Wednesday we got up early and caught a plane to Atlanta. Usually I pack a few bottles, this time I thought I'd check out Alpharetta's wine stores. Betsy and David wanted to do some shopping; I dropped them and tried to make a run. But northern Atlanta traffic got in thew way, and I only had time for the less desirable store. A few minutes in the aisles made me wish I had brought wine. But I got 3 bottles and headed back to my parents (who don't care, Dad likes Lake Country Red for coronary care reasons).
Before Wednesday dinner , my sister-in-law asked for a white. There was a ghstly bottle of Glen Ellen Chardonnay in the fridge, whether that was its normal state or the result of sitting in fridge opened for a week (or weeks) I care not. So I opened the 2002 Nigl Kremser Freiheit Grüner Veltliner (Kamptal). Clear clean acidity, apple and lemon fruit with some pepper and spice. Light-bodied wine with lots of character. B+
I knew Dad was making a roast, I didn't know he was cooking it till no pink remained. I had gotten the 2001 Domaine Les Aphillanthes "Cuvée des Galets" Côtes du Rhône Villages. Big ripe CdR, dark red grenache-y fruit with a fair amount of oak. Would have been better with rarer meat. Overwhelmed the roast (and the chicken dish my mom made for non-red-meat eating niece). But good wine for the style B/B+
Today for Thanksgiving my parents had a traditional Southern spread- turkey, ham, dressing, squash casserole, green beans, turnips, etc. Betsy had contributed a sweet-potato and leek soup. I had picked up a bottle of the 1998 Bernard Morey "La Fussière" Maranges 1er Cru. Hot and thin upon opening, I retreated to the GruVe. When I went back for seconds, not much had changed. After a relaxing afternoon, that evening I poured another glass with a turkey sandwich. Acidic, with roasted note to the cherry fruit and a short hot finish. I'm pretty sure I've had this wine before, I liked far better. My (strong) suspiscion is heat damage. Their limited selection of Burgundy had included no good recent Burgundies; I'm just glad I went for the cheapest of the 3 candidates- if the 1998 was like this what could I expect from the 1996 (a Bize Savigny) or the 1993 (a Mommessin Volnay 1er)? This bottle a C, who knows what good storage might have wrought.
Nice to be with family for Thanksgiving. Best to all! Dale
Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply