous scents and evolves into something more ripe (blood orange) and exotic (papaya) with a very noble mineral and smoky touch.
Frontonio Microcosmico Garnacha 2015-Organic, $15.99: This red wine features a pale garnet color. Flavors of raspberry and strawberry over mineral, white pepper and roasted back ground. It’s aged for 10 months in concrete vats, which creates an austere and elegant style. Dry, refreshing acidity, moderate fine tannins and muscular texture.
Cigliuti Barbera D’Alba 2015, $34.99: Full cherry compote nose with hints of dried fruit. The palate is more complex than the nose with great depth of fruit. Lots of racy acidity cutting through plush fruit.
Pierre Maire Chermette Beaujolais 2015, $17.99: Lots of quality here; notes of wild strawberries and the essence of savory herbs. The flavor is rich in pomegranate fruit and its end with a nice, dry finish.
Sam Messina
Wine ConneXtion
North Andover
The following selections will be featured at Saturday’s tasting at the Wine ConneXtion, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Butter Blossom Vineyards Russian River Valley Chardonnay, $17.99: Fresh citrus, white flowers and Meyer lemon zest are balanced by elegant, round notes of toast and subtle spice.”
Scotto Cellars Dry Sangiovese Rosé, $11.99: Scotto’s Sangiovese vineyards sit in the heart of the Lodi appellation. The lengthy growing season creates richness and intense flavors. This rosé brings forth the best of the Sangiovese grapes while maintaining a subtleness that begs to pair with foods.
Orogeny Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, $22.99: Dense and chewy, with ripe, vivid wild berry and blackberry fruit providing the core. Full-bodied, with great acidity and firm tannins, letting the fruit fan out and elevate on the finish.
Robert Hall Winery Paso Robles Merlot, $15.99: Rich aromas of ripe black cherry accentuated by hints of cedar emanate from this Merlot. Lush, ruby-red color indicates the level of concentration yielded by the vintage and the vineyard.
Rusack Vineyards Santa Barbara County Estate Grown Syrah, $29.99: Plump blueberries, slate, gravel, turned earth and a light fennel character show on this wine, which comes in a custom bottle exclusive to the appellation’s estate-grown Syrahs.
Marietta Cellars, “Angelini” Estate Grown Zinfandel, $18.99: Highlighted by bright and rich red berry fruit aromatics and flavors, the nose is full of raspberries, blackberries, black pepper, and brown spices with really high-toned and immediate aromas jumping from the glass.
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