What you drink with Thanksgiving dinner is likely less important than who you drink it with. The cliche of the meal needing some semblance of wine and food order seems unrealistic when you are hosting a group or traveling to be hosted. We’ve assembled eleven high quality, diverse wines, hoping to reduce the number of decisions you have to make at this time of year. You will notice old favorites, new finds and plenty of wines that are intended for broad appeal. We believe there is something on this list which will delight either you, your guests, your hosts or all of the above.
The French Paradox Wines thanks you for faithfully reading our email offers, trusting our suggestions and supporting the shop. Please reach out with questions or requests for all things French Paradox (cheese, bread, spirits, etc.). We look forward to adding just a little bit of extra to your celebration.
2017 Francois Pinon
Vouvray “Non Dose” | Loire Valley | France
$34.99 / Case Price $28
Sourced from 45-year-old Chenin Blanc vines, the “Non Dose” bottling from Pinon offers a beautiful contrast between ripe fruit and piercing acidity. Unlike most sparkling wines, no additional sugar (hence Non-Dose) has been added during the winemaking process. Pinon as a grower chooses to pick late to allow for above average ripeness, allowing this very “dry” sparkler to showcase the richness and freshness all at once. Very crisp, this would be a great partner for a charcuterie/cheese plate starter.
2020 Luneau-Papin
Muscadet “Clos des Allees” | Loire Valley | France
$29.99 / $24
This rare, single vineyard Muscadet comes from 40+ year-old vines and ages for 9 months in underground glass tanks. The Clos des Allees is unique for its intense minerality and rich texture. On par with many Villages-level Chablis, the Allees possesses an extra layer of marine flavors that offer energy and interest. Yes it goes with oysters, but there are so many applications for this thoughtfully fashioned white, we resist the temptation to frame it as a one-trick pony.
2020 Boyer-Martenot
Bourgogne Blanc | Meursault | France
$49.99 / Case Price $40
On occasion White Burgundy (and especially Meursault) can feature a touch too much richness and oak barrel influence. This is not so for the Bourgogne Blanc from Boyer-Martenot, as this particular grower unusually employs any new barrels for fermentation or ageing. This is a svelte Chardonnay, filled with aromas of almond and pear. Weighty, but certainly not heavy, this a Chardonnay that will easily change your guest’s concepts of what the varietal can be.
2019 Torii Mor
Pinot Gris | Willamette Valley | Oregon
On Sale for $14.99
Once the darling of the Willamette Valley, Pinot Gris has fallen out of favor largely, with many growers deciding to grow Chardonnay in its place. While sentimentality may play into my assessment of this round, tropical bottling, I feel confident this is a great choice for poultry. With the Torii Mor, one needs to embrace its fullness and softness and not expect a tangy, high-acid finish. This particular personality trait allows for a wide range of admirers.
2019 Schoffit
Gewurztraminer “Caroline” | Alsace | France
$27.99 / Case Price $22.40
The aromatic Gewurztraminer is a force to be reckoned with, offering a wide range of flavors from the tropical to the spicy. Schoffit produces this textbook example from 50 year-old vines planted in gravel. The wine features a touch of residual sugar which provides a counterpoint to the relatively high acid present.
2020 Melinand
Chiroubles | Beaujolais | France
$34.99 / Case Price $28
Camille Melinand is a relatively new producer operating in the northeast of Beaujolais. Melinand employs a steeply graded, three acre plot of Gamay vines to provide the fruit for his elegantly styled Chiroubles. Spontaneously fermented using native yeasts and raised for 12 months in large neutral oak barrels (foudre), this wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered and with little or no addition of sulfur.
2021 Trinquevedel
Tavel Rose | Southern Rhone Valley | France
$24.99 / Case Price $20
The Tavel appellation is one of the few producing only Rose wine in France. This is a powerful Rose not without charm, a wine well suited as an aperitif or matched with a hearty meal off the grill (or out of the Thanksgiving oven). As this wine spends time in bottle it continues to relax and show even more of its splendid red fruit character.